Relying on Christ: The Offense of the Cross

Devotional

Day 1: The Futility of Boasting in the Flesh

The desire to make a good showing in the flesh is rooted in a need to avoid persecution and to boast in personal achievements. This reflects a misunderstanding of the gospel, which calls us to rely solely on Christ for our justification. The Jewish group in Galatia was advocating for circumcision as a means to gain acceptance with God, but Paul challenges this notion by highlighting the futility of relying on the law for justification. The desire to make a good showing in the flesh is driven by a need to avoid persecution and to boast in one's own accomplishments. However, this approach is fundamentally flawed because it undermines the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice on the cross. [02:19]

Galatians 5:2-4 (ESV): "Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you find yourself striving for approval through your own efforts? How can you shift your focus to rely more on Christ's sufficiency today?

Day 2: The Offense of the Cross

The cross of Christ is offensive because it strips us of any grounds for boasting in our own righteousness. It demands total dependence on Jesus, leaving no room for personal achievements as a means of gaining favor with God. The cross is a stumbling block because it challenges our pride and self-reliance, calling us to surrender completely to the grace of God. This radical message often leads to persecution because it confronts the human desire to earn salvation through personal effort. [09:15]

1 Corinthians 1:23-24 (ESV): "But we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God."

Reflection: How does the message of the cross challenge your own sense of pride and self-reliance? What steps can you take to embrace the humility it requires?

Day 3: The Sufficiency of Christ's Work

Accepting circumcision or any form of law-keeping as part of our justification nullifies the work of Christ. The gospel calls us to rely entirely on Jesus, and any attempt to add to His work is a denial of the gospel. Paul's message is clear: if we accept circumcision or any other form of law-keeping as part of our justification, we nullify the work of Christ. The cross demands total dependence on Jesus, and any attempt to add to His work is a denial of the gospel. [07:13]

Colossians 2:13-14 (ESV): "And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross."

Reflection: Are there any practices or beliefs you hold that might be adding to the work of Christ for your justification? How can you fully rest in His sufficiency today?

Day 4: The Call to Humility and Faith

The cross challenges our pride and self-reliance, calling us to surrender completely to the grace of God. This radical message often leads to persecution because it confronts the human desire to earn salvation through personal effort. Ultimately, the cross of Christ is a call to humility and faith. It invites us to abandon our attempts to justify ourselves and to rest in the finished work of Jesus. [11:08]

James 4:6-7 (ESV): "But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.' Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?

Day 5: True Freedom and Peace in Christ

True freedom and peace are found in resting in the finished work of Jesus. Our acceptance with God is secure not because of what we have done, but because of what Christ has accomplished on our behalf. In doing so, we find true freedom and peace, knowing that our acceptance with God is secure not because of what we have done, but because of what Christ has accomplished on our behalf. [10:25]

Hebrews 4:9-10 (ESV): "So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his."

Reflection: How can you intentionally create space in your life to rest in the finished work of Jesus? What practical steps can you take to experience His peace and freedom more fully?

Sermon Summary

In Galatians 6:12-15, we delve into the profound implications of circumcision, the cross, and the human tendency to boast in our own achievements. The Jewish group in Galatia was advocating for circumcision as a means to gain acceptance with God, but Paul challenges this notion by highlighting the futility of relying on the law for justification. The desire to make a good showing in the flesh is driven by a need to avoid persecution and to boast in one's own accomplishments. However, this approach is fundamentally flawed because it undermines the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice on the cross.

The cross of Christ is offensive to those who wish to contribute to their own righteousness because it strips away any grounds for boasting. It demands that we rely entirely on Christ for our justification, leaving no room for personal achievements or adherence to the law as a means of gaining favor with God. This is why the cross is a stumbling block; it challenges our pride and self-reliance, calling us to surrender completely to the grace of God.

Paul's message is clear: if we accept circumcision or any other form of law-keeping as part of our justification, we nullify the work of Christ. The cross demands total dependence on Jesus, and any attempt to add to His work is a denial of the gospel. This radical message often leads to persecution because it confronts the human desire to earn salvation through personal effort.

Ultimately, the cross of Christ is a call to humility and faith. It invites us to abandon our attempts to justify ourselves and to rest in the finished work of Jesus. In doing so, we find true freedom and peace, knowing that our acceptance with God is secure not because of what we have done, but because of what Christ has accomplished on our behalf.

Key Takeaways

1. The desire to make a good showing in the flesh is rooted in a need to avoid persecution and to boast in personal achievements. This reflects a misunderstanding of the gospel, which calls us to rely solely on Christ for our justification. [02:19]
2. The cross of Christ is offensive because it strips us of any grounds for boasting in our own righteousness. It demands total dependence on Jesus, leaving no room for personal achievements as a means of gaining favor with God. [09:15]
3. Accepting circumcision or any form of law-keeping as part of our justification nullifies the work of Christ. The gospel calls us to rely entirely on Jesus, and any attempt to add to His work is a denial of the gospel. [07:13]
4. The cross challenges our pride and self-reliance, calling us to surrender completely to the grace of God. This radical message often leads to persecution because it confronts the human desire to earn salvation through personal effort. [11:08]
5. True freedom and peace are found in resting in the finished work of Jesus. Our acceptance with God is secure not because of what we have done, but because of what Christ has accomplished on our behalf. [10:25]
** [10:25]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:19] - Introduction to Galatians 6:12-15
[00:37] - Methodology of Text Analysis
[01:11] - Prayer for Understanding
[01:41] - The Issue of Circumcision
[02:19] - Motivations Behind Circumcision
[03:18] - Reflecting on Personal Achievements
[04:18] - The Flaw in Law-Keeping
[05:38] - Avoiding Persecution
[06:26] - The Offense of the Cross
[07:13] - Christ's Sufficiency
[08:31] - Obligation to the Whole Law
[09:15] - The Cross and Boasting
[10:14] - Dependence on Christ Alone
[11:08] - Persecution for the Cross
[11:20] - Conclusion and Reflection

