Gálatas 6
Warren Wiersbe · Citado em PreceptAustin
Gálatas 6
Wiersbe says: There was a time when Paul was proud of his mark of circumcision (Phil. 3:4- 6), but after he became a believer, he became a “marked man” in a different way. He now glorified in the scars he had received and in the suffering he had endured in the service of Jesus Christ. (Commentary) Before the Throne of God Above Charitie Bancroft, 1863, Vocal by Selah Before the throne of God above I have a strong and perfect plea A great High Priest whose name is love Who ever lives and pleads for me My name is graven on His hands My name is written on His heart I know that while in heav'n He stands No tongue can bid me thence depart No tongue can bid me thence depart When Satan tempts me to despair And tells me of the guilt within Upward I look and see Him there Who made an end of all my sin Because the sinless Savior died My sinful soul is counted free For God the Just is satisfied To look on Him and pardon me To look on Him and pardon me Behold Him there, the risen Lamb My perfect, spotless Righteousness The great unchangeable I AM The King of glory and of grace One with Himself, I cannot die My soul is purchased by His blood My life is hid with Christ on high With Christ my Savior and my God One with Himself, I cannot die My soul is purchased by His blood My life is hid with Christ on high With Christ my Savior and my God With Christ my Savior and my God With Christ my Savior and my God Brand-marks (4742)(stigma from stizo = make a puncture or mark, to brand) refers to a mark or brand. Literally it was what is pricked in or branded as a mark of ownership on the body of a soldier, servant, religious devotee, etc. It was a permanent mark or scar on the body, especially the type of 'brand' used to mark ownership of slaves. BDAG adds that "religious tattooing also played a prominent role in antiquity: stigmata hiera or stigmatephorein - in honor of the goddess. Thayer says "According to ancient oriental usage, slaves and soldiers bore the name or stamp of their master or commander branded or pricked (cut) into their bodies to indicate what master or general they belonged to, and there were even some devotees who stamped themselves in this way with the token of their gods...Paul Paul in Gal. 6:17 says he bears branded on his body, are the traces left there by the perils, hardships, imprisonments, scourgings, endured by him for the cause of Christ, and which mark him as Christ's faithful and approved votary, servant, soldier." THOUGHT - Do you have any "stigmata" (primarily figuratively speaking) signifying that you belong to Jesus?
Gálatas 6
Wiersbe - The legalist is not interested in bearing burdens. Instead, he adds to the burdens of others (Acts 15:10). This was one of the sins of the Pharisees in Jesus’ day: “For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers” (Matt. 23:4). The legalist is always harder on other people than he is on himself, but the Spirit-led Christian demands more of himself than he does of others that he might be able to help others.....Why did Paul use this illustration? Because nothing reveals the wickedness of legalism better than the way the legalists treat those who have sinned. Call to mind the Pharisees who dragged a woman taken in adultery before Jesus (John 8). Or the Jewish mob that almost killed Paul because they thought he had defiled the temple by bringing in Gentiles (Acts 21:27ff.). (Legalists do not need facts and proof; they need only suspicions and rumors. Their self-righteous imaginations will do the rest.) So, in this paragraph, Paul was really contrasting the way the legalist would deal with the erring brother, and the way the spiritual man would deal with him. (Commentary) You who are spiritual - This is not some elite corps of Christians! He is not even saying only those who are mature (contrary to what a number of commentaries suggest). Paul is simply speaking to believers who are filled with/controlled by the Spirit (Eph 5:18+), walking by the Spirit (Gal 5:16+, cf Col 1:9-10+), empowered by the Spirit (Micah 3:8+, Lk 4:14+, Acts 1:8+, Acts 10:38+, Ro 15:13+, Ro 15:19+, 1 Cor 2:4, Eph 3:16+), guided by the Spirit (Gal 5:18+, Ro 8:14+). Note Paul does not say "You who are sinless!" John writes "If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us." (1 Jn 1:8+). If this spiritual helper need to be sinless there would be no one to help this transgressing brother! But it is important that the one giving a helping hand to the fleshly believer is a Spirit filled believer, for a fleshly believer cannot help a fleshly believer!
