Galatians 6:13-18
"For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. 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. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen." Galatians 6:13-18. Last time we looked at us being dogmatic for the faith. There is much pressure from the world, and even from some in the church who have been influenced by the world to compromise the Scriptures, our convictions, and to have a philosophical pragmatic view on life. On one side you have the legalist who view themselves as being better than everyone else because in their eyes no one has attained to what they have attained to. On the other side you have the antinomians who are all loosey goosey and attribute all they do to the Holy Spirit which is blasphemous. There is a sense of pride in being so strict and being so loose. When these camps look at each other they compare themselves with each other which causes them to go even further in their folly. The legalist get stricter, and the antinomians get looser. Both camps say they are doing what they are doing for the Lord, but it is all for show, and for the praise of men. When we are dogmatic for the faith, we are making much about Jesus Christ, and we are focused on Kingdom work. We don't glory in our accomplishments, we glory in the cross of Christ.
"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," Galatians 6:14. "God forbid" in this verse means God forbid, may it never be, never happen, never come in to existence. May the Lord keep Paul from glorying in himself. Paul is not even trusting himself to keep from boasting in himself. "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not," Romans 7:18. Paul is crying out to God that God would grant him to never glory in himself while at the same time rebuking those who were glorying in themselves. Turn to I Corinthians 15:1-10. "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me," I Corinthians 15:10. Paul was an apostle of our Lord Jesus Christ; called by Christ, appointed by Christ, and sent by Christ. Paul had much he could boast in that could elevate him above all men in the church, and in Judaism. Turn to II Corinthians 11:16-12:10. Paul laboured greatly, and suffered greatly for the cause of Christ. He did not pull out his apostle card and demand to be treated better than any one else. Paul viewed himself through the cross of Christ. This is a very humbling and emptying view of ourselves. Augustus M. Toplady wrote a song that we all love. It is called "Rock of Ages". "Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee; Let the water and the blood, From Thy wounded side which flowed, Be of sin the double cure, Save from wrath and make me pure. Not the labor of my hands, Can fulfill Thy law's demands; Could my zeal no respite know, Could my tears forever flow, All for sin could not atone; Thou must save, and Thou alone. Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to Thy cross I cling; Naked, come to Thee for dress; Helpless, look to Thee for grace; Foul, I to the fountain fly; Wash me, Savior, or I die. While I draw this fleeting breath, When my eyes shall close in death, When I rise to worlds unknown, And behold Thee on Thy throne, Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee."
When we look at ourselves through the cross, the things of this world that people are chasing after no longer lure us. Our lives truly become about Kingdom work. We no longer desire to build our own little kingdom on earth, but we are focused on doing Kingdom work for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. There is a drive that the world influences us with that makes us want to be the best. With this influence comes the drive to climb the ladder of success, even if it means hurting others in the process. You view everyone as a competitor. You get to the top and you look down on others. You puff out your chest and say, look at me. Look what I have accomplished. Aren't I something. Turn to Philippians 3:1-10.
"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," Galatians 6:14. It is by the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ that this world is crucified unto Paul, and Paul unto the world. The word "world" in this verse means specifically; the wealth and enjoyments of this world, this life's goods. The bible is not telling us that we cannot have nice things, but rather, since the Lord has saved our souls, we no longer desire to have the greatest of the latest. Our focus has been shifted from earthly things to heavenly things. If the Lord sees fit to give us nice things while on this earth, great; but if not, great. The word crucified in verse 14 means figuratively, to crucify the flesh with its affections and lusts, meaning to mortify them, to put them to death, to destroy the power of sinful desires. As long as Paul was crucifying his flesh, walking in the Spirit, and serving his Lord and Saviour, he did not want the things of this world, and the world did not want him. If he were to compromise a little, then he would want the things of this world, and the things of this world would want him. In order to compromise a little he must take his eyes off of the cross, just a little. One glance away from the cross and our affections for the things of this world are ignited.
May the Lord grant us grace to examine ourselves to see if we are living for Him, or for ourselves. Who is driving us to do what we do? May we be driven by the cross of Christ. Please send questions and comments to richardsonbaptistchurch@gmail.com. Soli Deo Gloria.