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Galatians 6:12-15
- Galatians 5:2-3

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Observation Questions:

What does Paul identify as the motivation behind the Jewish group's insistence on circumcision in Galatians 6:12-13? How does this relate to their desire to avoid persecution? [02:00]
According to Galatians 6:14, what is the significance of the cross of Christ in relation to boasting? How does this challenge the Jewish group's perspective? [09:15]
In Galatians 5:2, what does Paul say about the implications of accepting circumcision for one's relationship with Christ? How does this relate to the message in Galatians 6:12-15? [06:56]
How does Paul describe the relationship between law-keeping and justification in Galatians 5:3? What does this imply about the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice? [08:15]

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Interpretation Questions:

Why might the cross of Christ be considered offensive to those who wish to contribute to their own righteousness? How does this offense lead to persecution? [06:26]
How does Paul's message in Galatians 6:12-15 challenge the human tendency to rely on personal achievements for justification? What does this reveal about the nature of the gospel? [10:14]
In what ways does the insistence on circumcision reflect a misunderstanding of the gospel, according to Paul? How does this misunderstanding impact one's relationship with God? [07:13]
How does the concept of boasting in the flesh contrast with the call to rely entirely on Christ for justification? What does this reveal about the nature of true freedom and peace? [09:15]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you felt the need to "make a good showing in the flesh" to gain acceptance or avoid criticism. How can you shift your focus to rely more on Christ's sufficiency? [02:19]
The cross of Christ demands total dependence on Jesus. Identify an area in your life where you struggle to surrender control. What steps can you take this week to trust more in God's grace? [10:25]
Consider the ways in which you might be tempted to add to Christ's work for your justification. How can you remind yourself of the sufficiency of the cross in your daily life? [07:13]
How does the message of the cross challenge your pride and self-reliance? What practical steps can you take to cultivate humility and faith in your spiritual journey? [11:08]
True freedom and peace are found in resting in the finished work of Jesus. What specific practices or habits can you incorporate into your routine to deepen your reliance on Christ's accomplishments? [10:25]
Reflect on a situation where you faced persecution or criticism for your faith. How can the message of the cross encourage you to stand firm in your beliefs despite opposition? [06:26]
Identify a person in your life who might be relying on personal achievements for acceptance with God. How can you share the message of the cross with them in a loving and impactful way? [09:15]

Sermon Clips

it is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised so the jewish group that had come to the churches um where paul is trying to preach and are pushing circumcision or being addressed here and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of christ [00:01:39]

if you have done something that you believe puts you in good standing with god and your acceptance with god is based upon this this circumcision then one of the ways to put that in the best possible light is to go around and tell others they must do the same because if if you can persuade them to be circumcised then what you are doing is highlighting the fact that you have already done what you are requiring them to do [00:03:26]

the reason for their trying to make a good showing in the flesh is not that they are successfully making law keeping a ground for their acceptance with god because they do not they do not themselves keep the whole law this is not working but well if that's not the motive that they themselves have found a successful way to be accepted with god what is their motive [00:04:29]

if you accept the message of these folks that are requiring circumcision of you as the path of getting right with god being accepted by god christ will be of no advantage to you there's no partial christ and partial works of the law here in other words if you say well i want to do circumcision as a 10 of my part in getting right with god [00:07:09]

if you try to accept circumcision as part of the deal in how you get right with god he's of no advantage to you there's no 80 or 90 percent or 10 or 1 it is all christ or no christ i testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law [00:07:42]

the cross strips us of the ability to boast in contributing any part of our righteousness to the ground of our acceptance with god if we accept circumcision christ is of no advantage to us and if we do accept christ and his cross he is totally an advantage to us and our circumcision is no contribution to our justification [00:09:17]

the cross of christ strips them of any ground for boasting making a good showing or boasting in the flesh because if we depend upon christ for the forgiveness of all our sins and the providing of all our righteousness then our acts of law keeping like circumcision are no contribution to our standing with god [00:10:07]

in the sinful human heart there is this bent to want to make a good showing of the flesh and we will even use god's law in order to help us boast in our ability to keep it and secondly we learned that the cross of christ strips us of that so that it becomes an offense and results in persecution [00:10:40]

why are we persecuted because people don't like to have their achievements and their efforts and their identity and anything else that they might contribute to their own justification stripped away from them so that we fall back on christ alone and he gets all the glory [00:11:08]

grant that our hearts will be humbled and that we would go deep with christ in what he achieved for us when he stripped us of all pride and boasting in our achievements and threw us back on himself i ask in his name amen [00:01:17]

if i preach circumcision if i preach this why am i still being persecuted i don't preach that and that's why i am persecuted in that case the offense of the cross has been removed if you preach circumcision the offense of the cross has been removed why [00:08:47]

if law keeping is going to be any part of the ground of your acceptance with god it acceptance with god it's going to be perfect law keeping now drop down to verse 11 but if i brothers still preach this if i preach circumcision if i preach this why am i still being persecuted [00:08:41]

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Relying on Christ: The Offense of the Cross

Devotional

Day 1: The Futility of Boasting in the Flesh

Day 2: The Offense of the Cross

Day 3: The Sufficiency of Christ's Work

Day 4: The Call to Humility and Faith

Day 5: True Freedom and Peace in Christ

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Relying on Christ: The Offense of the Cross

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