Glory In The Cross

The book of Galatians was written by the Apostle Paul to combat false teaching that the Galatian Christians had believed. Paul says to them, “who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth?” The Judaizers were the culprits, stating that circumcision was essential for salvation along with faith in Jesus. Paul masterfully deals with this issue throughout the epistle, but when he comes to the end, he takes one last jab at the Judaizers. He points out something very interesting (read verse 12).

Here Paul points out that the reason they want to use circumcision is because they want to “make a fair show in the flesh.” They want something to brag about. Paul exposes what they are really after. They “desire to have you circumcised,” he says, “that they may glory in your flesh.” All they want is to brag about converts. That alone would be bad enough, but they were adding something to salvation. This was truly reprehensible.

DOES BOASTING HAVE A PART TO PLAY IN OUR SALVATION?

Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Illustration: Can you imagine? “I led 500 people to Christ on earth. That’s why I’ve got such a big mansion.” “I started a homeless shelter and helped over 500,000 people.” “Oh yeah? I gave millions of dollars to missions. You can’t put a price on that many souls!”

We love to brag, don’t we? God knows this. Salvation is not connected to works in any way, so there’s nothing to brag about.

Romans 3:25-27, “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.”

Our glorious salvation was designed in such a way that there is nothing you can boast about. You are a worthless sinner with no merits, and yet Jesus died for you. To receive the gift of eternal life, you have to simply believe in Christ as your Savior. No works necessary. And so, boasting is excluded.

WHAT ABOUT AFTER SALVATION? IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN BOAST ABOUT?

Jeremiah 9:23, “Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches.”

God gives us the three things we tend to boast about: wisdom, might, and riches.

Some boast about their WISDOM. They have a Ph.D in some intellectual something or other, and they let you know it. Perhaps they are an “expert” in some field of study. Perhaps their IQ is off the charts. God says, “Don’t glory in your wisdom.”

Some boast about their MIGHT. This might be physical might, financial might, political might, or military might. Illustration: Muhammed Ali on plane, Superman don’t need no seatbelt. God says, “Don’t glory in your might.”

Some boast about their RICHES. They have millions of dollars, or maybe even billions, and so they have everything they need. They can get anything they want. They have the nicest house (or several), the fanciest cars, and all the luxury you could imagine. They are living high off the hog. God says, “Don’t glory in your riches.”

You might be thinking, “Well, I don’t have wisdom, might, or riches.” But hold on, there’s still plenty you could boast about. You could boast about your health, your job, your beauty, your ambitions, your dreams, your talents, your accomplishments, and the list goes on.

We shouldn’t boast about these things. So what CAN we boast about?

Jeremiah 9:24, “But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.”

If you must boast, then boast about God. Glory in the fact that you know God. Now THAT is something to glory about!

WHEN IT COMES TO SALVATION, THERE IS ONLY ONE THING WE CAN BOAST ABOUT

Galatians 6:14, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”

Why should we glory exclusively in the cross? Three reasons:

1. The cross shows the love of God

Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”