Boast In Christ

Read 11-16. The men troubling the Galatians wanted them to be circumcised that they might boast in their flesh. Paul had a different desire. Most of us are familiar with these verses. They are a challenge to us to boast in the Cross of Christ and not in any human accomplishment. Paul makes it very clear why this is to be our practice. First we…

Boast In Christ Because We Are Crucified v. 14

What is interesting about this statement of Paul’s is that he, more than anyone else, could have had reason to boast in the Galatians. “Boast” is the Greek word καυχάομαι (kauchaomai) meaning boast. To boast (exult) v. — to display or proclaim publicly (and ostentatiously) a satisfied contentment with one’s own or another’s achievements. Verb, present, either middle or passive, substantival infinitive.

Boast - καυχάομαι (kauchaomai)

Paul spent a lot of time investing in them. He led them to Christ and preached the gospel to them. But Paul desires only to boast in Jesus Christ. This is not to say that his actions with the Galatians were not good, right, and beneficial. There is a simple reality in the Christian life. Everything we accomplish is only through grace, mercy, and power of God! This means that we have no ability to boast in our own “accomplishments”. We do not actually have any. Therefore, Paul does not and cannot boast in what he has done.

Using some of the strongest language possible, Paul refuses to boast in anything other than the Cross of Christ. God forbid. NASB translates this as “may it never be”. Elsewhere in the NKJV it is translated “certainly not”. This is an emphatic statement. There is one thing that Paul will never do. He will never boast in himself or others. He will not proclaim satisfaction with his own achievements!

Instead, Paul boasts in the Cross. Why? Because through the death of Christ on the Cross we have been crucified to the world. The Cross is an instrument of death. That is its purpose. The Cross of Christ was used to put Jesus to death. When we trust in Christ we participate in that death. This means that we die with Christ. This theme is extensively explored in Paul’s writings. One place we find this is in .

Paul takes the concept of us having died with Christ and applies it to the need to die to sin and live new lives.

Notice how specific Paul is. He states that the world has been crucified to him and him to the world. The phrase “you are dead to me” implies that someone has departed so thoroughly from ones good graces that it is as if they died. Paul is saying that the world is dead to him. He is no longer interested in associating with it or having anything to do with the world. “World” is the Greek word κόσμος (kosmos) meaning world. World system n. — the people constituting the world whose values, beliefs, and morals are in distinction and rebellion to God’s. Noun (subject), nominative, singular, masculine.

World - κόσμος (kosmos)

World is the idea of those in rebellion to God. Those living contrary to the values, beliefs, and morals presented in Scripture. It is everything in contrast to the things of Christ. Paul further states that he has been crucified to the world. This relates the idea that the world does not love us as its own. We bring conviction on the world, we counter the culture in our pursuit of righteousness.

The Cross is what makes all of this a reality. We identify ourselves with the crucified and risen Lord and that alienates us from the world. Yet Paul states that He will boast in the Cross because of this alienation! We are Christ’s! That is something to boast in. Carrying the thought on, Paul reveals that we…

Boast In Christ Because We Are Changed v. 15

What is done in the flesh has no bearing on the spiritual reality of those in Christ. We are a new creation. For Paul, as a Pharisaic Jew, to write that circumcision accomplishes nothing is a big deal! “Avails” is the Greek word ἰσχύω (ischyō) meaning be able; have power. To be a force, avail. Verb, present, active, indicative, third person, singular.

Avails - ἰσχύω (ischyō)

Under the Law it was circumcision, as a sign of the covenant, that had power to identify you as one of God’s chosen people. Paul is saying that under grace circumcision has no power! Circumcision is a work. Works cannot earn God’s favor. Therefore, our works after salvation do not make us more or less acceptable to God. They bear on our fellowship not our relationship. Works done in Christ are done because we are new creations! This word “new” reflects the idea of being an original. Something never seen before. That is what the believer in Jesus Christ is! Something entirely new, something never before seen. We are saved by grace through faith!

Turn to .

The flesh is representative of the old things. They have passed away. As new creations in Jesus Christ we are to live transformed lives. Our lives in Christ ought to be as different from our old lives as death is from life! They are opposites.

Being circumcised or not has no power in Christ. What does have power? Being a new creation. We once were slaves to sin and Satan. Now we are free! states that we are created in Christ Jesus for the purpose of good works! Paul’s point about being a new creation is that now we work, not to be pleasing to God, but because we are already pleasing to Him in Christ! The question is no longer, “what can I do to be acceptable to God?” The question has become, “How then should a child of God live?”

This question is partially answered in the verse above. A child of God boasts in the Cross of Christ because it has set us free from the bondage of sin! A child of God boasts in Jesus Christ! A child of God publicly and ostentatiously proclaims satisfied contentment with what Christ has accomplished on our behalf!

We boast in Christ.

CHALLENGE: Boast. Not in self accomplishment, but in the accomplishments of Christ!

V. 14

Boast - καυχάομαι (kauchaomai) boast. To boast (exult) v. — to display or proclaim publicly (and ostentatiously) a satisfied contentment with one’s own or another’s achievements. Verb, present, either middle or passive, substantival infinitive.

The world - κόσμος (kosmos) world. World system n. — the people constituting the world whose values, beliefs, and morals are in distinction and rebellion to God’s. Noun (subject), nominative, singular, masculine.

V. 15

Avails - ἰσχύω (ischyō) be able; have power. To be a force, avail. Verb, present, active, indicative, third person, singular.

New - καινός (kainos) new. New (unseen) adjs. — original and of a kind not seen before. Attributive adjective, nominative, singular, feminine.

Creation - κτίσις (ktisis) creation. Divine creation n. — a object of creation brought into existence by God; as opposed to the creation considered as a whole. Noun (subject), nominative, singular, feminine.