Nothing to Boast About

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. —Ephesians 2:8-9

One of the issues Paul had to deal with in his ministry were those who taught that believing the Gospel was not enough to save a person.  Some taught that a person must also be circumcised in addition to believing in Jesus (Acts 15:1).  Paul said that kind of teaching comes from a “desire to make a fair shew in the flesh” (Gal. 6:12).  By adding some element of “good works” to salvation appeals to the flesh and pride of man.

A Christian saved by grace has nothing to boast about (Eph. 2:8-9). That is one reason why a self-righteous man has a hard time getting saved. Man likes to think they contribute something to their salvation.

One common accusation unsaved people direct at a Christian is, “You just think you are better than I am.”  When someone says this to you, here is a good way to reply— “Oh, no. I don’t think I’m better than you. You’re much better than I am.  If fact, I’m so rotten that I had to have Jesus die for me so I could go to heaven. But you are so good, you can get to heaven without Him.”  That is how you “answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit” (Prov. 26:5).