Gálatas 6
Wiersbe summarizes Galatians 6 See others humbly (Gal 6:1-2). Your response to another’s fall reveals your own walk, whether it is spiritual or not. Pride will make it impossible for you to help the fallen, but humility will bring blessing to you and to them. See yourself honestly (Gal 6:3-5). Do you use somebody’s fall to make yourself look better? Or do you know yourself, accept yourself, and seek to please God alone? See your leaders appreciatively (Gal 6:6-10). When you give to others whose ministry blesses you, you are sowing seed that will bear fruit. When you use your resources for sinful purposes, you sow to the flesh and will reap a sad harvest. See the Cross clearly (Gal 6:11-18). The false teachers wanted the world’s praise, so they avoided the Cross; but the true believer will glory in the Cross, even if it means suffering the world’s enmity. (Commentary) Pride Goes before a Fall In the 1988 presidential campaign, commentators and voters made much about the character of the candidates, especially those who were rumored to be womanizers. One of the leading candidates had ridiculed another man who had fallen under public attack for his conduct toward women. This leading candidate dared the press to follow him and try to find any misconduct on his part. The press took him up on the dare. Some time later news media published photos of this man himself on a yacht in the Caribbean with an attractive lady who was not his wife. The name of the yacht, prophetically, was Monkey Business. The scandal grew so large that this candidate was forced to withdraw from the campaign which he might have won. A similar incident happened during the eighties with moral scandals that rocked the Christian television industry. A leading television evangelist was caught in a moral lapse which made headline news all over the United States for a long time. I recall hearing an interview with another television minister who leveled a scathing rebuke of the evangelist who had sinned. I was taken aback at the intensity of this attack but somewhat comforted by the thought that I wouldn't ever need to worry about this evangelist falling into immorality. However, it wasn't long before the story of this second evangelist's moral lapse was on newspapers and weekly newsmagazines across the nation. Both the television evangelist and the leading presidential candidate were arrogant in their condemnation of others, and their own indiscretions were revealed a short time later. Paul warned of that attitude in this final chapter of Galatians. (Holman New Testament Commentary) A Gracious Spirit by John Calvin "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted" (Gal. 6:1). In bearing with imperfections of life we ought to be far more considerate. For here the descent is very slippery and Satan ambushes us with no ordinary devices. For there have always been those who, imbued with a false conviction of their own perfect sanctity, as if they had already become a sort of airy spirits, spurned association with all men in whom they discern any remnant of human nature. There are others who sin more out of ill-advised zeal for righteousness than out of that insane pride. When they do not see a quality of life corresponding to the doctrine of the gospel among those to whom it is announced, they immediately judge that no church exists in that place. This is a very legitimate complaint, and we give all too much occasion for it in this most miserable age. And our cursed sloth is not to be excused, for the Lord will not allow it to go unpunished, seeing that he has already begun to chastise it with heavy stripes. Woe to us, then, who act with such dissolute and criminal license that weak consciences are wounded because of us! But on their part those of whom we have spoken sin in that they do not know how to restrain their disfavor. For where the Lord requires kindness, they neglect it and give themselves over completely to immoderate severity Indeed, because they think no church exists where there are not perfect purity and integrity of life, they depart out of hatred of wickedness from the lawful church, while they fancy themselves turning aside from the faction of the wicked. Galatians 6:1 RESTORING A BROTHER What should be our attitude when a brother is taken captive by the things of this world? Some have a distorted concept of separation. W hen they see a brother fall into sin, they shout it from the housetops and publish it in their magazines. This is not what Christ instructed. Galatians 6 tells us what our attitude should be toward a fallen Christian brother. The Apostle Paul exhorted, "Brethren, if any person is overtaken in misconduct or sin of any sort, you who are spiritual [who are responsive to and controlled by the Spirit] should set him right and restore and reinstate him, without any sense of superiority and with all gentleness, keeping an attentive eye on yourself, lest you should be tempted also" (v. 1, Amplified). When Abraham realized what had happened to Lot, he became very bold. "When Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus" (Gen. 14:14,15). God rewarded his courage because Abraham "brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people" (v. 16). "If a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one" (Gal. 6:1). Galatians 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. Bear one another's burdens: Ga 6:5 5:13,14 Ex 23:5 Nu 11:11,12 De 1:12 Isa 58:6 Mt 8:17 11:29,30 Lu 11:46 Ro 15:1 1Th 5:14 1Pe 2:24 thereby fulfill the law of Christ: Jn 13:14,Jn 15,34 Jn 15:12 1Co 9:21 Jas 2:8 1Jn 2:8-11 4:21 Galatians 6:2 Burdens - Great Texts of the Bible Galatians 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE CHRISTIAN WALK IS A SHARED JOURNEY Now that you have begun the restoration of a fallen brother you need to follow up by helping hold him up. In other words we are not to just help restore him from his sin and walk away. How many times we have experienced spiritual victories only to be blasted with a subsequent attack. The implication is that this brother would be vulnerable and in need of accountability and/or fellowship in the follow up period. So whatever "burden" (e.g., temptation to return to the previous sin) the brother has, we are to help him bear that burden. While the burden could be a number of things, in context, it might be the heavy, oppressive temptation that comes on the brother luring them into that same sin. And all of us have experienced these types of temptations that were like "heavy loads" which were so strong we felt like we could simply not fight them off. So the spiritual brother is to help the restored brother fight off these strong desires to commit sin. Practically this means that the spiritual brother needs to be available and I would go so far as to say even "24/7." I have had an accountability partner and he has made it clear that if I needed to call him at 1 AM in the morning, then I should call him. That's bearing one another's burdens! Bear one another's burdens - Paul does not say “Tolerate each other,” or “Put up with each other” but “Jointly shoulder each member’s burdens." ”Keep on bearing one another's burdens." Bear is in the present imperative calling for this to be the spiritual persons habitual practice. It is a practice which in turn necessitates continual dependence on the enabling power of the Spirit (See discussion of the Need for the Holy Spirit to obey NT commands). As discussed below the Greek word for burdens is baros which speaks of an extremely heavy load to the point that it is even unbearable by one person (see discussion below). John MacArthur calls this the second principle, the first being to lift them up in Gal 6:1 and here to hold them up....How can you do this? Sometimes it means a relationship. I know in my own case there are people that I've tried to help carry their burdens and we do that by meeting regularly or by having a regular phone conversation. (ED: THIS BEGS THE QUESTION - DO YOU HAVE ANYONE IN YOUR LIFE YOU ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO? IF NOT YOU NEED TO BE VERY WARY BECAUSE TEMPTATIONS ARE ESPECIALLY EFFECTIVE AGAINST "LONE RANGER" CHRISTIANS!) Don Anderson - What he’s saying here is, you don’t just go and confront somebody. You enter into their lives in some kind of an accountability or discipleship structure—whatever the need is for the moment—and you are a servant to them. You “keep on bearing [their] burdens” in helping them to go on to maturity. And you are observing “perfectly the law of Christ.” (Notes) One another is the first word in the Greek for emphasis. Paul uses one another 7 times in 5 verses (Gal. 5:13; Gal. 5:15; Gal. 5:17; Gal. 5:26; Gal. 6:2) in this section on the ethical conduct of believers who are walking in the Spirit. Gal 6:2 would be an example of Gal 5:13 "through love serve one another" and is the antithesis of "bite and devour one another...consume one another." (Gal 5:15). Vincent on one another - The emphasis is on one another’s, in contrast with the selfishness which leaves others to take care of themselves. The primary reference in burdens is to moral infirmities and errors, and the sorrow and shame and remorse which they awaken in the offender. (Galatians 6 Commentary) Bear (carry, endure, support, tolerate)(941)(bastazo from basis = foot) generally means to take up and hold (Jn 10:31), to support as a burden. Used of Jesus bearing His Cross in John 19:17. Metaphorically bastazo means to bear, support, endure, i.e., labors, sufferings (Mt. 20:12, Rev. 2:3), bear patiently (Ro 15:1; Gal. 6:2; Rev. 2:2). Paul uses bastazo 4 times in Galatians all in this last section - Gal. 5:10; Gal 6:2, Gal 6:5, Gal 6:17
Gálatas 6
Wiersbe asks "Why did Paul write this paragraph, and why did he use such large letters?" Wiersbe goes on to suggest that "The Holy Spirit inspired him to add these closing words to give one more contrast between the legalists and the Spirit-led Christians, to show that the Spirit-led believer lives for the glory of God, not for the praise of man. And he wrote in large letters for emphasis: “DON’T MISS THIS!” (Commentary) Galatians 6:11-18 Boasting That Brings Blessing! It is remarkable to realize that the crucifixion is a way of life, not just a way of death. Christ's crucifixion was not the end of His redemptive work, for He arose from the grave and provided us with the resurrection life. Romans 6:7 says, "But he that is dead [has died] is freed from sin." This means that the person who has died is free from the claims, power, slavery and allurements of sin. The basis for Paul's glorying is the cross of Christ. The Judaizers had sought their own glory, but this led only to failure. The kind of self-life they lived through imposing rules and regulations ended in accomplishments that produced self-glory. But all of these self-accomplishments were reached in the sphere of the flesh nature and therefore ended in pride. This has always been a danger facing Christians, and it is no less today. There is too much Christian life and testimony on a fleshly level. Paul's boast and joy and delight was in the One whom the world had crucified. God set His hand of approval on His Son, who was crucified, by raising Him from the dead. What is your boast today? "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts" (Gal. 5:24). Galatians 6:12 Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. NET Galatians 6:12 Those who want to make a good showing in external matters are trying to force you to be circumcised. They do so only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. GNT Galatians 6:12 ὅσοι θέλουσιν εὐπροσωπῆσαι ἐν σαρκί, οὗτοι ἀναγκάζουσιν ὑμᾶς περιτέμνεσθαι, μόνον ἵνα τῷ σταυρῷ τοῦ Χριστοῦ μὴ διώκωνται. NLT Galatians 6:12 Those who are trying to force you to be circumcised want to look good to others. They don't want to be persecuted for teaching that the cross of Christ alone can save. KJV Galatians 6:12 As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. ESV Galatians 6:12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. ASV Galatians 6:12 As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they compel you to be circumcised; only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. CSB Galatians 6:12 Those who want to make a good impression in the flesh are the ones who would compel you to be circumcised-- but only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. NIV Galatians 6:12 Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. NKJ Galatians 6:12 As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. NRS Galatians 6:12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that try to compel you to be circumcised-- only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. YLT Galatians 6:12 as many as are willing to make a good appearance in the flesh, these constrain you to be circumcised -- only that for the cross of the Christ they may not be persecuted, NAB Galatians 6:12 It is those who want to make a good appearance in the flesh who are trying to compel you to have yourselves circumcised, only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. NJB Galatians 6:12 It is those who want to cut a figure by human standards who force circumcision on you, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. GWN Galatians 6:12 These people who want to make a big deal out of a physical thing are trying to force you to be circumcised. Their only aim is to avoid persecution because of the cross of Christ. BBE Galatians 6:12 Those who have the desire to seem important in the flesh, put force on you to undergo circumcision; only that they may not be attacked because of the cross of Christ. Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh Ga 6:13 Mt 6:2,5,16 23:5,28 Lu 16:15 20:47 Joh 7:18 2Co 10:12 2Co 11:13 Php 1:15 2:4 Col 2:23 try to compel you to be circumcised: Ga 2:3,14 Ac 15:1,5 simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ: Ga 5:11 Php 3:18 Galatians 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE JUDAIZERS' SELFISH MOTIVES Ronald Fung comments that "Before concluding his letter Paul returns once more to the antithesis of cross and circumcision, setting them forth this time as representing respectively the true and the false ground of boasting, and thus carrying a stage further his polemic against the Judaizers and their way of legal observance (cf. Gal 5:2-12)." (The Epistle to the Galatians)
