May I Never Boast except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ

 Read Galatians 6

I know that you are excited.  How could you not be?  We have another chance to talk about circumcision.

Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh. 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. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation.

What is it to be persecuted for the cross of Christ?  This is what Paul did for a while.  We knew him as Sault back then.  It’s more than that.

The cross tells us that all fall short of the glory of God.  Jesus was nailed to that cross because of our sin that we could not reconcile with God.  Only Jesus could do that and he did.

You either receive the cross as one of the main symbols of your salvation or you must fight against it and hold fast to the law, even though the law had no efficacy when it came to salvation.

The law permitted religious leaders to exercise control over people.  The law made them feel like masters and those whom they should have been shepherding, they turned into slaves. Christ set us free.  Why would anyone want to return to slavery?

Circumcision was just the most obvious and newsworthy point in this dichotomy. We also see Paul plant a seed that he will develop further in other letters, that of the new creation.  The old is gone.  The new has come.

Let’s jump to Philippians to see what Paul says about his old self.

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

All of the religious credentials that Paul had acquired counted for nothing as far as he was concerned when it came to righteousness with God.  That didn’t mean that he denounced being a Pharisee.  He used that status to get him into having an audience for the gospel in synagogues, but his religious status did nothing for his right standing with God.

Paul was a Hebrew.  He was circumcised as required by the law.  He was a Pharisee.  He scored as close to perfect on the abiding by the law test as anyone one of his contemporaries. 

He noted that all of these things, all of the outward signs, all of the metrics of religion didn’t count for diddly. What counted was that his old self was crucified to the world and world to him.

I am crucified with Christ.  Christ lives in me.  I am a new creature.  I am a new creation.  I am a new person.

Here’s the bonus as we go forward.  We will talk a whole lot less about circumcision and a lot more about being this new person that we are in Christ.

I am crucified with Christ.  Christ lives in me.  I am a new person!

Amen.

Let us not grow weary

 Read Galatians 6

It’s Palm Sunday.  We read of the triumphant entry into Jerusalem.  The children went all over the sanctuary with their palms. You know those little stringy things that come of the fronds?  We will be picking those up until Thanksgiving.  It’s Palm Sunday.  We observe that context, but we press on to finish Paul’s letter to churches in Galatia.

Paul is still writing about living by the law and living by the Spirit, but we get some practical counsel in the midst of these two broad approaches.  Like what?

Everyone should carry their own load.  We should do what we can to make it in this world, but if someone is having trouble, help them.

In the armed forces, there is an offense called malingering.  It’s Article 115.  It means that the person is doing things—feigning illness or disability—to avoid doing his part.  In the all-volunteer force, we don’t see much of this anymore.

There are plenty of folks like this in the world.  Some have jobs and get paid.  I didn’t say that they worked, just that they have jobs and get paid.  They work at not having to work. We read plenty about the lazy and the sluggard in the Proverbs.  Elsewhere, the term might be slacker. 

We get it.  There are people trying to get out of doing their fair share.  But what about people who are trying—genuinely and sincerely giving everything their best effort and still coming up short?

If someone is trying to carry his own load but is struggling, help them.  Help them.

Let’s try this nugget. We should not sin, but if someone does and we know it, we should help bring them home. If they were running a good race and someone—including the person himself—got them off course, we should help them get back in their race of faith.

 We are not to be the voice of condemnation but of reconciliation. We don’t walk around with a pocket full of yellow penalty flags looking for offense.  We are equipped with invitations to come home.

Remember the joy in heaven is much greater for the lost or the sinner who comes home than for those that didn’t need much help.

Remember that the flesh and the Spirit that live within us are at war.  If the flesh wins a battle or two, render aid to the believer who is struggling.  Help restore them.  Remind them that God has not given up on them and neither have we.

Anything else? We are to inspect ourselves.  We are to let the Spirit of God who lives within us examine out thoughts and actions.  Before we interact with others, we must undergo inspection by the Holy Spirit.

What is being inspected?  Surely our thoughts and attitudes and also our weapons and equipment.  We will get to that in the next book we are set to study.

Paul reminds us to take care of our instructors.  If we put God’s words into practice and are blessed, share that blessing with your teacher.

When we cruise or go someplace new, we enjoy picking out something for our grandchildren’s teachers. When you put God’s words into practice and are blessed remember those who helped put you on this path.

Some of you still remember the people that put you on the right course.  Remember them and bless them while they are alive. God will reward them, but let them know that they made a difference in your life.

