Transfer of the Holy Relics of the Holy Great Martyr Theodore Tyro.
Apostles’ Fast.
Romans 3:28-4:3. Matthew 7:24-8:4.
Read Romans 3:28-4:3
St. Paul continues his argument regarding the place of faith and works in salvation with the Jewish people and Gentile Christians. It is not the works of the law, or ritual ceremonial observances which save, but faith in Christ. Proper Christian faith leads to Baptism and manifests itself through obedience, love for the Lord and good works. It is not as though “faith” can be opposed to “obedience to the Commandments” as someone who has faith in God shows that faith through obedience to the moral law. All are saved through faith and this faith is lived out in works and the struggle of the moral life.
St. John Chrysostom comments: What is “the principle of faith”? This is salvation by grace. Here Paul shows God’s power in that he has not only saved, he has also justified and led them to boast in a different way—not relying on works but glorying only in their faith. In saying this Paul is trying to get believing Jews to behave with moderation and to reassure unbelieving Jews so that they might be persuaded to accept his point of view. For if the one who has been saved is proud because he abides by the law, he will be told that he has stopped his own mouth, that he has accused himself, that he has renounced any claim to salvation and that he has excluded boasting. But the unbeliever may be humbled by these same means and brought to accept the faith. See how great faith is, in that it has removed us from the former things and does not even allow us to boast of them! (Homilies on Romans, 7:40)