Gálatas 6
Wiersbe - Jesus Christ is mentioned at least forty-five times in the Galatian letters, which means that one third of the verses contain some reference to Him. The person of Jesus Christ captivated Paul, and it was Christ who made the cross glorious to him. In his early years as a Jewish rabbi, Paul had much to glory in (Gal. 1:13-14; Phil 3:1-10); but after he met Christ, all his self-glory turned to mere refuse. The legalists did not glory in the cross of Christ because they did not glory in Christ. (Commentary) That I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ - The Judaizers were boasting over fleshly works, but Paul counters by saying the only thing in which to boast is the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ. As Tozer said "We must do something about the cross and one of two things only we can do—flee it or die upon it." Eadie says: The Saviour is named “our Lord Jesus Christ”—the full name adding solemnity to the adjuration." Spurgeon on “our Lord Jesus Christ.” -- Every word tends to set forth the excellence of His person, the majesty of His character, and the interest which all the saints have in Him. It was a cross, but it was the cross of our Lord: let us worship Him! It was the cross of our Lord Jesus the Saviour: let us love Him! It was the cross of our Jesus Christ the anointed Messiah: let us reverence Him! Let us sit at His feet and learn of Him! Each one may say, “It was the cross of my Lord Jesus Christ”; but it sweetens the whole matter, and gives a largeness to it when we say, “It was the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”...In the cross of Christ we glory, because we regard it as a matchless exhibition of the attributes of God. We see there the love of God desiring a way by which He might save mankind, aided by His wisdom, so that a plan is perfected by which the deed can be done without violation of truth and justice. In the cross we see a strange conjunction of what once appeared to be two opposite qualities—justice and mercy. We see how God is supremely just; as just as if He had no mercy, and yet infinitely merciful in the gift of His Son. Mercy and justice in fact become counsel upon the same side, and irresistibly plead for the acquittal of the believing sinner....We glory in it, next, as the manifestation of the love of Jesus. He was loving inasmuch as He came to earth at all; loving in feeding the hungry, in healing the sick, in raising the dead. He was loving in His whole life; He was embodied charity, the Prince of philanthropists, the King of kindly souls. But oh, His death!—His cruel and shameful death—bearing, as we believe He did, the wrath due to sin, subjecting Himself to the curse, though in Him was no sin—this shows the love of Christ at its highest altitude, and therefore do we glory in it, and will never be ashamed to do so....We glory in the cross, moreover, because it is the putting away of sin. There was no other way of making an end of sin, and making reconciliation for iniquity. To forgive the transgressions without exacting the penalty would have been contrary to all threatenings of God. It would not have appeased the claims of justice, nor satisfied the conscience of the sinner. No peace of mind can be enjoyed without pardon, and conscience declares that no pardon can be obtained without an atonement. Anders says "In contrast to the Judaizers, Paul had pure motives. Paul’s motive was to brag, not about himself or his merits, but about the cross of our Lord Christ. The Judaizers gloried in the flesh (circumcision), but Paul gloried in Christ." (Holman New Testament Commentary - Galatians) Boast (exult, glory) (2744) (kauchaomai akin to aucheo = boast + euchomai = pray to God <> auchen = neck which vain persons are apt to carry in proud manner) means to boast over a privilege or possession. The idea is to take pride in something (in a bad sense - Ro 2:23+, in a good or legitimate sense - Ro 5:2+, Ro 5:3+; Ro 5:11+) Paul glories and rejoices in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ (cf. Ro 8:1-3; 1 Cor. 2:2; 1 Pet. 2:24) Listen to the Kathryn Scott's incredibly beautiful rendition of Isaac Watt's classic hymn as you meditate on the power of the cross to separate you once and for all time from enslavement to this present evil world which is passing away... When I Survey the Wondrous Cross by Isaac Watts When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the death of CHRIST, my GOD; All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood. See, from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down; Did e'er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown? Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were an offering far too small: Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all.
Gálatas 6:7
Wiersbe: In their idolatry and political alliances, the Israelites were trying to sow seeds that would produce a good harvest, but they were only sowing the wind—vanity, nothing—and would reap the whirlwind. Nothing could stop the force of the Assyrian army. The harvest would be more powerful than the seed! The sowing/reaping image continues with the picture of a blighted crop of grain. The rulers of Israel thought their worship of Baal and their foreign alliances would produce a good crop of peace and prosperity; but when the time came for the harvest, there was nothing to reap. And even where heads of grain did appear, the enemy reaped the harvest and Israel gained nothing. In the image of the wind, Hosea said, "You will reap far more than you sowed, and it will be destructive!" In the image of the grain, he said, 'You will reap nothing at all, and your enemies will get the benefit of all the promises you made." (Bible Exposition Commentary - Old Testament) Related Resource: Spurgeon's Sermon on Hosea 8:7 - “What Shall the Harvest Be?” Leon J Wood (Expositor's Bible Commentary): The “wind” speaks of the emptiness of Israel’s sin; the “whirlwind” speaks of God’s impending destruction. Israel’s punishment had already begun: the stalks were not producing grain that could be milled into flour. God had apparently withheld the rain. Furthermore, if any stalks did produce grain, it was only for foreigners to snatch it up. Ryrie: Israel sowed the wind of idolatry and reaped the whirlwind of destruction. Henry
Gálatas 6:8
