Boasting Only in the Cross

Brothers and sisters in Christ, today we conclude our study of Paul’s letter to the Galatians. Paul’s primary purpose in writing this letter was to warn them about the Judaisers, the so-called super apostles, who were trying, and very nearly succeeding in convincing the church to believe a false gospel—a gospel of works righteousness.

It is no wonder then, that after teaching the church how to identify false teachers, by identifying the false teachings, he now turns his attention to restoring those who have sinned. The sins Paul refers to, is any transgression. It could be the transgression of abandoning the gospel preached to them by Paul, being caught up by a new wave of doctrine, false doctrine, and not being mature enough to see it. I can refer to being caught in sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.

Notice, that this is exactly what Paul is doing for the entire congregation. He is one who is spiritual, who is restoring the congregation in a spirit of gentleness. Paul has consistently expressed his incredible love for them throughout the letter. It is precisely his love for them that has caused him to write this letter.

Like a parent who cries out in a loud, harsh voice, “Stop!” to her child who is about to run into a busy street, Paul has been crying out to the Galatians, “Stop!” Don’t go any further toward the wide and dangerous path that leads to destruction. Don’t continue listening to the false teachers. Don’t believe them.

How do Christians today respond when someone is found in any transgression? Are Christians today mature enough to restore the transgressor? Or do they instead commit sin by gossiping or slandering behind their back?

Isn’t it easier to give others a pass, out of the realisation that as sinners, how can we confront sin in others? Who are we to try to restore someone else? What do we do when they get defensive and accurately point out our sin?

A spiritual person, like Paul, like Paul in this concluding chapter, relies on maturity, spirituality, the Holy Spirit, the scriptures, to restore the brother or sister. There is an obligation toward others, to restore them. This means confronting sin. It means being plain about it. It means bringing them to the scriptures and showing them, “This is what God’s Word says. This is how we are to live in Christ. We can’t just do whatever we want. You’re going astray. I’m seeking to restore you, to put you back on the path.”

By using the word “anyone,” incidentally, Paul shows that no one, not one Christian in any place is perfect.

I confess that I have sinned. I confess that I have not always acted with maturity. With regard to the conflict between me and Josh, I have not conducted myself with maturity, spirituality, humility and love. God is slowly revealing these things in me. I have benefitted from the counsel of spiritual men and women. They have gently shown me my sin, and by God’s grace I am being restored.

Please understand, we are to correct one another, according to the scriptures. This is Truth, capital T. These are words of eternal life. Nothing compares to this. You can trust these words. You can trust the creator to know what works best for His creation. Trust God. Trust His Word.

Paul continues to wrap up his letter with further instruction: if anyone things he is something when he is nothing, deceives himself. There has been a dramatic shift in North American Christianity in the last 30-40 years. It is a shift toward pragmatism, toward skills, abilities and results. Churches in North America focus on hiring people who can do, who can gather folks around them, who produce results. That’s what the church desires today.

But is that what God prioritizes? Consider the teachings of Proverbs, James, and 1 Timothy. What we discover is that God isn’t interested in skill, ability, charisma or results. God is interested in character. Examine your own heart, your own actions. I can only do the same, and I confess, too often I have depended upon me, and not enough on God. I working to change that.

This test of character, is what Paul is speaking about in verse 4. Let each one test his own work, taking seriously his own responsibility, then he will boast only in what he has done—not that doing anything earns our salvation—but that we will be judged and rewarded in heaven by what we have done, and not in comparison with what our neighbour has done. Each one of us will be held responsible for our own actions.

So, knowing this, doesn’t it make sense for the church leadership to do everything in their power to properly restore an errant brother or sister? This does not mean getting rid of someone who is sinning. It means coming to them, showing them their sin, not excusing their sin, but helping them take the needed steps to make things right. You who are spiritually mature, you who are older, and not as young and impetuous, you are to correct and restore, when your fellow Christians are found to transgress. You may not be in leadership anymore, but you still lead. Hold God’s people to the Truth in this Word. Do not stand idly by. Your work is not done.

Now, turning to those who teach things falsely, Paul warns: Do not be deceived—examine motives—was it for God’s sake that the Judaisers were teaching a false gospel, did they really think it was from God and for God? No, it was to preserve themselves. God will not be mocked. He knows the hearts of all people. Whatever one sows, that’s what he’ll reap. If you are sowing to save your life in this world, to make much of yourself here, to make much of what you believe is important, or to avoid pain, or to avoid pain in others, then you will reap what you sow.

But if, in listening to the Spirit, as you read the Word of God, and by striving to keep God’s Word, you sow what the Spirit is leading you to sow, and it truly is the Spirit, and not something out of your own mind that affirms what you want to believe (as was the case with Peter when he tried to correct Jesus when he was going on about having to suffer and die in Jerusalem), hey if Peter was led astray on more than one occasion, then we must be careful to avoid following his footsteps.

So, do good to everyone. Everyone, not just people who look like you, who are easy to hang with, everyone. Even those you initially might not like. There is only one race, the human race. People from every tribe, and nation and tongue will be in heaven. It’s easy to demonstrate your love for everyone here’s how: do good to everyone you meet. Look people in the eye, acknowledge them, address them directly. Give honour and respect, especially to those who are laid up on the street, resting in alcoves. No, you don’t have to give them money, but because they bear God’s image, for the sake of God and them, respect them. If you have time, talk. Listen to their story.

Paul concludes his letter with his own hand. He used scribes, but a sign of his letter’s authenticity was that he usually wrote the last few words in his own hand.

The false teachers make a big showing in the flesh, forcing people to be circumcised, only to save themselves, boasting in their flesh.

Paul refuses to boast. Well, except in the cross of Jesus Christ, his Lord. Paul knew he was nothing. The cross, like a mirror, showed him his guilt, his sin. But it also showed him his Saviour, his Lord. Paul, by his very life, echoed the words of Jesus’ cousin John, “I must decrease, Christ must increase, less of me, and more of him.” That’s what motivated Paul. And the good things we see in Paul’s life, those were the things God did in him.

Only Christ counts. And in Christ, we are new creations. We no longer have to live according to the old way. In Christ, the world has been crucified to you! You no longer have to listen to, and be caught up in the trappings of the world! What the world wants is in opposition to what the Spirit wants!

So let us walk in the Spirit, who rests upon the Israel of God. When you read those words, do not get caught up in the idea that the present Jewish nation is somehow still God’s promised people. God’s promised people are all who follow Jesus, taking up their cross and following after him. Together with them, we are the Israel of God.

Paul bore on himself the sufferings of Christ, the stonings, the beatings, the shipwrecks, the hunger, the thirst. In this he filled up the suffering of Christ. If we suffer, let us suffer for the sake of the gospel, and not for the sake of trying to look good, to be noticed by others. Let us not cause others trouble.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.