Springs Of Life Bible Church

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		Easter 2009

MAY IT NEVER BE THAT I SHOULD BOAST
Galatians 6:14

INTRODUCTION
There have always been just two basic religions in the world: The religion of divine accomplishment and the religion of human achievement.

The religion of works-righteousness was begun with Satan’s rebellion against God.

Every human religion and cult denies the Triune nature of God, denies the deity of Christ (that in Him dwelt the fullness of the God-head in bodily form) and denies the utter necessity of Christ’s substitutionary atonement for sinners.

Only grace-centered, biblical Christianity is from God. Every other form of religion is from Satan, inspired by his demon spirits, promoted by his lying human agents and centered in works-righteousness.

Even the law and commands of God in the Old Testament were never given as a means of obtaining entrance into heaven. They were given to show that all were under sin and in need of a Savior.

Obtaining heaven by good works has never been and never will be possible for sinful man.

Paul makes one of the strongest statements in all of Scriptures against human achievement and for divine accomplishment concerning one’s hope of heaven when he says: May it never be that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.

MAY IT NEVER BE

May it never be translates “mē genoito”, and is a strong negative that carries the idea of virtual impossibility.

Paul uses it here to tell the Galatians that it was inconceivable for him even to think of boasting in anyone or anything but the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.

THAT I SHOULD BOAST

The Greek word boast “kauchaomai” carries the idea of having confidence in. Paul in Philippians 3:3 says that he boasts solely in what Christ has done for Him and puts no confidence in human effort.

Our boast, or our confidence, for salvation is not in what we do, but what Christ did on the cross. Thus Paul’s boast, or confidence, for his salvation was in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ alone.

Christians boast in the cross because Christ’s sacrifice there provided forgiveness from the penalty and guilt of sin to all who believe and brought eternal life where there was eternal death.

EXCEPT IN THE CROSS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

Jesus said that the divine requirement for men is to be perfect as God is perfect (Matthew 5:48), and it is only through the cross that divine perfection is graciously made available to those who believe and are given the perfect righteousness of Christ.

The person who believes in man’s inherited goodness or in his ability to earn his way to heaven makes a mockery of the cross as a demonstration of God’s love.

If men were inherently good, or if they were able to achieve their own salvation, then Christ’s death on the cross was a wasteful travesty on the part of God.

It is the power of the cross that purifies man from his sin and makes him presentable to God. 1 Peter 2:24.

When men identify themselves with Christ’s death on the cross, God the Father identifies them with the perfect righteousness of His Son, whose blood was shed there. Ephesians 2:13.

Believers will never face God’s judgment and condemnation for their sin because Jesus was judged and condemned in their place on the cross. Romans 8:1-3.

Only Jesus could withstand the indignation of the Father against sin; only Jesus could take the wrath we so richly deserve.

The cross properly understood exalts no one whom it does not first humble; it gives life only to those whom it first “puts to death.”

The cross exposes the futility of our self-righteousness; it reminds us that we are sinners, incapable of bringing about our own reconciliation with God.

The church can only live and breathe at the cross; without it, there is no life and no reason to exist.