March 21, 2016

Galatians 6:14  NLT - "As for me may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world's interest in me has also died."

Commentary:

As we enter into this Passion Week our thoughts should go to the Cross of Christ.  Paul emphasized that his "boast" or "glory" was not in anything else but in that cross.  He knew that on that cross Jesus died and so did we as he speaks here as well as in chapter 2 and verse 20.  The cross of Christ is the place where Christ accomplished the two primary victories over sin:  He died paying sin's penalty but He also died stripping sin of its power!

As we trusted in Christ to be our Savior we enter into those victories.  Sin can no longer condemn us!  Christ paid that penalty for us.  Also, sin can no longer dominate us!  Christ defeated sin's power once and for all.  We are forgiven and we are set free.  Forgiven of our sins, and set free from the strangle-hold sin had on us.

Also, the world has been dealt with as well.  When we were "crucified with Christ" we died to our desire to follow the world and the world, in a sense, died to its interest in us!  Think of when you got saved.  The "things of the world" no longer held an interest to you.  And you, as a Christian, certainly gave the world no reason to be interested any longer in you!  You may remember how some of your worldly friends turned away from you.  But that is part of what it means to "bear His reproach," Hebrews 13:13.  May we glory in the Cross of Christ and be glad of the freedom and victory we find in it.