Galatians 6:14
But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
The Galatians had been assailed by men who sought to bring them back into compliance with the Jewish Law—especially circumcision—even though they had been set free from that system by Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. These Jewish leaders would boast in their own accomplishments in this regard, while Paul chose to boast only in “the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Are there any aspects of your Christian life that you tend to take pride in? Perhaps your devotional or prayer life? Maybe it’s the many roles you play at your local church or your ability to lead a small group or bible study.
Paul had a lot more to boast about than either you or me:
“If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: Circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless” (Phil 3:4-6).
Yet, despite his incredible accomplishments as a Jew, he dismissed them all:
“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith” (Phil 3:7-9).
The center of Paul’s faith was not his ministry, nor any other ability he possessed. The epicenter of it all was the cross of Jesus Christ. He certainly could have boasted about Jesus’ life or resurrection or ascension…but he chose the bloody cross. Spurgeon wrote that, “…the apostle selected beyond all these that center of the Christian system, that point which is most assailed by its foes, that focus of the world’s derision—the cross. Learn, then, that the highest glory of our holy religion is the cross. The history of grace begins earlier and goes on later, but in the middle point stands the cross.”
Lastly, Paul makes an emphatic statement about his relationship to this earthly life: The world and its system was dead to him…and from the world’s perspective, Paul was as good as dead, too. Neither offered the other anything of value. Excellent! We should all long for the same great divorce…as far apart as Heaven is from Hell. Yet, that is usually easier said than done, isn’t it? Nevertheless, let us all return our gaze to our Savior’s cross, as the old hymn says…
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace
NOTE: This is the end of our journey through Galatians! I would really appreciate your feedback, so please shoot me an email with your thoughts/input!
I’m going to take a short break for the next two weeks then I will begin a new series through Colossians!
