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Galatians 6:1-18

¹ Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. ² Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. ³ For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴ But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. ⁵ For each will have to bear his own load.

⁶ Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. ⁷ Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. ⁸ For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. ⁹ And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. ¹⁰ So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

¹¹ See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. ¹² It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. ¹³ For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 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. ¹⁵ For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. ¹⁶ And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

¹⁷ From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

¹⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Far be it from me to boast except in the guillotine. Far be it from me to boast except in the lynching rope. Far be it from me to boast except in the electric chair. Sounds odd, right? But what Paul says here is even more shocking, “Far be it from me, may it never be, [even] God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

In Paul’s day, you didn’t utter the word ‘cross’ in polite circles, but now it is the cause of boasting. The cross is, arguably, the most brutal form of execution, the most horrific instrument of death, that has ever been devised. Designed to make death as slow as possible, the cross is symbolic of defeat and humiliation. But for Paul and for you, the cross reveals God’s power.

God forbid that we should boast except in the cross because, by the cross, the world has been crucified to you and you to the world. On the cross, Jesus ended the Law’s accusations against you by taking your sin and guilt into Himself. Jesus knew what He was doing. And, now, it is finished. On the cross, Jesus has purchased and won the world for Himself. He has opened eternal life to all believers.

While the world around you beats its chest in accomplishments, possessions, and power, you boast in the cross. You boast in the cross and the world laughs. “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God…. Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom. But we, we preach Christ crucified – a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles.… I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Cor. 1:18, 22-23, 2:2).

Know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Keep the cross as the lens through which you see everything else because, on the cross, God was reconciling the world to Himself (2 Cor. 5:19). When you sin, remember Jesus died on the cross. When you are sinned against, Jesus died on the cross. When you do a good work, Jesus died on the cross. When your family is torn apart, Jesus died on the cross. When your relationships are fantastic, Jesus died on the cross. When you are thankful for the country and freedoms God has given you, Jesus died on the cross. When the world falls into chaos and your liberty is taken away, Jesus died on the cross.

God forbid that we should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, but why? Because by the cross, the world has been crucified to you and you to the world. Because of Christ’s crucifixion, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision, nothing you do or do not do, neither your obedience nor your disobedience, counts for anything. The only thing that matters, the only thing that counts, is a new creation.

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Cor. 5:17). You, believer, are in Christ.

On the cross the old way of the world died. With the resurrection, the life of the new creation has begun. On the cross, Christ gave Himself to deliver you from the present evil age (Gal. 1:4). This evil age is crucified, but it is not yet buried. The crucifixion of the world is not yet complete. You feel the evil of this age, and your own sinful flesh still clings to you. But those things no longer dictate your thoughts or way of life. You are in Christ and live by faith. You are a new creation. Through faith you perceive the new world which is dawning.

And you don’t have to wait. Your Lord is here with you now. He is coming to you – Body and Blood in Bread and Wine. Here is a foretaste of the eternal feast to come in the new creation. He comes again to make you new. Peace and mercy be upon you all. Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.