The saying to trust in the finished work of the cross alone for salvation is not found in Romans 3. It's nowhere to be found anywhere in the Bible.
Faith includes trust and the object of our faith in receiving salvation includes Christ's finished work of redemption. It's found and included throughout the Bible where faith and salvation are mentioned. (Acts 15:7-9; 26:18; Romans 1:16; 3:24-28; 4:5-6; 5:1; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Ephesians 2:8,9; Philippians 3:9 etc..). Apart from the death, burial and resurrection of Christ and faith in Christ there is no salvation. The object of your faith is obviously 'in yourself' (works/performance) and is not in Christ alone.
In fact, you have to believe that Christ died for your sins, He was buried, and He was risen the third day according to 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. We have to believe the resurrection. So it's not just the finished work of the cross. That's a Protestant saying that does not exist in the Bible.
We not only have to believe that the death, burial and resurrection of Christ "happened" (even the demons believe that) but we also have to trust in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ as the ALL-sufficient means of our salvation. That's what it means to "believe" the gospel. (Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4) Death, burial and resurrection is included in Christ's finished work of redemption. You sure like to pick on Protestants. So do Roman Catholics.
Romans 3:24-27 is talking about Initial Salvation. It's also condemning the heresy of Circumcision Salvationism.
Eisegesis. It goes beyond that. Circumcision salvationism is an erroneous Roman Catholic argument.
Romans 3:1 says, “What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?”
Circumcision is mentioned because the Jews placed a great emphasis on circumcision, yet in Romans 3:27-28, Paul goes on to say - Where is boasting then? It is excluded.
By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law which covers much more and is not merely limited to circumcision. Roman Catholics use this same circumcision argument in
an attempt to "get around" the truth that we are saved by grace through faith and not by works in general. They teach saved by "these" works (good works/works of faith etc..) and just not "those" works (works of the law with a heavy emphasis on circumcision) but that argument is bogus.
Romans 4:9-12 says,
“Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.”
Once again, circumcision is mentioned because the Jews placed a great emphasis on circumcision, yet in Romans 4:5-6, Paul clearly states - But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly,
his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom
God imputes righteousness apart from works. *Works (plural) which is not merely limited to circumcision.
Acts of the Apostles 15 tells about certain Jews who were trying to deceive Gentile Christians to be circumcised in order to be saved.
Again, the Jews placed a great emphasis on circumcision for salvation, just like certain people today place a great emphasis on water baptism for salvation, yet that is not they only thing they teach is necessary for salvation. Open your eyes.
Keeping this in mind when we read the words of Paul in Romans 3:24-27 is a big eye opener.
Not a big eye opener at all. It's no secret that the Jews placed a great emphasis on circumcision for salvation, "the deeds of the law/works" goes beyond mere circumcision.
So Paul is not referring to the Laws of Christ which Paul said he was basically under (1 Corinthians 9:21). We are not justified by the law of Moses (Acts of the Apostles 13:39). But of course you ignore this context because it destroys everything you were taught by Protestants (vs. just reading and studying the Bible with the help of the Spirit alone).
Now you sound like a Roman Catholic. The Bible says we are justified/saved through faith (Romans 5:1; Ephesians 2:8) and not through the law of Moses or the Laws of Christ. That would be salvation by works either way. I don't ignore anything and nothing you have said destroys anything taught by Protestants or by myself. The Holy Spirit has not led you to your Roman Catholic error.
When it comes to the moral aspect of the law of Moses, you cannot dissect good works from the moral aspect of the law and then teach that we are saved by "these" works, but just not "those" works. In James 2:15-16, the example of a "work" that James gives is: "If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?" To give a brother or sister these things needed for the body would certainly be a "work of faith/good work" yet to neglect such a brother or sister and not give them the things needed for the body is to
break the second great commandment "love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39) as found written in the law of Moses. (Leviticus 19:18)
In Matthew 22:37-40, we read: Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'
On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. Please tell me which good works are
"completely detached" from these two great commandments which are found in the law of Moses? (Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18)
CONTINUED...