Wiersbe writes … all that we do is either an investment in the flesh or the Spirit. We shall reap whatever we have sown, and we shall reap in proportion as we have sown. Note: Dearly beloved of God (Ro 1:7-note, 1Th 1:4-note), is Wiersbe's comment not a sobering thought, one that should cause each us to order our steps (Ps 119:133KJV, Dt 32:29KJV!) in alignment with God's will?! It is as if every thought, word and deed is "depositing" funds in one of two investment accounts… either the flesh or the Spirit! May God's Spirit and His grace enable us to victoriously live out Paul's exhortation in Eph 5:16-note and to pray faithfully Moses' prayer for fruitfulness Ps 90:12-note, all for the glory of His Name in Christ (Ps 115:1-note, Mt 5:16-note). Believers who choose to sow to the flesh reap temporal corruption! ><>><>><> Non-believers have no choice but to sow to the flesh and reap eternal corruption! Adoniram Judson (bio) missionary to Burma alluded to the eternal impact of sowing and reaping when he wrote that… A life once spent is irrevocable. It will remain to be contemplated through eternity… the same may be said of each day. When it is once past, it is gone forever. All the marks which we put upon it, it will exhibit forever… each day will not only be a witness of our conduct, but will affect our everlasting destiny… How shall we then wish to see each day marked with usefulness… ! It is too late to mend the days that are past. The future is in our power. Let us, then, each morning, resolve to send the day into eternity in such a garb as we shall wish it to wear forever. And at night let us reflect that one more day is irrevocably gone, indelibly marked. John Stott analyzes Galatians 6:8 noting that… This is another sphere in which the ‘seed-time and harvest’ principle operates. Paul moves from the particular to the general, from Christian ministers and their support to Christian people and their moral behaviour. He reverts to the theme of the flesh and the Spirit which he has treated at some length in Galatians 5:16-25. There in Galatians 5 the Christian’s life is likened to a battleground, and the flesh and the Spirit are two combatants at war with each other upon it. But here in Galatians 6 the Christian’s life is likened to a country estate, and the flesh and the Spirit are two fields in which we may sow seed. Further, the harvest we reap depends on where and on what we sow. (Stott, J. R. W. The message of Galatians: Only one way. Leicester, England; Downer's Grove, Ill., U.S.A.: Inter-Varsity Press or The Bible Speaks Today NT- 22 Vol) John Eadie notes that… The previous verse (Gal 6:7-note) presented the mere figure of sowing and of reaping, with certainty of reaping what may happen to have been sown. But the seed may be of two kinds, or the seed may be sown with two different purposes, and each purpose naturally and necessarily leads to its own result. (Commentary on the Greek text of the epistle of Galatians) The one who sows - As noted above both uses of the verb sows in Gal 6:7 are in the present tense which pictures habitual sowing. Sows to his own flesh (eis ten sarka) says John Eadie does not present the flesh as the field in or on which the seed is sown… The preposition is eis which is to be taken in an ethical sense, 'with a view to,' (Ed: "in the interests of" - Vine) and sarx (see also below) is the unregenerate nature—the leading sense of the word throughout the epistle—the nature which specially belongs to him—heautou, but not emphatic. The “flesh” is thus neither the field nor the seed; but that for the gratification of which the seed is sown, or that which forms the ruling end to the man's desires and actions, which governs and moulds the aspirations and workings of his present life. (Commentary on the Greek text of the epistle of Galatians)
Gálatas 6:8
Wiersbe applies the universal truth of sowing and reaping to believers writing… While it is true that the Christian is not under condemnation (Jn 5:24; Ro 8:1), it is also true that he is not free from the harvest of sorrow that comes when we sow to the flesh (Gal. 6:7, 8). When King David committed adultery, he tried to cover his sin, but God chastened him severely. (Read Ps 32:1-2, 3-4, 5, 6-7, 8, 9, 10-11-note; Ps 51:1, 2-4, 5-7, 8-10, 11-13, 14-16, 17-18, 19-note) to see what he lost during those months.) When David confessed his sins, God forgave him; but God could not change the consequences. David reaped what he sowed, and it was a painful experience for him. "But I am one of God's elect!" a Christian may argue. "I belong to Him, and He can never cast me out." Election is not an excuse for sin—it is an encouragement for holiness… God in His grace forgives our sins when we confess them (1 John 1:9), but God in His government allows us to suffer the painful consequences of those sins… God put away David's sin, but warned him that the sword wouldn't depart from his own household, and it didn't (2Sa 12:1-14). What a tragedy it is to reap the consequences of forgiven sin! Corruption - Speaks of decay and degeneration, of going from "better to worse"! Be careful because decay in one's character will inevitably, inexorably produce decay in one's life regardless of whether he is regenerate or unregenerate. For believers to sow to the flesh is "crazy" considering that God has caused us to escape "the corruption which is in the world by lust" (2Pe 1:4-note)! Why do we so easily crawl back into the cesspool of the fetid flesh when we could be experiencing the favor of the Most High God by walking in His Spirit, choosing life rather than death (Things have not changed much since Dt 30:15, 19, Pr 11:19, 12:28, 13:14, 14:27 - May we today be among the remnant who choose the fear of Jehovah and not the converse - Pr 1:29). Jude records that mockers will sow their corrupt seeds of ungodliness… In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts. (Jude 1:18) But in Philippians Paul records what ungodly men will "reap" noting that their… end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. (Php 3:19) Corruption (5356) (phthora [word study] from phtheíro = to shrivel or wither, spoil , ruin , deprave, corrupt , defile, to destroy by means of corrupting, to spoil as does milk. Ethically phtheiro was the opposite of sozo) refers to a state of ruin or destruction with the picture of deterioration, dissolution, disintegration, ruin, perishing, decay or rotting like organic matter (breakdown of organic matter). Phthora was sometimes used of decaying food, which turns from that which is beneficial to that which is harmful. The basic idea of phthora is not a sudden destruction owing to external violence, but a dissolution brought about by internal decay. It describes decomposition which brings to mind the picture of loathsome decaying matter replete with maggots and other macabre microbes! Figuratively the idea is that of the horrible thought of the "rotting" of one's morals which become more depraved with greater loss of integrity as a result of "slow internal decay". Phthora pictures a departure from the original or from what is pure or correct and aptly depicts the moral filth and pollution of the world without God! It is the very opposite of "the divine nature." A T
Gálatas 6:9
