Boast in the Lord and Never in Your Religious Achievements

My eighth-grade history teacher asked a student a question. He could not answer it. I raised my hand. I answered it correctly.

Then I pointed to my head in braggadocio fashion. A few minutes later, the teacher asked me a question.

I did not know the answer. Then she pointed to her head—imitating my behavior moments earlier. That is all I remember about her class that year. I deserved that!

Boasting and earning God’s favor through performance are closely related. “Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith” (Romans 3:27 NIV).

Boasting is compatible with the law that requires works, but not with the law that requires faith. The Pharisees were religious boasters—overflowing with spiritual pride.

They wore symbols of their religious fervor. They attached portions of the Old Testament to their forehead and left arms.

They trumpeted their religious accomplishments. They got high marks in religious rule-keeping. But Jesus saw through them.

“Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long” (Matthew 23:5 NIV). Meanwhile, they harbored treachery in their hearts against Him. They resisted God’s work in their midst.

We must be careful not to repeat their error. We can use our spiritual accomplishments to try to impress God and others with our goodness. That puts the spotlight on us, where it should not be.

Spiritual stagnation, disunity, pride, and boasting occur in the church when we place our rules and standards ahead of God’s rule in our hearts.

It is about our motives. Are we trying to exalt Jesus or ourselves? Are we trying to justify ourselves? Are we resting our whole weight on God’s justifying us by faith?

Jesus directed His harshest words at those who tried to impress others with their goodness (Matthew 23:13-33). We fall far short of Jesus’ sinless life. We have nothing to boast about there. “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord” (2 Corinthians 10:17 NIV).

Romans 3:27-31 repeats “By faith,” “of faith,” and “through faith” four times. It is talking about living faith. Such faith works. Dead faith does not.

God declares us righteous because of our faith alone. No merit is involved. God does not allow boasting (Ephesians 2:9). However, true faith is never alone. It always produces good works.

Faith establishes a relationship with God. He wants us to know Him intimately and trust Him completely. He wants our freely offered love and obedience.

He judges religious boasters who move forward by patting themselves on the back. He judges people who glory in their goodness. He judges those whose dead faith helps no one.

Spiritual pride earns God’s wrath. Our life is to be all about Him, not us. Boasting has no place. What is your takeaway? See additional free spiritual growth resources for Christians.

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God has empowered me to write His Power for Your Weakness—260 Steps Toward Spiritual Strength. It’s a free, evangelistic, devotional, and discipleship e-book. Pastors have used it in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia to lead 6,090 people to Christ and teach the basics of Christianity to 15,150 people. I invite you to explore and use it in your setting.  

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