How do you boast?

Church Family: Have you ever tried to have a relationship with another person who loves talking about themself? They love to glory in their own accomplishments, wisdom and abilities. They control the conversation with how they feel, what they think, what they want, and what they need. Their heart is full of boasting. What is the result of a one-sided boasting relationship? The relationship never becomes what it is intended to be. The boasting ruins something that is intended to be beautiful. Likewise, when we come to God and His gospel with a boasting pride in anything that we have done, we kill the beauty of the relationship that God desires. Our natural tendency is to make our relationship with God one-sided, our-sided, but remember there will be no boasting in the presence of God (1 Corinthians 1:29).

The gospel is God’s effort for us to understand and enjoy that there is no need to produce works to acquire salvation. His righteousness is a free gift apart from anything we have to offer. Yes, what that means is that all that we did in our salvation is provide the sinful heart. God did everything else. God, not you, is the one who made His righteousness available to you through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God, not you, is the one who gave you a righteousness that declares you holy and righteous in Jesus Christ. God, not you, is the one who redeemed you, unshackled you from your slavery to sin. God, not you, is the one who satisfied His own wrath that was upon you because of your sins by giving His Son Jesus Christ to be your substitute. God says, I even gave you the faith that you are boasting in. God says, hey you did nothing, so stop boasting in anything (Romans 3:21-27). Even, your faith is a gift so that you may not boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).

How can you stop spiritual boasting? Think with me. Your faith is the instrument of God given to you that is intended to stop all such boasting. Faith is the free gift of God that makes it possible for you even to look to the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ. Faith is not your spiritual strength, but it is the instrument that rejoices in God’s promised strength. Faith in not your wisdom, but it is the instrument that desires and seeks God’s wisdom. Faith is not your righteousness, but it is the instrument that rests in God’s promised righteousness. Faith is entirely God-powered and God-dependent. What is the result of this faith? No boasting! For even faith is worthless if it looks at your own works, wisdom, and strength. Your faith is given to you to look to God Himself which is then effective for salvation.

Let your faith look to Jesus Christ and rejoice in His promise, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, boast all the more gladly of your weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon you (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

How do you boast? Do you boast in your own works leading to death which is the law of works. Or do you boast in Christ's power which makes you perfect in your weakness before a holy God which is the law of faith (Romans 3:27)?