Boasting in the Cross

I was reminded of an interesting pastime for me. The changes in styles over the years. I think of the crazy things people wear today, but I am also aware of the crazy things we wore in the 90’s and 80’s. British Knights shoes, jams with matching tank tops, Cavaricchi’s, MC Hammer pants, pants tightly rolled up, overalls with one side down. What about hair? I saw pictures of my parents they did the same. Times change and not just with clothes and hair. Even standards and morals. Many things seem strange, but one of the things that might have seemed strange to the first century Roman or hellenistic Jew is all the crosses. Today we have in on t-shirts, decorations in our homes and cars, we wear it around our necks, people have it tattooed on our arms and backs. We got big ones in our churches.

Today it is a sign and symbol of our faith, but in the first century it was an instrument of death and not just any death, but one that was cruel and agonizing. It was not just to kill, but to degrade and humiliate. Nailed to a cross naked and beaten and everyone who walked by you cursed you or even spat on you. The shock of it to a person from that century to see someone wearing that instrument around their necks. Roman citizens were not executed this way…thats how bad it was.

What would we think if we went to the future and saw electric chairs around peoples necks, pictures of gas chambers adoring the walls of peoples homes, right in the middle of the wall in a church sanctuary was an actual lethal injection table hanging. Singing hymns about clinging to that old rusty electric chair. That is the radical nature of how Paul closes this letter. Just think about how it would make the people feel when Paul tells them that their boasting should be in the cross. Or when Jesus said take up your cross and follow Him? Scandal. Try to put yourself in that situation today when the apostle in telling you boast in an instrument that put criminals to death.

Galatians 6:11–18 NLT

Notice what large letters I use as I write these closing words in my own handwriting. Those who are trying to force you to be circumcised want to look good to others. They don’t want to be persecuted for teaching that the cross of Christ alone can save. And even those who advocate circumcision don’t keep the whole law themselves. They only want you to be circumcised so they can boast about it and claim you as their disciples. As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died. It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. May God’s peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God. From now on, don’t let anyone trouble me with these things. For I bear on my body the scars that show I belong to Jesus. Dear brothers and sisters, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

I. By My Own Hand

- How important is it?

A. This letter is extraordinary in the literary devices we find. Now in the beginning we saw Paul writing something twice for emphasis. Now we see him not using a scribe but in his own handwriting writing in big letters.

B. This is not because he had bad eyesight or that he believed his readers had bad eyesight. He is making a point of emphasis. He is being as emphatic as you can be when writing a letter. Its like text messages in all caps!

C. Please please listen up. What I have to say here in conclusion is extremely important. If you missed everything else, do not miss this. This is my final appeal to you in this letter.

II. Cross-Centered Humility

- Christianity is about inward change, not outward observance.

A. v.12 and 13 Paul wants us to see that the false teachers here are motivated by self-interest and their own agenda. Essentially they manipulators, compromisers, hypocrites, and braggers.

B. They essentially force you to do something and it is not for your benefit but for their benefit. Because by doing this they are trying to get others to be impressed with them. They want to be accepted. They don’t want to be persecuted for the truth.

C. This is the great deception in the church today. The line between offense and acceptance is truly blurred. In many ways it has become the same thing. We say that we do not want to be offensive to the world so we compromise for that sake. But are we really being honest? Is it that we don’t want to be offensive, or are we trying to be accepted? Think about this the next time you hear of churches making glaring compromises because they don’t want to be offensive. Is it really that we don’t want to be offensive, or are we trying to be accepted.

D. There is so much about Christianity that is offensive to the World.

Galatians 5:11–12 NLT

Dear brothers and sisters, if I were still preaching that you must be circumcised—as some say I do—why am I still being persecuted? If I were no longer preaching salvation through the cross of Christ, no one would be offended. I just wish that those troublemakers who want to mutilate you by circumcision would mutilate themselves.

People are offended what they are told that we are too weak and sinful to do anything to contribute to their salvation. Liberal-minded accuse the gospel of being intolerant because it states that Jesus is the only way. Even conservative minds are offended when the cross asserts that good people are just as bad as bad people. The cross offends.

1 Corinthians 1:23 NLT

So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense.

E. That is why they don’t want to preach the cross. They don’t want to be persecuted. They want to impress people. The false teachers are worshipping approval. That is what Paul says is going on with their teaching. They got into religion for the fame, prestige, money, and honor they get from the world.

F. That is why there is a huge concern for appearances and acceptance by the world, the false teachers are focusing on the externals and behavior rather than the internal change of heart, motives, and character. The gospel is inside out… simply focussing on behavior and not dealing with the heart is outside out and it will always be superficial.

G. Oh and all the boasting. All their accomplishment and all their followers.

III. Cross-Centered Boasting

- “I will never.”

A. May it never come to pass. This is the strongest negative that can be used to describe this. He is trying to use the strongest language possible to make it clear … Do not boast in anything but the cross. To make much of, to be consumed with, to be mastered by. And what a great summary of the gospel.

Galatians 6:14 NLT

As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died.

B. Because of the cross I am united with Christ. Because of the cross the wrath of God will not be poured out on me. Because of the cross I am dead to the world and the world is dead to me. Because of the cross I am a new creation. My life is no longer for the things of the world, but for the glory of Christ. “Thats the problem with you Shane, you are no good to the world you live in, what good are you?” My life is not to make the world a better place, my life is to glorify the Lord. My boast is in the Cross of Christ and so I will take mine up and follow Him.

C.

C. All we have at the end is Christ. Christ and Christ alone.