05/26/2026
May 26
"The Glory of The Cross"
Part I
Text: Galatians 6:14 (NKJV)
14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Devotional Thought:
Paul is finishing his letter to the Galatians here; his audience was converted under his preaching. But now, false teachers had entered the church! What were they teaching? They were teaching two things that were tempting the church to lose its power and gospel witness to the world:
• That circumcision was necessary for salvation, and,
• To be a true Christian, you must return to the old Jewish Law of rituals and ceremonies.
So, Paul confronts the false teachers and exposes the three carnal motives in their hearts:
Motive #1: This was to gain fleshly approval instead of God's approval: "Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised" (v.12A). The false ministers sought a good showing. They sought world popularity and acceptance. Their goal or motive was to have people love them more than God and the truth.
Motive #2: Was to put pleasure before commitment:
"The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ'' (v.12B).
It was very unpopular for the minister to preach that Jesus alone was the way to the Father. The preachers of law persecuted the preachers of the cross who taught the way of grace. Thus, many took the easy way out to avoid any persecution.
Motive #3: Was to put on a good show:
"Not even those who are circumcised obey the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your flesh" (v.13).
The false ministers were competing and comparing and looking for validation and approval. They wanted to circumcise many so that they could boast about their numbers. Appearance and looking good before men were foremost in their thinking. In other words, image, ego, and appearance all got in the way of pleasing God.
But God has a better way! He tells us what it means to boast in the Lord and glory in the cross:
• It means the cross is the only boast of a true minister or servant of Jesus in his church.
• It means the cross is my only approach to a Holy God.
• It means the cross is the only thing I can ever really brag about.
• It means the cross is the only power to change us from the inside out.
Why is the cross of Jesus the only truth we can ever boast about? Paul gives us four reasons which we will cover tomorrow.
My Take-A-Way:
"My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought! My sin, not in part but, the whole, is nailed to the cross and I hear it no more, praise the Lord, praise the Lord,0 my soul" (Horatio Spafford).
