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My son Reese was born on Sunday, October 26, 2008. He is a happy, healthy, handsome, and friendly little boy. Although I can’t claim that all these qualities come from my half of his DNA, I can claim bragging rights nonetheless. He’s my son; I’m proud of him.

Unfortunately, I can’t claim bragging rights about everything I’ve done, am doing, or will do in my life. I am a sinner and will be until the day I die. This is the ugly truth about me, and about you too. Before God, we cannot boast about ourselves.

But we can claim bragging rights about God. Consider what Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:29:

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written [in Jeremiah 9:24]: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:30-31).

Notice, first of all, God’s agency. “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus.” Popular theologies of the cross sometimes present a loving Jesus who saves us from an angry God. This presentation is false. It is not as if the Son drags the Father kicking and screaming into our salvation. God the Father himself desires our salvation, wills it, and brings it about through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who also desires and wills the same thing. Because of God’s agency, we are saved, so we boast in God.

Second, notice Christ’s mediation. The Corinthians were consumed with wisdom, which they seemed to have equated with rhetorically excellent philosophies of one sort or another. Anything but the cross, which was embarrassing to them. But Paul repeatedly emphasized that Jesus Christ is God’s wisdom. If you love wisdom, you will love Jesus. Why? Because through Christ, God gives us “righteousness, holiness and redemption.”

These are three rich metaphors of salvation. Righteousness is a legal metaphor. In Christ, we have been declared innocent of sin. Holiness is a religious metaphor. In Christ, we have been set apart for God’s use. Redemption is a marketplace metaphor describing the purchase of a slave’s freedom. In Christ, we have been liberated from the oppressive power of sin.

God’s wisdom is found “in Christ Jesus.” So is our innocence, usefulness, and liberation. Whatever good comes to us from God, in this lifetime or the next, comes to us “in Christ Jesus.” Jesus Christ is the media through which God communicates his person and his purposes to us.

Finally, notice our proper response. “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” We have nothing to boast about before God, except what God has done for us in Christ. We’ll give Jeremiah 9:24, which Paul cites here, the last word:

“Let him who boasts boast about this:

that he understands and knows me,

that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness,

justice and righteousness on earth,

for in these I delight,”

declares the Lord.

Amen!