How does Romans 3:20 connect with Ephesians 2:8-9 on salvation by faith? Romans 3:20 on the Table “Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law, for the law merely brings awareness of sin.” Ephesians 2:8-9 Beside It “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.” One Message, Two Angles • Romans 3:20 states the negative: the law cannot justify. • Ephesians 2:8-9 states the positive: grace through faith does justify. • Together they form a single declaration—works cannot save, faith in Christ alone does. What Romans 3:20 Teaches • The law is a mirror, not a ladder. • Its purpose is to expose sin, driving us to seek a Savior. • Justification (“declared righteous”) is impossible by human effort. How Ephesians 2:8-9 Complements It • The grace God offers is unearned—pure gift. • Faith is the hand that receives, never the price that purchases. • Boasting is silenced because every part of rescue is God-given. The Common Thread: “Not by Works” 1. Romans 3:20: “no one will be justified…by works of the law.” 2. Ephesians 2:9: “not by works, so that no one can boast.” Both dismantle self-reliance and invite humble trust in Christ. Echoes Across Scripture • Romans 3:23-24 – “all have sinned…justified freely by His grace.” • Romans 4:4-5 – righteousness credited “to him who does not work but trusts.” • Galatians 2:16 – “a man is not justified by works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ.” • Titus 3:5 – “He saved us, not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy.” Why This Matters Today • Confidence shifts from personal performance to Christ’s finished work. • Assurance deepens because salvation rests on God’s unchanging grace. • Daily obedience becomes gratitude-driven, not score-keeping. Take It to Heart • Let the law do its job—show need. • Let grace do its job—save through faith. • Enjoy the freedom that comes from knowing you are accepted, not because you performed, but because He provided. |
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