“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. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.” Gal.6:14-16
Devotional Thought For The Day
In this book the apostle Paul details the wonders of God’s love – that the law given 430 years after the promises of justification and salvation by God’s grace, through fail alone, promises given to Abraham so as to form the people of God, those of the faith of Abraham, that this subsequent law of God cannot possibly “annul” the preceding gracious gift of forgiveness, justification, life and salvation which is received by faith alone. Paul clearly articulates that because of our sin no one can be “justified” by keeping the law of God, and just as clearly that Christ, in His suffering and death on the cross, has redeemed us from the law’s condemnation of our sin, and so he exclaims: “far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” There is nothing else that reconciles us to God, that cleanses away our sin and guilt, that can give us eternal life and salvation. In all of our guilt and shame – for which there is much just cause – this glorious reality of God’s love and mercy consoles and heals us. We dare never forget this; it is our life and salvation and the well-spring of all true goodness, decency, and love.
In fact, Paul observes that those who have this faith have “died” to the world, the principles of this world, those of law and justice. And we have not just died, but were brutally “crucified,” ripped and torn apart, completely severed – so that we might be returned to Jesus and restored as real children of God, people who live by faith [and this is continuous and durative reality, “being crucified” to the world]. Out of this death to self and world God makes a “new creation,” and this is the only thing that matters, for if the tree is made good then the fruit will also be good. Whatever in our lives that conforms externally to the “law” of love flows from this new creation, the nature of which is faith and trust and knowledge of the love of God, for it is God Who works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure [Phil. 2:13]. Those who “walk” by this rule, who live by this principle, are the real “Israel of God,” of the faith of Abraham and therefore his true children. For us there is only God’s peace and mercy upon us, thanks and praise be to God!
Now how shameful is it when Christ’s own Name is attached to religions which abhor the cross, or to religions that shun confessing our sins [which is the whole purpose of the cross, to provide us with forgiveness of sins], or which remain focused and fixated upon laws, insisting that only if we do these things are we justified and reconciled to God, proclaiming and pressing upon their adherents not the cross but rather our “doing”! And how easily we can be swayed in our own thinking, that our guilt and shame still severs us from Christ, that we must first reform ourselves before drawing near to God – and down the path we go in self-justification and rationalizing our evil ways, but rejecting the grace and mercy of God in Christ Jesus, in His cross. In reality, this is the most hideous sin we can commit – unbelieving rejection of Christ’s sacrifice, ingratitude for this wondrous gift of God.
We are ceaselessly looking for something to boast about, something in ourselves. The opposite, emptying ourselves of all boasting is painful and frightening – it feels like dying. But of course, all boasting in ourselves is insane delusion, in that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The only cure for this inbred idolatry is faith, which understands that there is nothing to boast in other than the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, and that this is no loss to us but rather great gain. For boasting in ourselves, in addition to being pure fiction, has only the reward from such delusion; but boasting in nothing except the cross of Jesus Christ acknowledges receipt of the benefits of that sacrifice – all that belongs to Christ. And while this is a painful dying to self, it is the only way to peace and mercy, and true glorification of God. So we pray that God grant us this grace, to walk by Paul’s “rule,” that we boast and glory in nothing except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, You humbled Yourself and gave up Your rightful Divine prerogatives for love of us, to redeem us and bring us back to God. Help us to follow You in dying to self, and in claiming only the treasure You have purchased for us with Your precious blood. Enable us to see this treasure so clearly that we refuse to boast in anything but Your cross. Help us to walk always by this “rule,” Your great gift of salvation and eternal life, a new creation. Amen.