Boasting is a negative word, generally speaking. It is negative because we usually boast about ourselves, about who we are and what we have done.

But boasting about someone else, where credit is due, is not always bad. Here, in our passage today, three times Paul used the expression, 'we boast' (NRSV) ('rejoice' in NIV and 'exult' in NSAV).

• We boast in the hope of the glory of God (vs. 2)
• We also boast in our suffering (vs. 3)
• We boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ (vs. 11)

In this case, boasting is not about us. We are simply focusing our attention on what God has done for us. The word kauchaomai often used in the intransitive form means, boast, glory, pride oneself. A clear meaning of it is found in 2 Cor 10:16a-7,

'For we do not want to boast about work already done in another man's territory. But he who boasts is to boast in the LORD.'

So the NIV translation of 'rejoice' is somewhat mild, because in the original Greek, it contains the idea of taking pride in something and having the urge to make it known. This brings out to the important question, 'what is this boasting about?'

1. Boast about what happened to us
Paul's boasting is 'in hope of the glory of God' (vs. 3). This hope is anchored in the past, in what Jesus Christ has done.

We have peace with God
Jesus died for us so that we can have peace with God. This is the most important thing in the world. God is no longer against God. Who can survive if God is against us?

That means we should not think of God punishing us. God does not 'punish' us when we do wrong, if by punishment we mean that God demands a full justice, an eye for an eye from us.

Let me be very careful here. I do not mean that nothing will happen to us when we do wrong. By the contrary, when we make poor choices in life, Christians are not exempt from going through the consequences of those choices we have made. We must live with the consequences of our choices. We experience God's love and discipline for our lives, which will no doubt hurt. Hopefully, we can come away with a more mature faith.

You see the problem with many people today is that they still think of God as either aloof or capricious. Let me explain.

Aloof — God is too busy or to distanced to be bothered with our problems. We may pray to God, but does God really listen to our detailed prayers? God is not just around like that.

Capricious — God is unpredictable. You just never know whether he will be angry with you or not. So, just in case, appease him at all times.

Paul's preaching is very different. He says, 'I have something to boast about! I must share this with you! Through Jesus Christ, we have peace with God!' Let us boast about it!

We have obtained introduction to this grace (in which we stand)
Another way to explain this is that we now stand before God, unashamed. Why? We have access to this grace all because of Jesus Christ.

How God justifies a sinner and invites him to come into his gracious presence is a mystery. How God is able to look beyond our faults and say 'I accept you' and begin a love relationship with us is a mystery. How God is able to sustain this relationship with us when we do not always stay faithful is an absolute mystery to us. It all reflects his goodness, from the very depth of his being.

For this, Paul says, "we can boast!" Yes, let us not boast about our achievements or the things we went through. Instead, let us boast about God!

2. Even boast about our tribulations

Joni Erickson was 17 years old when she broke her neck in a diving accident. Before the accident, her problems were just ordinary ones:

"Of course, my toughest problem in those days was sweating out fifty sit-ups in gym class or arguing with my sister after she borrowed my clothes. Hardship meant staying up late to cram for an algebra test." (Seeking God, p. 4)

But now her worries quickly changed. Since she could not die, she needed to learn how to live. So that became her prayer, "God, if I can't die, show me how to live, please!"

Have you had a major tribulation or affliction in lately? Have you said to yourself, "O, God, why me? Why are these happening to me? Why must I pay? I can't handle this anymore. I am down to zero in my reservoir."

Hardships are inevitable in life because we live in an imperfect world. Everything does not go right 100% of the time. Even if we do everything right, someone is going to mess it up and we all become tangled up in sin.

Paul says in vs. 3, "we boast in our sufferings." The word 'sufferings' (thlipseis) is sometimes translated as 'tribulations' because it refers to a special kind of trials and hardships arising from living out one's Christian life in a hostile world, 'a technical term for the suffering which God's people must expect in the last days before the end' (Stott, Romans, p. 141).

Look at how this word is used by the Lord Jesus:

Pray that this will not take place in winter, because those will be days of distress (thlipseis) unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now and never to be equaled again (Mark 13:19).

In this world you will have trouble (thlipseis), but take heart! I have overcome the world. (John 16:33).

Yes, it is sometimes difficult to live as Christians in this life when everyone else seems to be more concerned about their own or their family interests before putting God in the first place.

But what does Paul say? He says 'boast in your tribulations.' They are an opportunity for us to not only take a stand for Jesus Christ, but also a time for God to work in our character:

We also boast in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope. (vv. 3-4)

In the end, our Christian life is as solid as rock.

3. Boast about God's love
But here is the most important reason why we must boast. We boast about God who has 'poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us' (vs. 5).

Here we have the important doctrine: the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the believer's life. Sometimes a sister's testimony moves us to tears. Sometimes the Spirit convicts our sin and shows how great God's love is. The moment we become a Christian, the Holy Spirit comes into our lives. He is our resident teacher. He reminds us of the love of God shed in our hearts.

How? He convinces us that we never deserved to have this love in the first place. When we were still powerless, Christ died for us (noong tayo'y mahihina, si Cristo namatay).

He proves to us ('demonstrate' is a weak expression here) how much he loved us, "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (5:8).

How do you boast about God?
Praise and prayer is a normal Christian life because we have experienced God's love in our hearts and we want to express our gratitude.

Someone said, 'to have something to be grateful and not to express it, is like wrapping a gift and never giving it.' We need to be thankful to God for what he has done for us, especially our salvation. Be thankful and express more clearly.

Boasting is done in the presence of others. We do not boast about God to ourselves. We do that in front of others. This is what the scripture means, when we are to 'declare his praise' (1 Peter 2:9-10).

Let me conclude by going back to the story of Joni Erickson Tada.

"You see, for the longest time I tried to twist God's arm so He'd reveal why I had my accident. I was banging on the doors of heaven, demanding an answer to prayer, a reason for my horrible plight. I was insistent, almost belligerent, with God. All the haggling didn't quiet my anxieties or soothe my fears in the middle of the night wen I was alone. I was scared and very distraught … The sharp pain of loneliness was eased as I pictured Jesus leaning over, rubbing my cheek with the backside of His hand, fingering away strands of hair from my face. He'd question me, His eyes fixed on mine: "Joni, if I love you enough to die for you, don't you think I knew what I was doing when I answered for a closer walk with Me?" (Seeking God, pp. 32-33).

Yes, let us focus on God and let us boast about what he has done for us. May the Lord guide you and bless you.