Why can't someone who is justified by works boast before God?
A person justified by works cannot boast before God because God will never be a debtor to anyone. If salvation were by works, God would owe it as a debt, but He refuses that. Scripture declares such boasting before God is impossible; justification is by faith without works, so no one can glory.
The lesson turns to Romans chapter 4 and Abraham. Paul asks what Abraham gained according to the flesh. If Abraham were justified by works, he would have something to boast about—to glory or brag—even stopping everyone on the golden strand to tell what he did. But Scripture says he could never do it before God. The reason is that God will never let anyone be a debtor to Him. If you try to work for your salvation, you are putting God in debt, telling God, “You owe it to me.” That is why justification is by faith without the deeds or works of the law. Works would make God obligated, but He will not be indebted to anyone, so no one can boast before Him.
For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
More Questions
If Abraham were justified by works, would he have been able to glory and boast?
If Abraham had been justified by works, he would have had grounds to glory and would naturally have become proud, able to tell people, 'look what I have done to inherit eternal life.'
If Abraham could be justified by works, what would he have been able to glory about?
If Abraham had been justified by works, he would have had ground to glory; he would have become proud and could boast about what he had done to inherit eternal life.
What did Paul mean when he said Abraham could glory if he were justified by works?
If Abraham had been justified by works, he would have had a basis to glory/boast.