No — there is nothing in us to boast about because salvation is God's gift of grace through faith, not a reward for works.
Ephesians 2:8-9 states that we are saved by grace through faith and that it is 'not of works, lest any man should boast.' Les Feldick reinforces this by explaining that believers were spiritually dead, unable to help themselves, and that God did all the work — crucifying old Adam, quickening us, and imputing His righteousness. Since every believer has received everything from God, human boasting is excluded.
Ephesians 2:8-9 — This is the clearest biblical answer: salvation is God's gift through faith, not works, so no one can boast.
Romans 3:27 — Paul directly asks where boasting is and answers that it is excluded by the law of faith.
Scripture removes all grounds for human boasting. Paul writes, '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). The same apostle asks, 'Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay; but by the law of faith' (Romans 3:27). The pattern is consistent. In Romans 4, Paul uses Abraham as an illustration: 'For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness' (Romans 4:2-3). And in 1 Corinthians 4:7, Christians are asked, 'For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?' Scripture also states the starting point: 'And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins' (Ephesians 2:1).
Les Feldick teaches that salvation is entirely God's accomplishment. He points to Ephesians 2:1 and explains that believers were 'dead in trespasses and sins,' under old Adam, and unable to help themselves. God broke that power, crucified old Adam, and then quickened believers with resurrection power [Clip 0]. This is why there is no room for self-congratulation: we did not raise ourselves spiritually any more than we saved ourselves [Clip 0]. Les applies Romans 3:27 directly to the question: 'Where is boasting then? It is excluded.' The law of faith and grace leaves no room for boasting, while the law of works would bring it in [Clip 1][Clip 4]. He gives a vivid illustration: if heaven were filled with people who had earned their way, every believer would constantly have to listen to others describe everything they did to get there — making heaven an awful, boring place. That is why even Abraham, if justified by works, could boast, but instead no one will be able to boast about merit [Clip 3][Clip 4]. Les also stresses that everything we have has been received from God; believers have accomplished nothing of themselves, so why glory over something we had no part in [Clip 2]? Redemption is by grace, not because anyone deserves it, and the result is that we live to the praise of His glory [Clip 5]. That is why believers can testify about their salvation freely — saying 'I know I'm going to heaven' is not bragging because Christ did everything; we did nothing [Clip 6]. Finally, after salvation God imputes His righteousness and makes us His workmanship, so that good works flow out of the new creation rather than earning it [Clip 7].
Paul gives the reason in Ephesians 2:8-9: if salvation were by works, there would be a basis for human bragging. Because it is by grace through faith, it is God's gift — and a gift cannot be earned. In Romans 3:27, Paul asks, 'Where is boasting then? It is excluded.' Les Feldick highlights that it is the law of faith and grace that excludes it, not the law of works, which would bring it back [Clip 1][Clip 2].
Les says it would be 'the most awful place on earth' — not because heaven itself is bad, but because you would constantly be listening to other people tell you all that they did to get there. You would even cross the street to avoid hearing the same story again [Clip 1]. He repeats the same point with Abraham: if Abraham had been justified by works, he would have had something to boast about, and he would still be boasting 'a jillion years from now' [Clip 3][Clip 4]. That is why salvation must rest entirely on the finished work of the cross, leaving no room for boasting.
Les explains that after salvation, God makes us His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works (Ephesians 2:10). The good works do not earn salvation; they come naturally as a result of faith and the finished work of Christ appropriated by faith. God imputes His righteousness and gives us a whole new personality, so the new life then expresses itself in good works [Clip 4][Clip 7].
There is a difference between bragging rights and testimony. Les uses the example of high-school bragging rights over a fast car, and says believers should be just as ready to talk about the spiritual things God has done for them. However, when he says, 'I know I'm going to heaven when I die,' it is not a braggadocio statement — it is because Christ did everything on his behalf and he did nothing. Believers are also saved for a purpose: to be to the praise of God's glory in this life, not merely to escape hell [Clip 5][Clip 6].
Dead in Trespasses and Made Alive
Les explains that believers were dead in trespasses and sins and unable to help themselves, but God crucified old Adam and quickened us with resurrection power — showing salvation is entirely God's doing.
Boasting Excluded by the Law of Faith
Les applies Romans 3:27 to show boasting is excluded because salvation is by the law of faith and grace, not by works; a works-based heaven would be full of boasters.
We Have Received Everything from God
Les says believers have accomplished nothing of themselves; since we received everything by grace, there is no reason to glory as though we had done it.
Even Abraham Could Not Boast
Les remarks that if Abraham had been justified by works he could boast, but even Abraham cannot boast about meriting heaven — such a heaven would be endlessly boring.
No Room for Boasting
Les repeats that there is no room for boasting; if works saved, people would still be boasting a jillion years later, but instead boasting is excluded.
Saved to the Praise of His Glory
Les teaches no one deserves redemption; God acted by grace so that believers would be to the praise of His glory, not merely saved from hell.
Testifying About Grace vs. Bragging
Les distinguishes between bragging rights and testimony: we should readily speak about salvation because Christ did everything on our behalf, not because we deserve it.
Not of Works, Lest Any Man Should Boast
Les ties Ephesians 2:9 directly to the question: salvation is not of works lest anyone boast; God then makes believers His new workmanship.
Ephesians 2:1: And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Shows the starting condition that makes salvation a matter of grace, not works.
Ephesians 2:8-9: 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.
The key passage explicitly linking salvation by grace through faith to the removal of boasting.
Ephesians 2:10: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Shows that saved people are created for good works rather than saved by them.
Romans 3:27: Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay; but by the law of faith.
Paul's direct question about boasting and his answer that faith excludes it.
Romans 4:2: For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
Even Abraham, the example of faith, had no ground for boasting before God if salvation were based on works.
Romans 4:3: For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Explains that righteousness is counted through faith, not achieved by works.
1 Corinthians 4:7: For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
Shows that everything we have has been received, so glorying would be pretending we had a part in it.
Ephesians 1:12: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Connects salvation to God's glory rather than to human merit.
No. Les says believers should be as ready to talk about the spiritual things God has done as they are to talk about the weather. It is not bragging to say, 'I know I'm going to heaven,' because that confidence is not based on personal merit but on Christ's finished work, in which we contributed nothing [Clip 6].
Because if everything we have was received from God, there is nothing we did to earn it; boasting would be glorying over something we had no part in [Clip 2].
According to Ephesians 2:10, we are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works; Les describes these as new-person results that flow naturally from faith, not as the cause of salvation [Clip 4][Clip 7].
Watch the Teaching: What Does It Mean to Be Crucified With Christ?