“Christians must boast about their sins”

 

A)  The text of the speech by J.M.Bergoglio:

On our part, we can boast only of our sins. We have nothing else to boast about: this is our misery” (Morning meditation in the chapel of the DOMUS SANCTAE MARTHAE, April 8, 2014)

Of what things can a Christian boast? Two things: his sins and Christ Crucified” …….«and these things that Paul boasted of are precisely the place where the Word of God can come and be strong». Indeed, he said of himself: «I boast only of my sins». These were “scandalous words” ” (Morning meditation in the chapel of the DOMUS SANCTAE MARTHAE, September 4, 2014)

Remembering our sins, from which the Lord saved us, is giving glory to God”. After all, even Paul “says that he boasts of only two things: of his own sins and of the grace of God Crucified, of his grace”. In other words, the Apostle “remembered his sins”, boasting of having been a sinner, because Christ Crucified saved him. “This”, the Pope emphasized, “was Paul’s recollection”. And “this is what Jesus himself asks us to remember”.” (Morning meditation in the chapel of the DOMUS SANCTAE MARTHAE, October 7, 2014)

 

B) References to Scriptures:

No one who remains in him sins, and whoever sins has neither seen him nor recognised him” (1Jo 3:6)

Whoever lives sinfully belongs to the devil, since the devil has been a sinner from the beginning. This was the purpose of the appearing of the Son of God, to undo the work of the devil” (1Jo 3:8)

On behalf of someone like that I am willing to boast, but I am not going to boast on my own behalf except of my weaknesses; and then, if I do choose to boast I shall not be talking like a fool because I shall be speaking the truth. But I will not go on in case anybody should rate me higher than he sees and hears me to be, because of the exceptional greatness of the revelations. Wherefore, so that I should not get above myself, I was given a thorn in the flesh, a messenger from Satan to batter me and prevent me from getting above myself. About this, I have three times pleaded with the Lord that it might leave me; but he has answered me, ‘My grace is enough for you: for power is at full stretch in weakness.’ It is, then, about my weaknesses that I am happiest of all to boast, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2Co 12:5-9)

 

C) Comment:

We cannot boast about what is rebellion against God: sin. “Whoever remains in God does not sin”, says John the Apostle. Even more so, one must not boast about what comes from the devil.

Those who boast about their own sin, are destined to perish for eternity.

Sin, in fact, is the error that comes from evil; to boast about one’s own error, means to persevere in the same error and to bear witness to the father of evil, the devil.

A Christian should be proud to not sin, wanting to please the Father and to remain in Him. What John the Apostle says, is the exact opposite of what is said by Bergoglio.

Moreover, the words of the Apostle Paul are artfully manipulated and exploited. St. Paul says to boast about his weakness, not about his sins (see: “The privileged place to meet Christ is sin“).