Covenant Reformed News – May 2020 • Volume XVIII, Issue 1
This article from Covenant Reformed News examines Paul's argument in Romans 4:2 against justification by works, emphasizing how human pride and boasting are incompatible with salvation earned by merit. The author defends the Reformed understanding of justification by faith alone as a biblically sound apologetic against self-righteous theology, drawing on Pauline teaching that boasting is excluded by faith rather than by works.
Justification by Works Involves Boasting! Strikingly, Paul’s first argument against the notion that Abraham was justified by works is from the idea of boasting: “For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God” (Rom. 4:2). This verse highlights the ground of boasting or glorifying, that upon which the activity of boasting rests: man’s “works”! The apostle’s argument presupposes man’s innate sinful pride that is deeply rooted in us since the fall. Whatever...