“Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.”

Boast

As used here, it means a lot more than a mere comparison. It means to rely upon or trust in, to take our leading and direction from, to take our identity from, it is what defines us.

In men

Here, “in men” means to rely upon human leaders, or interpretations or doctrines invented by humans, and even worship styles or applications of the gospel to a particular culture. While each of these may have value or be helpful for a specific purpose, they are not where we place our trust.

All things are yours

This is a wonderful phrase, showing the infinite value of what we have been given through Jesus. It amplifies Romans 1:16, “the gospel of Christ, … is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes”. And Acts 5:32 tells us that when we believe, the Holy Spirit dwells in us to guide and equip us to know and to do all God has planned. This may be to appreciate or make use of the individual value of different denominations, leaders, doctrines, traditions, and projects. But more than this, it encompasses all things in this world, all God offers us both in earthly life and beyond death, of the past and future – all is made available to us through the almighty power of God to be used for his good purpose.
And it points to the silliness of turning from that immense and infinite gift to rely instead upon a specific and very limited human idea or habit or person.

Application

I recently saw a YouTube video where the presenter looked at the question he had been asked, “Are Catholics saved?”, and his answer was, “That is the wrong question”. He said we are not saved by belonging to a denomination, whether it’s Catholic, Baptist, or any other. The only way to be saved is to believe the gospel, as per 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” So, there are Christians in all denominations who believe in their heart, but there are also many church attenders in all who are not Christians. And in each denomination, there may be some practices or human doctrines that tend to distract or present a barrier to faith, but that doesn’t stop people from believing.

Another barrier to belief can occur when people create human philosophy about the bible, and then reinterpret the bible in terms of that human philosophy. We can see what Paul was referring to when people turn away to use an endless list of philosophical terms of human invention like Arianism, Armenianism, Pelagialism, and even Antidisestablishmentarianism. Our verse warns us to beware of relying upon such human philosophy, and to keep to the simple and infinitely wonderful message of the gospel.

You are Christ’s

This final statement serves two purposes:

1. It cautions us against the temptation of glorifying ourselves in what we have been given; because we belong to God through Christ, his gifts to us equip us for his good purpose, and that should bring us to self-sacrificing humility, as shown by Jesus on the cross;
2. It also reassures us, for if we belong to God then we are completely secure in Him; no earthly power can separate us from Him.

Praise God!