One is justified by Faith, rather than following the Law
From a different perspective (see Tuesday), we again look at the relationship between salvation obtained by trusting the Lord, and the error, of believing that we save ourselves by scrupulous following of laws. St Paul in todays reading from Romans Chapter 3, is trying to reconcile these two. His Jewish roots, strongly were of the view that one needed to justify oneself in the sight of God but strict observance of the Laws. But his contact with Jesus had showed him that your efforts to live by the true values of the Lord would lead you towards being saved by him.
Paul is in the tricky situation of both needing to attract the Gentiles, and to retain the Jews, in his new church. He succeeded, in the main. To what extent do we place our trust in God, and to what extent do we try to save ourselves by working hard at observing the practices of the church? It is a balance needing to be set more towards trust.