Glory In The Cross
Jesus Lord's Day 11 Galatians 6 :11-18
11See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!
12Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh. 14May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. 16Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—tob the Israel of God.
17From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. —MATTHEW 1:21
Question 29: Why is the Son of God called Jesus, that is a Savior?
Answer: Because He saveth us, and delivereth us from our sins; and likewise, because we ought not to seek, neither can find salvation in any other.
Question 30: Do such then believe in Jesus the only Savior, who seek their salvation and welfare of saints, of themselves, or anywhere else?
Answer: They do not; for though they boast of Him in words, yet in deeds they deny Jesus the only deliverer and Savior; for one of these two things must be true, that either Jesus is not a complete Savior; or that they, who by a true faith receive this Savior, must find all things in Him necessary to their salvation.
Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."
Keeping the main thing the main thing is the hard thing for us as humans.
1. Glory in the Priority of the Cross
The apostle Paul knew how hard it is in churches to keep the main thing the main thing!
11See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand! Paul probably spoke to his mate Barnabas that day (maybe Barnabas) who had been taking down his dictated letter to the Galatians. The letter had started pretty hard! Galatians 1: 3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God's curse! 9As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God's curse!
And then Paul went to town on the Galatians! The next 5 chapters he gave them something to think about! They had strayed from the centrality of the gospel. And now Paul himself is going to underline what he is saying! In his own hand! In BIG letters!!
14May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
1Corinthians 15:1 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand,2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
A few years ago my doctor scheduled me an appointment with a dietician. Well it was a little awkward. The dietician went over all the things I should and shouldn't eat. It was a little like being in 4th class all over again. Then she said, "Look I will schedule you another appointment in 9 months." I said, "oh… I will probably miss that appointment!"
"it's in 9 months! Why will you miss that appointment! It is important! It is about how long you will live!"
"oh the GP has just told me I have 6 months to live. It appears I have stage 4 prostate cancer. I might have to miss that appointment!"
The dietician said, "Oh. I am so sorry! Oh no! Look forget everything I have said.. eat whatever you want! Why would anyone inflict me on you at this stage! I am so sorry!"
Well the good news is that the specialist discovered I didn't and don't have stage 4 prostate cancer! The bad news is I have to go see the dietician again sometime soon!
2. Glory in the Centrality of the Cross
CS So, pointing to the cross one last time, Paul sends a final rebuke against the rogue band of pirates who were attempting to hijack the faith of the Galatian Christians. As we examine what Paul has emphasized, we will see that it involves not only a succinct reprise of his argument but also a blunt reproof of the Judaizers.
Paul begins his reprise by readdressing the issue of inward reality versus outward religion. The Judaizers in Galatia had sneaked in to prey on the hearts and minds of the new believers. They compelled them to be circumcised —undergo the rite of initiation into the old-covenant Law —in order to "make a good showing" in the flesh. Whom were they trying to impress? Paul says they were trying to avoid persecution. At that time, persecution could come from two sources: Jews and Romans. In both cases, retaining the practice of circumcision would help Christians avoid unwanted wrath. To the Jews, circumcision would mean that the Gentile Christians were not converting to a competing faith but were willing to submit to the old order of things under the rules, regulations, restrictions, and rabbis of the long-standing tradition. To do so, however, not only betrayed Christ, who was the Mediator of a new covenant, but also set up a religion that was all show and no substance. Paul says that those who are circumcised "do not even keep the Law themselves" (6:13). Rather, the Judaizers simply wanted a "get out of persecution free" card and the opportunity to boast about the hard-earned converts to their own distorted, Judaistic Christianity.
Although we're two millennia removed from the original Judaizers, we're still tempted to boast in the flesh.
Some churches elevate something else other than Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.
Paul wrote to the Corinthians 1 Cor 2: And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.3 I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling,4 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.
He knew only one message counted. Only one thing was really important.
So often we get sidelined onto small distinctives of denominations and forget the main stuff is the main stuff. Modes of baptism is not the main thing. Amounts of water in baptism is not the main thing. Feast days or non feast days (Christmas trees or non Christmas trees) is not the main thing. The gospel of the cross is the main thing.
God the Son took human flesh to die as a sacrifice of atonement for my sins. That is the main thing!
Wesley and Whitefield were the great preachers God used in the great evangelical awakening in the early 18th Century. They differed over election and freewill. So Wesley separated from Whitefield over it. Someone once asked George Whitefield would he see Wesley in heaven? He replied, "No." "he will be so much closer to the throne of God than I that I will not see him for the glory that flows from the throne of the Lamb in heaven."
3. Glory in the Mercy of the Cross
16Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to the Israel of God.
Christianity isn't about our achievements. It's not about what we can do for God. It's about what God has done for us. In fact, a true understanding of the saving work of Jesus Christ on our behalf excludes all boasting in our own merit. Paul makes this clear elsewhere: "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast" (Eph. 2:8-9).
God chose us (Eph. 1:4). He sent His Son to die for us (Gal. 4:4). He gave us a new life we never could have earned (1 Pet. 1:3). His power and grace alone justified us, sanctify us, and will glorify us. We have nothing to boast about except the person and work of Jesus Christ. Every ounce of credit for who we are and for the hope that we have goes to the Savior who died for us at Calvary.
4. Glory in the Purity of the cross
14May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
The gospel does cause division. The great news of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone is one of those foundation stones of the Christian faith —right up there with the deity and humanity of Christ, the Virgin Birth, the Trinity, and the rest of those doctrines on which the whole Christian church stands or falls. Like Paul, we need to uphold the true gospel, refuting objections and refusing to compromise. Our failure to do this in our own day has allowed for a watered-down gospel that has accommodated and spawned numerous "varieties" of Christianity. The fact stands: A "different" gospel is not the gospel (1:6-7). It is heresy. Your family members, neighbors, co-workers, and friends may buy into a teaching at odds with the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith. Or they may be spinning their wheels in a religion of good works meant to win or to keep God's favor. Firmly resist the temptation to fudge on the faith. Refuse to change your clear understanding of grace simply to get along or to keep the peace.
5. Glory in the Victory of the Cross
15Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation.
"through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeK99QLzWO0
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