We are at war with the flesh.  Sometimes the flesh tries to convince us that we can try to get one over on God, but it is an impossible task.  We can fool ourselves but we can’t fool God.  God will not be mocked.

Sometimes it seems that we just keep on trying to do good and we don’t see any fruit from our efforts.  We don’t see any progress.  It gets hard to stay the course. We grow weary and wonder if it’s really worth it.  Listen to Paul’s counsel once more.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

A harvest is promised.  There will be fruit that comes from your good efforts.  They are not in vain.  You might have to practice trust in the Lord and patience, but a harvest is coming of your good works.

Remember, your good works don’t get you to salvation, they come out of your gratefulness for your salvation.  They are the fruit of our new nature.

So, don’t give up. Press on towards the goal. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. Continue to live by the Spirit and by love. Live by faith not sight.

Let your light shine before people.  They will see the good that you do and this will bring glory to God.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

I am reminded of the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, who said never, never, never give up.  If you say never three times you must really mean it.  Here’s another one.

Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never -- in nothing, great or small, large or petty -- never give in, except to convictions of honor and good sense.

We should continue, press on, and never give up in doing good to all, but especially to those within the body of Christ. 

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Paul wraps up this chapter and this letter by reminding his readers not to let anyone cut them off in their race of faith.  Yes, it’s another short bout of how worthless circumcision is to the one who has come to God by faith.

Paul reminds these Galatian believers that circumcision and the other demands of the Judaizers are made only to bring them back to living in the flesh, in slavery, and to deny the work done on the cross. These people only want you as a notch on their belts, and these are belts of slavery.

Paul brings forth a recurring theme.  I am crucified with Christ.  Christ lives in me.

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. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation.

Paul began this letter with a harsh tone but concludes in a way that says I love my family in Christ.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

Some of you are thinking, I can’t believe that we talked about circumcision for 6 weeks.  Others may remember different things.

There is no other gospel.

Salvation is by grace through faith.

I am crucified with Christ.  Christ lives in me.

The law is no longer our guardian or governor.

If the law could get you to salvation, Christ died for nothing.

You are on the right path when you live by faith.  Don’t let anyone cut in on you or cause you to veer off course.

Keep doing good.  Harvest is coming.

We continue with Paul’s letters in the order they come in most of your Bibles.  We are on to Ephesians.  Here are some seeds to start your thinking.

What do I have in Christ?

We are saved by grace through faith. Yes, I jumped the gun on that one while we were still in Galatians.

Did you know that we are God’s workmanship created to do good?

May we approach almighty God with freedom and confidence?

Can we grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of God that we know in Christ?

Think about the number one.  One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do.  Two can be as bad as one, but the loneliest number… That was Three Dog Night.  Some of you are too young to know that you missed the best music ever in the sixties and seventies.

Paul says something about the number one as well. One body.  One Spirit. One hope. One Lord. One faith. One baptism. One God and Father of all.

Here is more that we will discuss in Ephesians.

Putting off the old self and putting on the new self.

Live a life of love.  This one seems to show up everywhere. It’s a recurring theme in God-inspired authors.

Counsel to husbands and wives and children and parents.

Last but not least, putting on the full armor of God.

All of that and more is compressed into six chapters.

We will celebrate resurrection next Sunday and then it’s headfirst into Ephesians.  We should celebrate both.

For now:

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Amen.

You reap what you sow

Read Galatians 6

There is a Greek word for community and its associated attributes.  It is Koinonia.  It is about belonging, being a part of, giving when you can, receiving when you need—it is the essence of the Christian community.  It is the heart of the Christian family.

In the midst of a letter rich with admonishments about not being bound to the law or other rules, regulations, or observances as part of being saved; Paul says that we need to be bound to one another.

Everyone needs to carry his or her own load except when they can’t carry the load.  Then we who can are called to help.

Everyone is to use what God gave them to navigate this world, but if someone is coming up a little short, we don’t just walk on by, we lend a helping hand or ride or meal.  We help carry each other’s burdens.

Today we worry about this thing that we might call and entitlement mentality.  “I am entitled to the things that I need or think I need or can get you to believe that I need.”

Most of us see this as the bane of a good work ethic and a strong nation; but here is the thing.  We should have an entitlement mentality.  I am entitled to a good life.

What?

God wants you to have a good life as part of this whole salvation package.