Wiersbe writes that… Having given us the precept (Gal. 6:6) and the principle behind the precept (Gal. 6:7-8), Paul now gives us a promise (Gal. 6:9): "In due season we shall reap if we faint not." Behind this promise is a peril: getting weary in the work of the Lord, and then eventually fainting, and stopping our ministry. Sometimes spiritual fainting is caused by a lack of devotion to the Lord. It is interesting to contrast two churches that are commended for "work, labor, and patience" (1Th 1:3; Rev. 2:2). The church at Ephesus had actually left its first love and was backslidden (Rev. 2:4, 5). Why? The answer is seen in the commendation to the Thessalonian church: "Work of faith, labor of love, patience of hope." Not just work, labor, and patience, but the proper motivation: "faith, love, and hope." How easy it is for us to work for the Lord, but permit the spiritual motivation to die. Like the priests of Israel that Malachi addressed, we serve the Lord but complain, "Behold, what a weariness is it" (Mal. 1:13).(Wiersbe, W: Bible Exposition Commentary - New Testament. 1989. Victor) THE PLACE FOR GOOD DEEDS We're always sowing seeds in life By everything we do and say, So let's make sure the fruit we reap Comes from the good we do each day. —Hess While Paul repeatedly emphasizes that one cannot win God's favor by good deeds (see study of), on the other hand he never tires of calling them to do good deeds. Indeed (pun intended), good deeds are one of the purposes for our salvation and also one of the clearest indicators our faith is genuine… For (context = after explaining how one is born again - Ep 2:8, 9-note) we are His workmanship (poiema = masterpiece), created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. (Ep 2:10-note) Comment: In short we are not saved by good works, but unto good works. Saints are made adequate and equipped for good works by God's Word… All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." (2Ti 3:16, 17-note). (How is your intake of God's Word? Regular intake is vital so that we might be prepared to recognize and walk in the good deeds God has already prepared for each of us!) How are we to produce "good deeds?" Consider the fruit tree. It is not "conscious" of the bearing process. We are to be like the fruit tree for it is God Who is causing fruit be borne in good works which blossom and ripen as we walk in Spirit enabled obedience to His will which is good and acceptable and perfect. Jesus mentions good deeds in His warning of the coming judgment of the living and the dead (Jn 5:24, 25, 2Ti 4:1-note) Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment. (Jn 5:28, 29) Comment: If I wanted to start a cult, this is a verse I would yank out of context of the clear teaching of the NT that salvation is by faith not the result of works that no man can boast (Ep 2:8, 9-note) but as discussed elsewhere on this page is unto good works (Ep 2:10-note). Clearly good deeds do not save, but they are a sign of genuine salvation and a present privilege of all who are saved. Paul writes that Jesus "gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous ("on fire") for good deeds." (Titus 2:14-note) and that "whatever you do, do all to the glory of the Lord" (1Co 10:31). Paul reiterates this in his letter to the Romans warning that the Righteous Judge (Ps 7:11, 2Ti 4:8)… WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS: to those who by perseverance (cp not losing heart or growing weary in Gal 6:9) in doing good (deeds) seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth (faith alone says but the faith that saves brings a new heart that seeks to obey. If there is no new desire to obey God, one must question whether one has a new heart and new power to do so), but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. (Ro 2:6-note, Ro 2:7-8-note) The writer of Hebrews exhorts believers "do not neglect doing good and sharing; for with such sacrifices God is pleased" (He 13:16-note) so that good works are actually “spiritual sacrifices” that we offer to God (Heb 13:15-note)! One way to think of doing good works is to see it as a process, so that in salvation God does work for us, in sanctification He does work in us and in service He does work through us and bears fruit which will be harvested in due time and will remain forever. God builds character before He calls to service. He must work in us before He can work through us. God spent 25 years working in Abraham before He gave him the promised son Isaac. John
Gálatas 6:9
Wiersbe writes that… The image of the harvest is a familiar one in the Bible and is often applied to the ministry of winning lost souls. Both the Parable of the Sower and the Parable of the Tares (Matt. 13:1-30) relate to this theme, and Paul used it in his letters (Ro 1:13; 1Co 3:6, 7, 8, 9; Gal. 6:9). We plant the seed of God's Word in the hearts of people who hear it, and we seek to cultivate that seed by our love and prayers. In due time, that seed may bear fruit to the glory of God. (Wiersbe, W: Bible Exposition Commentary - New Testament. 1989. Victor) If we do not grow weary (literally "not fainting") - This is the "condition" for the reward. Notice that Paul uses "we" thus identifying himself as also subject to this condition. The promise is that we will reap “provided that we faint not” in our well-doing. Paul recognizes that crops are not immediate but may grow slowly, and thus adds this exhortation to not give up! While we may see some of the harvest in this present life (cp 2Ti 2:6-note where "crops" = fruit), we need to look with eyes of faith (2Co 5:7, 4:18,1Ti 4:8-note) to see the harvest which endures throughout eternity (cp "fruit" that remains in Jn 15:16). It takes faith and patience to sow to the Spirit, but God promises the harvest in due season. Grow weary (1590)(ekluo [word study] from ek = out or intensifier + luo = to loose) means literally to loosen out and to to untie, to dissolve, to release, to set free. To be unstrung as a bow string that has become unstrung and so weakened (and unusable for its intended purpose!) To be loosened or relaxed, like the limbs of the weary. Ekluo was used to describe reapers who had been overcome by heat and toil. Aristotle used ekluo to describe an athlete collapsing on the ground after he has surged past the finish line--what an interesting usage considering that the Christian life is often pictured as race to be run, finished and won! (Acts 20:24, 1Co 9:25, Php 3:13-note, Php 3:14-note, 2Ti 2:5-note, 2Ti 4:7-note, 2Ti 4:8-note, Heb 12:1-note, Heb 12:2-note) In the present context ekluo means to become disheartened or discouraged, losing the motivation and/or desire to accomplish the goal--God's will of doing good! Ekluo is in the present tense which speaks of continuing action ("don't continue to be 'unstrung', weary, overcome by the task at hand" is the idea). Adoniram Judson once said that "The motto of every missionary (Beloved we are all "missionaries" where God has us placed!), whether preacher, printer, or schoolmaster, ought to be “Devoted for life.” Just live your life before your Lord, Rise to that higher, nobler plane-- With single eye His glory seek, And you shall His approval gain. --Rae Ekluo - 5x in 5v - Mt 15:32; Mk 8:3; Gal 6:9; Heb 12:3, 5. NAS = faint(3), grow weary(1), lose(1).
