GLORY IN THE SHAME!
Galatians 6:14
Today, at least in Western society, the cross is a perfectly acceptable symbol, a rather
harmless token of the Christian faith. Most people, except perhaps some of the trouble-making
sort, take no offense at all to the sight of a cross. In fact, many people who do not actively
follow Jesus Christ, still wear His symbol around their necks.
But did you know that originally, the cross was one of the most degraded and debased
symbols imaginable? In the earliest days of the Church, the cross was not only perceived by
society as an instrument of torture and death, but as a symbol of utter shame.
We need to understand that in the ancient mind, crucifixtion, and the cross as its symbol,
was regarded as vile and vulgar, and was used quite literally as a “curse word”. Crucifixtion was
clearly understood to be the crudest and most dishonourable form of death. So the concept of
a perfect God dying such a death (ON A CROSS) was absolutely ludicrous. Listen to what some
early historians had to say about the Christian message of the cross.
* The offense of the Christian cross was frequently described by the Greek word “mania”
which means “madness”. It was common for people to consider Christians mad for
believing that God would actually be nailed to a cross!
* The ancient historian, Plinius Secundus called the preaching of the cross “a perverse and
extravagant superstition” and said that Christian suffered from amentia (which is a
mental disorder).
* The orator Caecilius (a contemporary of Marcus Aurelius) said that Christians suffered
from “sick delusions” and a “senselessand crazy superstition” and adds, “Not least among
the monstrosities of their faith is the fact that they worship one who has been crucified.”
Martin Hengel, in his book, “Crucifixtion” states “A crucified messiah, son of God, or God
must have seemed a contradiction in terms to anyone, Jew, Greek, Roman or barbarian, asked to
believe such a claim, and it will certainly have been thought offensive and foolish.”
Perhaps we don’t understand that ancient mentality of hostility towards the preaching of the
cross but the Apostle Paul did. And though he KNEW that people regarded the idea of God on a
cross as vile and shameful, not only did he preach it, but he gloried in it! The educated,
sophistocated, former Jewish Rabbi and Sanhedrin ruler said that the only thing he found
worth bragging about was “the cross of Jesus Christ!” Paul said, “If I will do any bragging at all,
it will be in the cross of Jesus Christ!”
I find it utterly amazing that God could take the vilest of symbols, the cross, and turn it
into a glorious token of victory! That God Himself would not only visit us, but would allow
Himself to be viciously nailed to that “emblem of suffering and shame”, fills my heart and soul
with utter amazement! Only God could do such a thing! Only God could bring glory from the
shame!
And do not be mistaken! The crucifixtion of Jesus was truly a shameful event! It was at the
cross where our sins were dumped upon Jesus. It was at the cross where He became sin for us.
(Did you know that the cross was the closest that God has ever come to feeling like a sinner?)
He took it ALL for us! What a shame! But He defeated death! He defeated hell! He defeated
the grave! What a triumph! And Paul says, that’s worth bragging about!
It ought to be our attitude as well, to find glory in the message of the cross of Jesus Christ.
Let’s look a little more closely at Paul’s words, and notice why we can find glory in the cross and
why it’s message is so vital!
WHAT DOES THE PREACHING OF THE CROSS ACCOMPLISH...
I IT REGENERATES
A In context here, Paul is talking about those who try to impress God by the keeping of
laws.
1. There were a group of people called “Judiazers” who tried to compromise the gospel
by mixing in an adherence to the law. (They wanted to mix “grace” and “law”)
2. Paul says in verse 13, that these people couldn’t even keep the law themselves that
they were expecting others to keep.
B It’s really ridiculous when you think about it, that some people actually think that they
can impress God with their own goodness.
1. Such a belief system is known as RELIGION.
2. But we don’t need Religion -- we need a relationship.
3. The relationship that we can have with God is brought about by the fact that HE
DIED FOR US ON THE CROSS!
4. Paul was sure of this. He staked his whole life upon it.
C In I Corinthians 2:1-5 Paul said that the message of the cross was the KEY to his
ministry.
D In I Corinthians 1:18,19 Paul makes it crystal clear. YES, the cross seems foolish to
men. But it is the message of the cross that changes us!
II IT SEPARATES 14b
A The cross was a common byword for separation. It represented being cut off or cursed.
B Paul uses some very strong wording here then, when he says that “the world was cut off
or separated” from him, and he “from the world”.
C The point Paul was making is vivid but simple. The cross in our lives, changes everything.
1. An encounter with Jesus should change us.
2. Paul put it this way in Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer
I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by
faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
3. In Romans 6, Paul talks about how our “old man” has been “crucified with Christ” so
that we should no longer live as slaves to sin!
D Make no mistakes about it! The cross of Jesus separates!
1. It separates the saved from the lost.
2. It separates the sheep from the goats.
3. It separates the light from darkness!
E Please understand that God does not simply suggest that we as His people be separated,
but HIS CROSS demands it!
F Now, very quickly let me make a clarification. What does it mean to be separated?
1. Does it mean to have nothing to do with others who are not believers? NO!
2. Does it mean to be so religious that we are arrogant and obnoxious? NO!
3. To be separated means to no longer be driven by SELF.
a. Let me explain it this way. The word “holy” and “sanctified” mean basically the same
thing. They mean “to be separated.”
b. At the moment of salvation, God separates us from our sinful past. But then he
progressively separates us so that we will become more and more like Him. One day
we will be ULTIMATELY separated by being given perfect and sinless bodies.
c. The goal of a Christian is to be more and more like Jesus until this happens!
III IT UNITES v15,16
A I like how the NIV states this: “Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means
anything, what counts is a new creation.”
B So, while the cross separates us from the world, it also UNITES all believers!
C How does the cross unite us? It makes all who believe in Christ a family!
1. We have brothers and sisters all over the world!
2. We have kin folk that we haven’t even met yet.
In evil long I took delight,
Unawed by shame or fear,
Till a new object struck my sight,
And stopp’d my wild career:
I saw One hanging on a Tree
In agonies and blood,
Who fix’d His languid eyes on me.
As near His Cross I stood.
Sure never till my latest breath,
Can I forget that look:
It seem’d to charge me with His death,
Though not a word He spoke:
My conscience felt and own’d the guilt,
And plunged me in despair:
I saw my sins His Blood had spilt,
And help’d to nail Him there.
Alas! I knew not what I did!
But now my tears are vain:
Where shall my trembling soul be hid?
For I the Lord have slain!
—A second look He gave, which said,
“I freely all forgive;
This blood is for thy ransom paid;
I die that thou may’st live.”
Thus, while His death my sin displays
In all its blackest hue,
Such is the mystery of grace,
It seals my pardon too.
With pleasing grief, and mournful joy, My spirit now is fill’d
That I should such a life destroy, Yet live by Him I kill’d! - John Newton, 1725-1807
Conclusion: Have you humbled yourself at the foot of the cross of Christ? Are you born again?
If you are born again, are you showing through your life and lifestyle that you are not ashamed of the cross?
