The End of Boasting
When I was studying at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, one of my friends told me, "I've gone to church every Sunday of my life, with only two exceptions." I was amazed that she knew her church-going record was so nearly perfect. I figured she had done better than me. In any case, I hadn't kept records like she had. But then I wondered: what about all the campus ministry worship services and Bible studies I've been to? Maybe I've got her beat.
Paul has specifically criticized boasting in the law (Romans 2:23). But his critique applies to all of us. I watched a documentary on homeless people. Some of them bragged they had a better life than people with homes. I couldn't help but be proud of not being homeless. Boasting is as natural as breathing. But imagine life without boasting about ourselves. What if everyone boasted how great God is? "God is the God of the Jews and the Gentiles! He justifies all of us through Jesus." Jesus outdoes every rival, whether Jupiter of Rome or the Almighty Dollar of America, because anyone can be made right with God by trusting him with their lives. Instead of competing with each other for status, we would join each other in praising God. When Paul says "there is one God" he is likely echoing part of the Shema, the fundamental Jewish prayer from Deuteronomy 6:4-5, "Listen, Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength." By taking the central claim of the Jewish faith and using it to establish that Jesus is the one God who saves all people, Paul has undermined any ability for Jewish people to boast that they are better than Gentiles. What I should have learned from going to thousands of church services is that I am no better than anyone else. For centuries, "the law" separated Jews and Gentiles. Paul says "the law of faith" is the fulfillment of God's law. Instead of excluding people, it excludes boasting. The law shows we are sinners and the law of faith shows faith is the way to come to God. We uphold everything that God has revealed. It all points us to Jesus. He paid the price of justice so we could receive justification as a gift. When we recognize who God is, humility makes sense. The only thing we have to boast about is what Jesus did for us by becoming our mercy seat. We can stop keeping score because we're confident that God has taken care of us. Jesus died for us so we could be justified. What else is there to be proud of?
What does it tell us about God that the Shema, the core Jewish prayer, means that God saves Jews and Gentiles?
How do people in your city tend to keep score?
What helps you feel better than other people?
Think of someone you look down on. Then pray, "God, I thank you that both [their name] and I can be saved by trusting Jesus. You are an amazing God. Thank you for saving me by faith, and not because of anything I've done. Amen."
Sources:
James D. G. Dunn, Romans 1–8, Word Biblical Commentary 38A (Word Books, 1988)
Robert Jewett, Romans: A Commentary, Hermeneia (Fortress Press, 2007)
Douglas J. Moo, The Letter to the Romans, 2nd ed., NICNT (Eerdmans, 2018)
John R. W. Stott, The Message of Romans, The Bible Speaks Today (InterVarsity Press, 2001)