Galatians 6:14 - Glorying in the Cross.
Galatians 6:14 (NIV) May I never boast
except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,
through which the world has been crucified to me,
and I to the world.
INTRODUCTION
This is what the LORD says: "Let not the
wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man
boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his
riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast about this:
that he understands and knows me, that I am the
LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and
righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares
the LORD. Jeremiah 9:23, 24 (NIV)
Glory in this. The truly wise ascribe praise
to God alone, never to self. The knowledge of
God is the only true ground for glorying. That
man alone is truly wise in whose heart such
knowledge is treasured, for it is life eternal (John
17:3). This knowledge has an intellectual aspect
involving the understanding. Mans relationship to
God has a reasonable and intelligent basis. It
is no blind discipleship. Man is to serve God
with all the mind. But knowing God goes beyond a
merely theoretical understanding. It is an
experimental knowledge. It is practical. It manifests
itself in walking in Gods ways. [SDA Bible
Commentary re Jeremiah 9:24]
COMMENTARY PEARL
Glorying in the Cross
Christs death proves Gods great
love for man. It is our pledge of salvation. To
remove the cross from the Christian would be like
blotting the sun from the sky. The cross brings us
near to God, reconciling us to Him. With the
relenting compassion of a fathers love, Jehovah
looks upon the suffering that His Son endured in
order to save the race from eternal death, and
accepts us in the Beloved.
Without the cross, man could have no
union with the Father. On it depends our every
hope. From it shines the light of the Saviours
love, and when at the foot of the cross the sinner
looks up to the One who died to save him, he may
rejoice with fullness of joy, for his sins are
pardoned. Kneeling in faith at the cross, he has
reached the highest place to which man can attain.
Through the cross we learn that the
heavenly Father loves us with a love that is
infinite. Can we wonder that Paul exclaimed, God
forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of
our Lord Jesus Christ? Galatians 6:14. It is
our privilege also to glory in the cross, our
privilege to give ourselves wholly to Him who gave
Himself for us. Then, with the light that streams
from Calvary shining in our faces, we may go
forth to reveal this light to those in darkness.
AA209-210
COMMENTARY
The death of Christ upon the cross....That
which alone can effectually restrain from sin in
this world of darkness, will prevent sin in
heaven. The significance of the death of Christ will
be seen by saints and angels. Fallen men could
not have a home in the paradise of God without
the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Shall we not then exalt the cross of Christ? The
angels ascribe honor and glory to Christ, for even
they are not secure except by looking to the
sufferings of the Son of God. It is through the
efficacy of the cross that the angels of heaven are
guarded from apostasy. Without the cross they would
be no more secure against evil than were the
angels before the fall of Satan. Angelic perfection
failed in heaven. Human perfection failed in Eden,
the paradise of bliss. All who wish for security
in earth or heaven must look to the Lamb of
God. 5BC1132-3
If men would contemplate the love of Christ,
displayed in the cross, their faith would be
strengthened to appropriate the merits of His shed blood,
and they would be cleansed and saved from sin.
5BC1132-3
Let all, from the highest to the lowest,
understand what it means to glory in the cross of
Christ. That cross is to be bravely and manfully
borne. Christ declares, "If any man will come after
me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross,
and follow me. SD231-2
We must never allow anything to interfere
with the consecration of our spiritual power.
Consecration (being dedicated to God's service) is our
part; sanctification (being set apart from sin and
being made holy) is God's part. We must make a
deliberate determination to be interested only in what
God is interested. [In His Time; My Utmost For
His Highest]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY
Jeremiah 9:24 - Spiritual Bullet
http://www.abible.com/devotions/1997/19971020-0000.html
Jeremiah 9:23-24 - How To Boast.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2005/20050606-0850.html
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2018/20181009-1009.html
1 Corinthians 1:31 (NIV) Therefore, as it is
written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."
[devotional pending]
Philippians 2:3 - Humility Builds
Relationships.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230801-0924.html
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
https://abible.com/links/
