Living Hope Church 20 May Our Only Boast Galatians 6:14

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1 Introduction Our Only Boast Galatians 6:14 A. One of the better known stories in the OT is the story of Gideon. The account is found in the book of Judges chapters 6-8 (depressing cycle - sin, judge, deliverance, sin). 1. Gideon is a simple, insecure farmer God chooses to deliver His people from the Midianites. Gideon is known for putting out a fleece (twice!) to confirm what God said He would do. An army of 32,000 gathers and the Lord speaks to Gideon: Judges 7:2-3 (ESV) [2] The Lord said to Gideon, The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, My own hand has saved me. [3] Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home and hurry away from Mt. Gilead. Then 22,000 of the people returned, and 10,000 remained. 2. The story goes on, and Gideon reduces the army from 10,000 to 300 (those who drank water by putting their hand to their mouth). Lest Israel boasts. B. There is a natural tendency in the human heart to boast about ourselves. We aim to impress others, we want credit for our accomplishments, and we tend to be self-absorbed. 1. In our text Paul slays boasting with one exception. Paul will boast in the cross of Christ. And, he wants us to understand the effect the cross has on our life as a Christian. I. Far be it from me to boast. A. Like Israel (Gideon), we are inclined to take credit for things we accomplish. Unless we take care, we may even forget God altogether when we prosper (the danger of Deut. 6). 1. We understand that the words we speak come from our heart (inner self). Our words give us away and Paul is determined not to boast. Why not? 2. The answer is there is only room for glory in one location (or person). Isaiah 42:8 (ESV) [8] I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols. 1

2 Isaiah 48:11 (ESV) [11] For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another. 3. Paul would not boast because he was his thinking was God-centered. The great apostle was well aware that everything he had was received. It was all of grace (undeserved). 1 Corinthians 4:7 (ESV) [7] For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? B. What is the effect on our thinking, our hearts, when we realize we are receivers? Surely there is gratitude in our hearts and our life is filled with humility and love. 1. The Apostle Paul put it this way to the church in Ephesus: Ephesians 4:1-3 (ESV) [1] I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, [2] with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, [3] eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 2. We put aside boasting about ourselves because we have a bigger cause. Proverbs 27:1-2 (ESV) [1] Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. [2] Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips. Ex: You know the sting of someone taking credit for your idea, your accomplishment, or your work. The sting is we want the credit. We want the glory. 3. We put aside boasting about ourselves because we have something bigger and better to talk about (or someone). The Apostle puts it like this (boasting dies): Galatians 6:14 (ESV) [14a] But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. II. I will boast in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (the exception). A. Why this boast? Paul could have boasted he was a Hebrew of Hebrews, or his genealogy is traced back to Abraham, or his zealous efforts to keep the law. There are 4 reasons: 1. One, Christ died for us. 2

3 Romans 5:6-9 (ESV) [6] For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. [7] For one will scarcely die for a righteous person though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. [9] Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. Christ died for us (the ungodly) which shows His love for us (joy set before Him). We were rebels, enemies, traitors, and like dumb sheep we were going astray. Jesus stepped into our place. 2. Two, Christ died for us that He might bring us to God. 1 Peter 3:18 (ESV) [18] For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit. If God isn t in the gospel we don t have good news. God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) is light, God is life, God is love, God is sovereign, God is our delight. The only thing of transcendent importance to human beings is the knowledge of God. D. A. Carson in The Cross and Christian Ministry, p Three, Christ died for our sins (this is wonderful news). 1 Corinthians 15:3 (ESV) [3] For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures. 4. Four, Christ died our death (in my place condemned He stood). The wages of sin, what we justly earned, is death. We deserve wrath, but instead, in Christ, we get mercy and grace. 1 Peter 2:24 (ESV) [24] He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. Isaiah 53:6 (ESV) [6] All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. B. The cross is our boast because by the death of Jesus on the cross we gain life. Our sin was so awful that there was no other way for God to save us and be just. 3

4 1. How does this news land on you? Can you boast about yourself in view of your sin? Can you boast about yourself when you look at Jesus? 2. What grips you? What arouses your passions? What do you glory in (your obsession)? Excites you? The key to grasping the gospel is to see our sin and see our Savior. III. The cross is offensive by nature! And we can only grasp its sweetness if we first grapple with its offense. If someone understands the cross, it is either the greatest thing in their life, or it is repugnant to them. If it is neither of those two things, they haven t understood it. Tim Keller in Galatians for You, pp The effect of the cross on the Christian A. Paul, in this text, simply says he has died to the world. This means he no longer looks to the world for life, or approval, or love, because his life is found in Jesus Christ alone. 1. The applause of people will fade away, possessions and riches will burn up, and we find ourselves measuring this life by eternity. Only one life, yes only one, now let me say, Thy will be done ; And when at last I ll hear the call, I know I ll say twas worth it all ; Only one life, twill soon be past, only what s done for Christ will last. C. T. Studd 2. We die to self so we gain life. We no live, but Christ lives in us. This means that as other people encounter us they meet Jesus through our Christlikeness. Galatians 2:20 (ESV) [20] I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. B. I take up my cross meaning I die to myself. 1. We live to bring glory to God. He is our life, He is our boast. Luke 14:25-27, 33 (ESV) [25] Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, [26] If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. [27] Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple... [33] So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. 4

5 2. We share Jesus with others. Here at Living Hope we say it this way: We proclaim Jesus Christ to everyone to present everyone mature in him. Close Pray C. Do you know Jesus? Do you know your sins are forgiven? Have you surveyed the wondrous cross? Is Jesus your boast? Ask and you will receive. 1. When you have Christ you have the rule and reign of God meaning peace, love, joy, are yours by faith. And, therefore, we boast in Him. He is our life. A. It is the wise person who follows Jesus. It is folly, it is shortsighted, it is vanity, to live any other way. His love demands your soul, your life, your all. 1. No matter what we face as we follow Him, on that final day, we will look and say that it was worth it all. He will wipe away every tear. 2. And in eternity, we will marvel at the Lamb that was slain for us. B. The cross of our Lord Jesus Christ is our boast now and it will be our boast then. We sing about it now and we will sing about it then. 1. The cross is the way we are accepted by God. That is all that matters and that is why the cross is our boast. Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. For web posting, a link to this document on our website is preferred. Any exceptions to the above must be approved by Living Hope Church. Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: By Kenneth Mellinger Website: 5