Faith - no place for boasting

You can't boast about your faith, either. As Paul tells us – it's not from us it is the gift of God. I suppose people do boast about gifts – hey, look what I got for Christmas; look what someone gave me. But really there is no place for boasting here. 

As for boasting about what we've done or what we're going to do, that is completely out of court because it is not through these that we are saved. It's like someone being given a birthday gift by you and looking through it and saying 'Yes, it all seems to be there. That's about what I deserve. I'm glad I made the effort to be extra nice to you last week so that you would get me exactly what I wanted and what I, after all, do deserve'! What? That was a gift not some sort of wages!

Grace - no place for boasting

Would a man boast because he had been rescued from drowning? It would sound odd. 'Hey, look at me, I was nearly drowned and I got rescued. Aren't I clever?' What? You can't say 'Hey, I'm going to heaven'. Yes you may be, but not because you deserve it. You're no different to the next person, certainly no better. 

You can't boast about the grace of God. Hey, God chose me. It's something like saying 'Hey, look at me I've got blue eyes' or 'Look, I was born with four limbs'. Only because of the kindness of God to you. It wasn't anything you did. God chose me. Yes, but why? Grace means undeserved favour and so it can't be because you deserve it.