Only in Christ Jesus can we boast

15:14-21; 8/10/2025; BCBC/IOUC; Rev. Paul Wang

Introduction

People like to boast, and there is nothing we can do about it, because we are descendants of Adam.   But now it is different, because we have left Adam and entered into Christ Jesus.  Therefore, from now on, all that we can boast about must only be in Christ Jesus.  Let us look at the first point:

Because of the grace God has given me

What can we boast about in Christ?  Apart from the grace we have received from the Lord, we should have nothing to boast about!  Right?  First of all, life interaction in Christ.  Once a person walks in Christ, many precious life interactions will arise.  The core values have changed, and the way they live out will also be different.  The goodness after believing in the Lord is to honor the Lord.  Because all the goodness without Christ as Lord and King is nothing but the hypocrisy of the Pharisees.  All kinds of spiritual knowledge refer to the spiritual common sense gained through church life.  After believing in the Lord, we should start from the first word we say every day, be humble and teachable, and strive to say every word well.  In addition, life interaction is inseparable from daily study of the Bible and research of all kinds of knowledge.  Otherwise, how can we admonish each other in the fellowship?  In other words, it is the growth of spiritual life, maturity, and being used by the Lord!

Secondly, the identity and mission in Christ.  Although Paul did not know the brothers and sisters in the Roman Church before, he had great expectations for them.  Although his words were a little cautious, he still boldly reminded them to remember God’s words.  I believe that when Paul wrote the letter, the brothers and sisters in the Roman Church had already begun reading the “Paul’s Epistles”.  Paul needed to explain that he could share God’s words entirely because of the grace God gave him.  This grace came from His calling, calling him to be an apostle to the Gentiles.  This is Paul’s spiritual identity, and because of this identity he had to fulfill his mission.  From the reason, content, identity, object, work, basis, and goal of service to our embarking on the road of mission, it is the meaning of life that we hold on to for a lifetime.

Finally, the holy acceptance in the Holy Spirit.  Grace is where I am, and gifts are what I do.  However, gifts are not talents, but rewards from God.  God distributes various gifts according to His own will, and selects vessels suitable for God’s use on the path of mission.  The priority of God’s selection criteria is holiness, and then different spiritual gifts will be distributed, the church will be served, and the mission will be participated in.  If a person does it based on humanistic selfishness and without the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, everything he does is in vain.  Even if someone seems to be preaching the gospel, what he preaches may not be the gospel.  Because your life is unwilling to be quiet and cannot be accepted by God, what good is there in everything you do?  Little do you know that obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than the fat of rams.  Let’s look at the second point:

Only mention the power of Jesus Christ

Christ alone is the theme of themes and the core of the core in the Bible.  However, being in Christ is the mystery.  First, the meaning of being in Christ.  The core meaning of being in Christ is to accept the gospel, believe that Christ died for me, and rose from the dead.  From God’s perspective, people who are in Christ are holy, flawless, and perfect.  Because now it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in us.  At this time, being in Christ and Christ living in us become one.  The obstacle that once blocked the relationship between God and man, that is, sin, has been removed.  Even after we believe in the Lord, preaching the gospel, going on missions, and walking with the heart of Christ Jesus are all righteous deeds in Christ and are justified by God!  From the perspective of human thoughts, it means to regard God as the first, exclusive, and only in our lives.

Secondly, protection in Christ.  What does it mean to have something to boast about?  It means something that you feel proud of, or even glorious about.  The difference depends on whether you are in Christ.  If a person is not in Christ, he will appear proud and will not be accepted by God.  If someone is in Christ, his boasting in Christ is actually a righteous act that glorifies God.  Those who are not in Christ, looking at the righteous acts in Christ from a humanistic perspective, not only do not understand, but will also accuse and spread rumors in the self-righteous moral court.  However, those who live in Christ are protected by God.  The key is to give all the glory and praise to the Lord Jesus Christ!  People who belong to Satan do not understand this point, and of course they cannot live it out.

Finally, the works in Christ.  Paul said, “I will not speak of anything except what Christ has done through me”!  This is the outline of the words and actions of every Christian!  Not daring to mention it is because people have a fear of God.  Those words that come out of our mouths are mostly corruptions that dishonor the name of the Lord.  No matter what we say, we should always think in prayer whether it is from Christ?  Whether a word is from Christ, first we need to look at the Bible, and second, to see who the glory falls on?  Even if we speak words of grace, we cannot gain moral boasting.  Because our every word and action is in Christ.  Since we are in Christ, of course, the power of Christ is glorified, and we who are in Christ live in peace!  Let’s look at the third point:

Built on the Lord’s Foundation

If being in Christ is asking about our motives, then being built on the Lord’s foundation is preparing to give an account to the Lord.  First, the gospel is the power of God.  How can we testify that the gospel is the power of God?  First, we need to see how people face the gospel,  and second, we need to see how the evangelist views the gospel.  When people believe the gospel after hearing it, it is strange and seems unreasonable.  Because people who belong to the world will not be interested in the gospel!  People who belong to Satan should not be interested in the gospel and are unwilling to preach the gospel.  In other words, people who belong to the old self want to rob God of His glory and steal His authority from the preaching of the gospel,   to gain some sensory satisfaction and to show off their own vanity.  The power of the gospel is that God is glorified, people are at peace, and what is obtained is a calm and stable humility.  If the heart is not at peace after preaching the gospel, it means that Satan has entered his heart and the Holy Spirit has left his spirit.

Second, the gospel is built in the name of the Lord.  Paul said, “so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ;”  This is the distance and scope of Paul’s three gospel journeys, from southeast to northwest.  Illyricum was a Roman province in the north of Macedonia, which is the territory of today’s former Yugoslavia.  It has now split into six countries in the Balkan Peninsula.  It is still the poorest, darkest and most dangerous place in the world.  Paul did not even mention the name Illyricum in the Book of Acts, but our church short-term mission this year will go to Austria, which once belonged to Illyricum two thousand years ago.  Our short-term mission team in August will also move from all over the world to Austria, which was Illyricum back then.

Finally, the gospel is preached to unreached places.  The missionary concept of our church is based on Acts 1:8, which is oriented to unreached places.  Europe is thirsty for the gospel like a long-lost rain, and the Chinese have an obligation to “give back the gospel” to the Europeans.  Just as Paul quoted Isaiah 52:15 in verse 21 of this chapter: “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.”  It seems that wherever the gospel reaches, it is both the power of God and the mystery of God.  For those who belong to God, they must receive it.  For those who do not belong to God, God hides the mystery, so that they cannot understand even if they try, and they gnash their teeth and weep in darkness.

Conclusion

Thank God!  Today we can boast in the Lord Jesus Christ and demonstrate the power of the gospel to save all who believe.  Anyone who truly believes in the Lord will have life, and anyone who is hypocritical will die forever!  As for me and my family, we will serve God! What about you?

Let us pray ……

14 I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers,[a] that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another. 

15 But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God 

16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 

17 In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. 

18 For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, 

19 by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; 

20 and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation, 

21 but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.”