Now there’s the rub for many—for so, so many.  Many want the goodies without this following Jesus stuff.  This following Jesus attitude that we should have gets in the way of living just for me and getting my stuff.

Paul tells us to carry our own loads.  Take your gifts and talents and make your way in the world.  You can do it.  You are equipped, except when you are not.

In those cases we should look for others in the Christian community to help us carry our load.  We should be on the lookout for those who need help.

If we look to the earliest Christian community, the one depicted in the second chapter of Acts, we see people meeting needs and people having their needs met.  Some might be thinking that this is going to be the socialist sermon.  I don’t know if I want any part of that.

Jesus and Paul spoke to us as individuals and as the church.  I am not going to try to take what I have learned and try to make it fit government, but we as the church are to look out for one another.

Everyone should be giving it the best that they have trying to make their way in this life but nobody should be left to homelessness or hunger or alienation.  Koinonia—Christian community –is about inclusion.

What Paul has to say next may strike a nerve.  We do our best to help all humankind, but especially, other believers.  Paul makes this distinction.

We do more for those who are in the family of faith.  That does not mean that we ignore the needs of others.  What it often means is that sometimes we only meet their greatest need—to become a part of the family of faith.

You have heard me preach for about 18 months about connecting the disconnected.  Why is this important?  The people that I am talking about claim Jesus as Lord and Savior.

God will not be mocked!  We reap what we sow.  Read Proverbs 11 if you need examples.

If we who live in freedom from sin in death sow goodness and charity and faith and love and kindness and gentleness and are truly led by God’s Spirit; we reap abundance.

We reap abundant life.

If we take than same freedom and live only for our selfish desires, we should expect a crop of weeds.  Our harvest is going to be pitiful, and we should not be surprised.

Paul spent 5 chapters beating these Galatian believers over the head with this wonderful thing called freedom.  Now we need to note that freedom has a warning label.  Freedom comes with some danger.

First is excess.  In our freedom, we can feed our selfish desires and know that the blood of Jesus has set me free from sin and from death.  I might be living for myself but Jesus has still claimed me as his own.

Second is infringement.  We can take our freedom and do whatever we want and that might just ignore that in so doing we are hurting other believers.

There is some danger in freedom.  We may become narcissistic or capricious.  What is the antidote?

It is more of an inoculation than an antidote.  It is living in community.  It is carrying our own loads while being on the lookout to carry another’s load from time to time, and willing to receive help when we need it.

It’s community.

Society would tell us that there is always an in-group and an out-group.  In community, there can be only communion.  There are no outsiders.

Christian community involves each of us individually growing in and enjoying our relationship with God through Christ.  Paul says, test your own actions.  Are you following Jesus or your own selfish desires?

Are our eyes fixed on Jesus or what our neighbor has that we want?  Are we using our freedom to covet what others have?

Christian community involves each of us collectively growing in and enjoying our relationship with God through Christ.  That means if we see someone drifting away, we don’t just say, “Too bad for him.  That could mean more for me.

” We don’t shrug our shoulders and think, “Bad luck girlfriend.  We’ll put you on the prayer list after we are through gossiping about you, in a Christian way.”

We are charged to gently bring them home.   Bring them back.  Restore them.  Take care when you do this that you don’t go down the same slippery slope that the people you are reaching out to have gone, but go call them home.

Christian community says, “We are all in this together.  We are brothers and sisters in Christ.  Let’s live in community.”

As I consider the verse that says essentially, you reap what you sow; I have to contemplate so many who have reaped separation from the body of Christ.  So many are disconnected from the family of faith.

They have sown selfishness.  They desire to go their own way when Jesus has said, “Follow me.”

Jesus calls us to come to him and he will give us rest, but so many want to go it alone.  So many remain disconnected from the body.

So many think, “I’ve got this.  I believe in Jesus and Jesus wants me to do my own thing.”  We are warned that it is easy to be deceived in our own thinking.

In community we have a sounding board for every decision.  The Christian community says, “Yes, you do need some time alone with your Lord.  Go into your closet.  Climb on top of that mountain.  Go out to the middle of the lake and just be still and be in the presence of God; but come home.”

Come home and carry your own load, help others with their load, and lead others back home when they go astray.  This is family and while we care for all people, we are counseled to care for family even more.

Paul told these Galatian believers that sometimes this will be tough but stay the course.  Stay the course.  Continue to do the good that we do in response to our salvation—in response to God’s incredible love.

