Boasting in the Cross

Galatians 6:11-18

Good morning. Today we are concluding our study of Galatians. A book like Galatians is so refreshing to me, so freeing. A back to basics reminder about Christ and us.

It’s very interesting the way that this final section is written. You’ll notice that Paul begins by saying “see with what large letters I write. with my own hand” What in the world does that mean? Well this is very unusual.

Most ancient letters were written with the help of a scribe. You can imagine with a letter like Galatians, Paul pacing the floor back and forth dictating the contents of the letter to a scribe while he frantically writes down everything that Paul was saying.

We know this from other letters of Paul, like Romans, that this is the method that he used for his letter writing. Some have speculated as to the what and why that Paul would use a scribe instead of write it himself. We can’t know for sure. But what we do know is here at the conclusion of Galatians Paul takes the pen from the scribe and starts writing himself.

I would love to be able to see the original document, I’ve always wondered just how big the font actually was. Paul is writing in caps lock, underlined, bold print. He’s wrapping up this letter reiterating and applying the whole contents of the letter himself.

I think you can sum up what the thrust of the letter has been about from verse 14, bottom line what is the concern? That we would be a people who boast only in the Cross.

The false teachers wanted the people to boast in themselves and ultimately have that boasting reflect back on the false teachers. They wanted some of the glory that was due only to Christ. But Paul says here, “far be it from me to board except in the cross of Christ.”

That’s the thrust of the letter, that’s the summary of the gospel. Just how is that? How does that work, what does that mean?

It sounds strange doesn’t it to boast in the cross? Maybe not so much to use because we’re so used to talking about the cross, but fundamentally the cross is a weapon of torture and execution. It would be like saying “I love the firing squad!” What a strange thing to say. So what does Paul mean by this, boasting in the cross?

Well boasting is how we verbalize our confidence. Pastor Todd Wilson says “It’s how we make hope audible. Boasting is hope you can hear.”

So think about this. We think boasting is a bad thing. It is in some sense isn’t it? If I were to get up and say “I’m better than you and here’s why!” That would be probably the normal way we think of boasting. But in Paul’s mind boasting is how we express our hope and confidence. In that sense we boast all the time through our words and actions don’t we?

What do you boast in by your words and actions? Is your new car going to bring you happiness? Is getting that job offer finally going to complete you? Will your health solve your problems?

We boast in all sorts of things don’t we? Where does your confidence lie this morning?

See this is the great claim of this book. If your confidence is in something in you, or something outside of you that isn’t Christ… The bible says it counts for nothing. It’s all useless and vanity apart from Christ.

What a claim!

Let’s look at this. Paul says here in these first verses that the false teachers want to make a good showing in the flesh. We’ve talked about circumcision and the issue of the law of Moses in past weeks. They were teaching that salvation would come through correct living. Why did they teach that? Clearly, they wanted to make sure they looked like superstars.

There’s such a pull there isn’t there? To look good in front of other people. I don’t simply mean that you’re having a good hair day, but that you don’t look like a fool because of what you believe. You can say one of two things to someone when they inquire about the hope that is within you. You can say “i’ve worked really hard to be where I am, and i’m confident I measure up.” Or you can say “I have placed all of my trust in an executed jewish man from 2000 years ago who claimed to be God and was resurrected from the dead.”

In 1 Cor 1 Paul says that message is foolishness to those who are perishing. Executed God-Men and resurrected dead mean are scifi fantasy, not the basis for hope and salvation to the world. There’s a popular church out there who isn’t talking about blood and resurrection today because they know its not an easy pill to swallow so they might attract more people with a more palatable message.

Paul would have strong big bold letters for that church. Far be it from me to boast except in the cross of Christ. You may think it is foolishness, but I am confident that it is my only hope. If God did not die for me, I am lost. There is nothing I can do to save myself.

Have you been crucified to the world and the world to you? What is the first commandment? You shall have no other gods before me. That is what this crucifixion is that Paul speaks of. The world and its gods are dead to you if you are alive in Christ. You have no more hope in the promises of the kingdom of death and hell. Only in Christ.

Now see what he says. It’s not doing one thing or not doing another thing that matters. Only a new creation. All the talk of death in this book, the goal is life. Crucifixion did not happen so that there would be death, ultimately, but so that we would have life.

See if you consider life on a spectrum of making sure you don’t do too much and do enough… Paul says you aren’t even playing the right game. It’s not about finding a nice balance in your life, it is about a new creation. Have you been crucified with Christ? If so you have been raised to new life. You are made new. You are a new creation. Your life isn’t dictated by the old system, it is in Christ. What matters is him, his work, his glory.

If you are here this morning and you’re looking for the right formula to fix your life, Paul explains right here, “there is no right formula!” Formulas don’t work!

What must I do to be saved! Do?? Do isn’t even the right word. It’s done! Christ did it. You need to be born again, Jesus tells nicodemus, you must be a new creation. You need to be made new!

How does that happen? Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us. How?? By the washing of regeneration and the renewal of the Holy Spirit.

Throw it away, throw it all away! Your confidence, your idols, your towers! Throw them away, cast them down! It’s Christ! Christ is the object of our boast! We preach Jesus and him crucified! The cross says we needed death for our sin. Jesus went to it for us. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.

What does your life show believer? Confidence in you, or confidence in your Christ?

What happens when this is true of a person? Peace and mercy!

What do you want seeker, what do you want believer? Isn’t it peace? Isn’t it mercy? Where is it found? In the crucified and resurrected Christ. “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:1).

Now if you follow this Christ it will cost you. It may cost you your life, it may cost you your relationships, it may cost you your family. You will bear the marks of Jesus for this life. But they are badges of honor as we follow our king. He has called us to follow him. Sacrifice is costly, it’s painful. Jesus went to the cross for us, and from it he offers us his grace.

Believer look to Christ for all of life and find his grace there. Not a cheap grace, but a freeing grace. Keep your eyes on our savior and understand that this is yours “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ will be with your spirit, brothers and sisters.” Amen