Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 22, 2022: SOAP #4553: 1Kings 8; 2Chronicles 5; Psalm 99; Romans 3

SCRIPTURE:  Romans (NIV) 3:27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law?  No, but on that of faith. 28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.

OBSERVATION: Paul was writing to Jews who boasted in how well they kept the law.  It was the Law given by Moses, including the Ten Commandments, and many ceremonial laws about worship, clothing, eating and other aspects of daily life.  As Jesus proved, even the religious leaders could not keep all the commands of the law.  They had no basis for boasting. 

But the main reason for excluding boasting is because we cannot be justified by anything we do, only by something someone did for us!   That someone is Jesus!  What He did was to give His life as a sacrifice for our sins!  We receive the benefit of His sacrifice only by faith!   We cannot boast about how hard we worked to earn it.  We cannot boast about how much we deserve it.  Only with faith in God’s love for us and in the sacrifice of Jesus for our sin can we boast. 

APPLICATION:  Only based on Jesus’ sacrifice for me do I stand justified before the Lord.  The Holy God made a way for me to be “just-as-if-I’d” never sinned.  Since God has that much invested in me living a holy life, I should be concerned too.  I should be concerned when I give into temptation to sin.  I must be quick to repent and ask forgiveness.  The Holy Spirit will help me grow in resisting temptation. 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, you are so interested in me being holy that you sent Jesus to die in my place. Holy Spirit continue to work in my life, helping me resist temptation and overcome the tendencies to do things that do not honor the Father. Forgive me for acting like sin is not a big thing and does not matter.  It matters to you and should matter to me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
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