Gálatas 6:14
Wiersbe writes that "Too many preachers of the Word so magnify themselves and their gifts that they fail to reveal the glory of Jesus Christ. Paul gloried in the cross of Christ (Gal. 6:14) and made it the center of his message. It is the Cross that is central in the life of the believer. He does not glory in men, in religion, or in his own achievements; he glories in the Cross (Gal. 6:14).For Paul, the Cross meant liberty: from self (Gal. 2:20), the flesh (Gal. 5:24), and the world (Gal. 6:14). In the death and resurrection of Christ the power of God is released to give believers deliverance and victory. It is no longer we who live; it is Christ who lives in us and through us. As we yield to Him, we have victory over the world and the flesh. There is certainly no power in the Law to give a man victory over self, the flesh, and the Law. Quite the contrary, the Law appeals to the human ego (“I can do something to please God”), and encourages the flesh to work. And the world does not care if we are “religious” just so long as the Cross is left out. In fact, the world approves of religion—apart from the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So, the legalist inflates the ego, flatters the flesh, and pleases the world; the true Christian crucifies all three. (Wiersbe, W: Bible Exposition Commentary. 1989. Victor) Paul Apple - In what practical ways do we truly make our boast in the cross, despite any hostility or opposition or persecution. Do we stay focused on the simplicity of the gospel or does our Christian testimony get diluted into too many side issues? (Galatians) Thomas Watson offers an interesting thought on Paul's declaration of his crucifixion to the world "Cyprus was anciently called Macaria, the blessed island—but it is more true that heaven is the blessed island. Heaven is a place where sorrow cannot live—and joy cannot die! It may be compared to the fields of Sicily where there is continual spring and flowers all the year long. Could our meditations mount up to the empyrean delights, how would the world disappear and shrink into nothing! To those who stand upon the top of the Alps, the great cities below seem as little villages. After Paul was wrapped up into the third heaven, the world was crucified to him (Galatians 6:14). When worldly things are in their highest meridian of glory—they hasten to a sunset. Let us live more in the altitudes, and take a prospect of our eternal felicities. What can be more delicious or sacred—than to have Christ in our heart, and the crown in our eye! (The Fight of Faith Crowned) EXCEPT IN THE CROSS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST: ei me en to stauro tou kuriou hemon Iesou Christou: Isaiah 45:24,25; Ro 1:16; 1Cor 1:23; 2:2; Php 3:3; Philippians 3:7, 8, 9, 10, 11 Galatians 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Galatians 6:11-14 The Cross of Christ - John MacArthur Galatians 6:11-16 Rejoicing in the Cross - John MacArthur Galatians 6:14-18 Glorying in the Cross - John MacArthur THE CROSS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST In a parallel passage Paul explaining that when he came to Corinth he did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom proclaiming the testimony of God... For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. (1Corinthians 2:2) Writing to the church at Philippi Paul warned the saints to... Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision (cp Gal 6:12, 13); 3 for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh (Gal 6:14), 4 although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. 7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. (Php 3:2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) Except - Paul is making the point that this rightly directed boasting (in the Cross) is so important that he will boast in nothing else. Paul's passion is the Cross of Christ and it should likewise be every believer's passion. As John
Gálatas 6:14
Wiersbe notes that "Christians can become worldly, and they do so (like Lot -see Ge 13:10, 11, 12, 13 and Ge 19:1ff) by degrees. First there is friendship with the world (Jas 4:4); then love for the world (1Jn 2:15, 16, 17); and finally conformity to the world (Ro 12:2). The result is that the compromising believer is judged with the world (1Co 11:32). Anything in our lives that keeps us from enjoying God’s love and doing God’s will is worldly and should be put away. To live for the world is to deny the cross of Christ (Gal 6:14). The world hates Christ; how can the Christian love the world? Believers who are friends of the world are at enmity with God. They grieve the Spirit, who jealously yearns for their love. (Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the New Testament. Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books) (Bolding Added) Thomas Watson... One sign of genuine love to God, is crucifixion to the world. He who is a lover of God—is dead to the world. "The world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." (Galatians 6:14). That is, "I am dead to the honors and pleasures of the world." He who is in love with God is not much in love with anything else. The love of God, and ardent love of the world—are incompatible. "If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (1John 2:15). Love to God swallows up all other love—as Moses' rod swallowed up the Egyptian rods. If a man could live as high as the sun—what a small point would all the earth be. Just so, when a man's heart is raised above the world in the admiring and loving of God—how poor and diminutive are these things below! They seem as nothing in his eye. Test your love to God by this. What shall we think of those who never have enough of the world? They have the cancer of covetousness, thirsting insatiably after riches: "Who pant after the dust of the earth!" (Amos 2:7). "Never talk of your love to Christ," says Ignatius, "when you prefer the world before the Pearl of great price!" Are there not many such, who prize their gold above God? If they have a good farm—they care not for the water of life. They will sell Christ and a good conscience for money. Will God ever bestow heaven upon those who so basely undervalue Him, preferring glittering dust before the glorious Deity? What is there in the earth, that we should so set our hearts upon it? The devil makes us look upon it through a magnifying glass! The world has no real intrinsic worth; it is but paint and deception! Thomas Watson applies this truth to suffering for Christ first exhorting