It will be worth it.  Every promise of God will come true.  Some you may reap now for sowing the seeds that the Spirit of God has given you.  Some you will reap in eternity, but stay the course and it will be well worth it.

So what are we to do?

If you haven’t noticed, there is less theology in this chapter and much more discipleship.  Paul is still making his case against letting anyone persuade you that laws or circumcision or festivals must be added to the blood of Jesus to receive you salvation; but he helps us in our response.

Do good.  Do what is good every chance you get.  Do good with everyone, but especially with other believers.

We are to do good to everyone whom we encounter.  For those that live outside the Christian community, the greatest good is to share the gospel and bring them into the family of faith.  Cumberlands use the term Covenant Community.

We are to do good to everyone whom we encounter.  For those that have professed Jesus as Lord but resist living in community, we are to call them home.  We should gently restore them to living God’s way.

We are to do good to everyone especially those who live in the family of faith.  We are to go the extra mile, carry each other’s burdens, and be willing to receive help when we need it.  We are to carry our own load using the gifts and talents that God gave us but we are always on the lookout for those straining under their own load and we help them.

Our modern minds often think this always involves money.  It doesn’t.  Everyone that I know in the family of faith who tithes meets their needs and has something extra to bless others beyond the tithe.  In the family of faith those who live faithfully seldom need monetary help.

But we have many who need other help.  We still have many living on the verse of the day and not the whole of God’s word.  We still having many drinking only milk when it is time to be eating steak and potatoes.

I am talking about reading God’s word by chapters or books, taking time to meditate upon what you have read, and the result being a hunger for more.

Let me break this down into nuts and bolts instead of meat and potatoes.  We need more small group Bible studies.  If you hear more of God’s word read aloud on Sunday morning than you have read all week, you need to be in a Bible study—a small group Bible study.  Three, four, or five people make a good study group.

But I go to Sunday school and to Wednesday nights.  Those are good but not sufficient to really grow in God’s grace.  You really need something more that doesn’t meet in this building.

You need to study and connect and pray with a few believers outside of this building.  Here’s the kicker, they don’t even have to belong to this denomination or congregation.

Helping one another is more than money.  It is often testimony.  Some have trouble trusting in God with all of their heart and leaning not on their own understanding because it sounds like philosophy or wishful thinking when believers should know it as the truth.

We who have trusted God through trials and tribulations must share our stories with other believers.  Sometimes carrying another’s burden is to help them with their doubt.

“Been there. Done that.”  That’s not a compelling testimony.  Sharing the depth and breadth of your struggles in some detail, to include how hard it is to let go of your own understanding and trust in God alone, makes for an effective testimony.

Helping one another is more than money.  It is often setting aside our superman veneer and sharing with the family that we need help too.  Confessing not only to God but to one another that we need help can be real help for someone who thinks God only helps those who have it all together.

Helping one another is more than money, but sometimes it is money.  But within the family of faith the godly use of money should be shared by all.  We must not become a slave to money or dept or impulse spending.  We must know not only the wisdom of the tithe but the mastery of money that we see in the Parable of the Talents.

We must teach and coach and mentor each other to be the master of everything that God has entrusted to us so we can use it to produce good fruit.  We can sow seeds that produce righteousness and life abundant and eternal.

We are all in this together.  We are made to live in community.  We carry our own load and help other’s carry their burdens when they need help.

This does not take us to our salvation.  This is how we live as a new creation.

We have come to the end of Paul’s letter to the believers in Galatia.  Here is where we have been.

Chapter 1 – No other gospel.

Chapter 2 – Crucified with Christ.  Christ lives in me.

Chapter 3 – Seed Syntax.  Everything has been leading us to Jesus.

Chapter 4 – Servant-Slave Symbolism.  Paul used every  analogy he could think of to remind us that we live free because of Christ.

Chapter 5 – You were running a good race…  Who cut you off?  Stay the course with eyes fixed on Jesus and the Spirit will produce fruit in you.

Finally we are reminded that we reap what we sow.  We sow trust in God alone and we reap assurance.  We sow trust in the blood of Jesus alone and we reap freedom.    We sow unselfishness and we reap community.

Our harvest is community, Christian community, the thing we know as Koinonia.

We are made to live in community.  We carry our own load and we help others when needed.  We are not governed by selfish pride and will accept help when we need it.   We are made to live in community.

So let us live as the family of faith that God has provided for us.  Let us live God’s way in true fellowship and communion with him and with each other.

Let’s do good to all but especially within the family of faith.

Amen.