YOU HAVE NOTHING TO BRAG ABOUT--GET OVER YOURSELF!

^"Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that [the murmurs and excuses of] every mouth may be hushed and all the world may be held accountable to God.

 For no person will be justified (made righteous, acquitted, and judged acceptable) in His sight by observing the works prescribed by the Law. For [the real function of] the Law is to make men recognize and be conscious of sin [not mere perception, but an acquaintance with sin which works toward repentance, faith, and holy character].

But now the righteousness of God has been revealed independently and altogether apart from the Law, although actually it is attested by the Law and the Prophets,

 Namely, the righteousness of God which comes by believing with personal trust and confident reliance on Jesus Christ (the Messiah). [And it is meant] for all who believe. For there is no distinction,

 Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives.

 [All] are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy), through the redemption which is [provided] in Christ Jesus,

Whom God put forward [before the eyes of all] as a mercy seat and propitiation by His blood [the cleansing and life-giving sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation, to be received] through faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over and ignored former sins without punishment.

It was to demonstrate and prove at the present time (in the now season) that He Himself is righteous and that He justifies and accepts as righteous him who has [true] faith in Jesus.

 Then what becomes of [our] pride and [our] boasting? It is excluded (banished, ruled out entirely). On what principle? [On the principle] of doing good deeds? No, but on the principle of faith.

For we hold that a man is justified and made upright by faith independent of and distinctly apart from good deeds (works of the Law). [The observance of the Law has nothing to do with justification.]"   [Romans 3:19-28, AMP]

Righteousness is the best gift--ever! It would seem that we would have to work our way to it, in essence, earn it. But the thing is, not one of us can. It is impossible for a man to earn righteousness--if it were possible then he would have something to boast about. God will have none of that. He planned this thing so that He would get ALL of the credit, because we serve a jealous God--and frankly, He has every right to be Jealous and to have ALL of the credit. He has created ALL things "and without Him was not anything made that was made".

Besides creation, there are His great and mighty acts of mercy and compassion toward us. His compassion is so extensive that He made a way to deliver us from our choice to sin, before mankind was ever created--and before we even had an opportunity to sin. He knew what we would do, and had a plan. He knew that He Himself would have to pay the debt--with His own precious Blood and Body, so that we might be reconciled and have everlasting life--if we choose. We didn't have a hand in it, but we want credit for it. We want to boast--in our fasting, in our tongues, in our victories over sensual passions, in our righteousnesses--as if it were something that we are able to do by our own willpower. It is only because of the presence of the Holy Ghost residing in us, that we are not utterly destroyed. It is only God's power to save and to keep us that we can walk victoriously-- when we want to do good, but evil is always with us, driving us to do wrong.

The redemption we have was earned--but not by us. It was earned by Jesus Christ. God bought it for us, with His own Righteous Arm; wrapping Himself in a holy Human Body for us so that we might be counted (or imputed) righteous, not because we make ourselves righteous--but because His blood washes us in His righteousness. He declares us righteous--bearing our sin, and standing in our stead before the accuser of all of mankind. None of us is innocent without His declaration of innocence pronounced upon us--and our acceptance of Him.

When we accept the gift of His grace, "It Is Finished!" The Work of the Cross is complete in us; sin and its power to reign in our mortal beings has to surrender its grip and loose its shackles! Grace destroys the yoke of sin's enslavement. We have (Holy Ghost) power to walk in the "newness of life".

ALL who will accept Jesus, without respect of persons can have this awesome gift, without regard to class, color, financial status, education. It's all about love, grace, and humility--because after all, He did the work.