Yes—Christians should not boast about their achievements because everything a believer is and has is received from God’s grace, not from personal merit.
Scripture says boasting is excluded by the law of faith, and salvation is a gift, not of works, lest any man should boast. Les Feldick points out that even Abraham, if he had been justified by works, would have had something to glory in before men but not before God. Since every believer is only able to claim the finished work of the cross, there is no room for bragging about personal accomplishments.
Romans 3:27 — Paul explicitly asks where boasting is and says it is excluded by the law of faith, directly answering why believers cannot boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9 — It states salvation is the gift of God, not of works, so that no one can boast.
In Romans 3:27 Paul writes, "Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith." The exclusion of boasting is tied to the fact that justification is by faith and grace, not by human achievement. Ephesians 2:8-9 adds, "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 same principle appears with Abraham: "For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God" (Romans 4:2). In 1 Corinthians 1:29-31, the reason is that "no flesh should glory in his presence," and the one who glories is to glory in the Lord. First Corinthians 4:6 also warns against becoming "puffed up for one against another."
Les Feldick teaches that the word "glory" in these passages simply means bragging or boasting. He says the Corinthians were getting puffed up one against another in the congregation, with some claiming importance because they followed Peter and others because they followed Paul. Les calls this the very problem Paul was dealing with. Les also shows that grace and faith leave no room for boasting. If salvation were by works, people could brag; but since it is by faith plus nothing, every believer will only be able to claim the finished work of the cross. He repeatedly illustrates this by saying heaven would be the most boring place if every believer had to listen to others tell all they did to get there. Even Abraham, a great man of faith, did not boast before God. Les says God does not use gifted, wealthy, or intelligent human beings because they would be tempted to brag. Paul himself had nothing to brag about in the flesh and would not glory except in his infirmities.
In 1 Corinthians 4:6 Paul wrote that "no one of you be puffed up for one against another." Les points out that the Corinthians were doing exactly that: some claimed they were the most important because they followed Peter, while others claimed the same because they followed Paul. This was the very problem Paul addressed in the congregation.
Paul asks, "Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith." Les explains that the law of faith and grace leaves no room for boasting, whereas the law of works would bring it in. Since salvation is a gift received through faith, there is nothing to brag about.
Scripture says, "For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God." Les says Abraham was a great man of faith, but his standing was still faith plus nothing. God did not choose Abraham because he had accomplished so much, and using gifted, wealthy, or intelligent people would tempt them to brag.
Les repeatedly imagines what heaven would be like if people could boast about their works. He says it would be the most boring place imaginable because every believer would constantly be telling others what they did to get there. Instead, every believer will only claim the finished work of the cross, faith plus nothing, so no one has room to boast.
Puffed up over leaders
Les teaches that the Corinthians were puffed up against one another, claiming superiority because of which apostle they followed, and this is the problem Paul addressed.
Only glory in the Lord
Les says the only place a person is to boast or brag is in the Lord, because without Him we are nothing.
Faith plus nothing
Les shows salvation is a gift, not of works, so there is no room for boasting; every believer will only claim the finished work of the cross.
Boasting excluded
Les applies Paul's question about boasting to heaven, explaining that the law of faith excludes it.
Abraham before God
Les teaches that Abraham could boast before men if justified by works, but not before God, so no one can merit heaven.
Faith excludes boasting
Les explains that the law of faith and grace leaves no room for boasting, while the law of works would bring it in.
God avoids braggarts
Les says God does not use the gifted, wealthy, or intelligent because they would brag; even Abraham's standing was faith plus nothing.
Paul's example
Les notes Paul had nothing to brag about in the flesh and would not glory in his visions, lest anyone think of him above what he saw.
Romans 3:27: Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
Paul asks directly where boasting is and says it is excluded by the law of faith, not the law of works.
Romans 4:2: For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
Even Abraham could not boast before God, showing that works give no ground for self-congratulation.
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.
Salvation is a gift so that no believer can take credit or boast.
1 Corinthians 1:29-31: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Glorying is reserved for the Lord; no human has ground to boast in themselves.
1 Corinthians 4:6: And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.
Paul warned against believers becoming puffed up against each other by attaching themselves to different leaders.
The only right kind of boasting is in the Lord. Les points to the Scripture that says he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord, because without Him we are absolutely nothing.
Salvation is by grace through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. Les says every believer will only claim the finished work of the cross, so there is nothing to brag about.
Paul says boasting is excluded by the law of faith, not the law of works. Les explains that grace and faith leave no room for boasting, while works would bring it right back in.
Watch the Teaching: Why Does God Wait Until the End to Judge? — 1 Corinthians 4 Explained