us to "Avoid those things which will hinder suffering. The love of the world. God allows us the use of the world (1Ti 6:7, 8). But take heed of the love of it. He who is in love with the world will be out of love with the Cross. 'Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world' (2Ti 4:10-note). He not only forsook Paul's company but his doctrine. The love of the world chokes our zeal. A man wedded to the world will for thirty pieces of silver betray Christ and his cause. Let the world be as a loose garment that you may throw off at pleasure. Before a man can die for Christ—he must be dead to the world. Paul was crucified to the world (Galatians 6:14). It will be an easy thing to die, when we are already dead in our affections. (Beatitudes) I Have Decided — To Follow Jesus The Cross before me The world behind me No turning back No turning back Though none go with me Still I will follow Though none go with me Still I will follow Though none go with me Still I will follow No turning back No turning back! (Song by Michael Card) Findlay commenting on the Paul's rejection of the attractions of the world says "He can never believe in it, never take pride in it, nor do homage to it any more. It is stripped of its glory and robbed of its power to charm or govern him. Puritan Stephen Charnock - The world we live in would have fallen upon our heads, had it not been upheld by the pillar of the Cross; had not Christ stepped in and promised a satisfaction for the sin of man. By this all things consist—not a blessing we enjoy but may put us in mind of it; they were all forfeited by sin—but merited by His blood. If we study it (the Cross) well, we shall be sensible how God hated sin and loved a world. Horatius Bonar - To the believing man the world is a crucified thing. There is now enmity, not friendship—hatred, not love—between the woman's seed and the serpent's seed. The cross has produced the enmity. It has slain the world, and made it altogether unlovable. One sight of the cross strips the world of its false beauty and attractiveness! The cross furnishes a theme for glorying. (Gal 6:14) Paul gloried in it, counting it the only thing worth boasting of, worth admiring, worth caring for. The cross is the scorn of the world—it is the glory of the saint. It is the theme of the church's song, the theme of her praise. She glories in the cross. (Ed: Do the songs in your worship time in church exalt the Cross of Christ and the eternally efficacious blood of the Lamb? If not, why not?) (Read the enumeration of the 21 things accomplished by The Cross Of The Lord Jesus) Let the Church of Christ sing and lift high the Cross of Christ as in George Kitchin's great hymn... Lift High the Cross Refrain Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim, Till all the world adore His sacred Name. Led on their way by this triumphant sign, The hosts of God in conquering ranks combine. Refrain Each newborn servant of the Crucified Bears on the brow the seal of Him Who died. Refrain O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree, As Thou hast promised, draw the world to Thee. Refrain So shall our song of triumph ever be: Praise to the Crucified for victory. Refrain Thomas Watson... QUESTION. What advantage will accrue to us, by often thinking of our short stay here? ANSWER 1. Meditation on the shortness of time would cool the heat of our affections for the WORLD. These visible objects please the fancy—but they do not so much delight us—as delude us. They are suddenly gone from us. Worldly things are like a fair picture drawn on the ice—which the sun quickly melts. The time is short, so why should we overly love that which we cannot keep over long? 1Corinthians 7:31: "The fashion (or pageant) of the world passes away." (cp 1Jn 2:17-note) Time passes away as a ship in full sail. This, thought on seriously, would mortify covetousness. Paul looked upon himself as ready to loosen anchor and be gone. His love to the world had already died, Galatians 6:14: "The world is crucified to me—and I unto the world." Who would covet that which has neither contentment nor continuance? (Time's Shortness) This old hymn (1776) well expresses Paul's sentiments in Galatians 6:14 regarding what a believer's boastful attitude should be toward the Old Rugged Cross... Rock of Ages Augustus Toplady Not the labor of my hands Can fulfill Thy laws demands; Could my zeal no respite know, Could my tears forever flow, All for sin could not atone; Thou must save, and Thou alone. Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to Thy cross I cling; Naked, come to Thee for dress; Helpless, look to Thee for grace. Foul, I to the fountain fly; Wash me, Savior, or I die Paul Apple - What is there in the world system -- with its wealth and material possessions and variety of entertainment -- that still holds enough of an attraction for us to distract us from living for Christ? Have we experienced this same crucifixion to the world that the Apostle Paul talks about? (Galatians) Robert Murray McCheyne writes that Romans 1:16 phrase "I am not ashamed of the Gospel" - This passage is the same in meaning with that in Galatians 6:14, 'But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ...'. The meaning of both passages is just this, that the way of righteousness through Christ was what Paul gloried in. There are two things implied in it. First, he was not ashamed of the gospel before God. Paul rested his eternal salvation on the righteousness of Christ. Like David, he said, 'This is all my salvation and all my desire' (2Sa 23:5). He had no other way of access to God but that; if that failed, all failed. He had no other way of going to God in secret but that, therefore he says, 'I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.' But again, there is implied in it that he was not ashamed of the gospel before men. Many men are ashamed of the gospel, but Paul was not ashamed of it. (Believers Not Ashamed) Steve Canfield (Revival Preacher for Life Action Ministries) in his article entitled The Ways of God writes... After studying revival accounts for a good portion of my life, I have come to the conclusion that revival comes when people gain a right perspective of the Lord. Yet tragically, our generation has lost an understanding of the greatness, grandeur, power, and majesty of the eternal God of the universe. We often say we want to know God's will, but we haven't taken the time to know Him. I meet many people who are pushing against the will of God, even in the midst of their trying to 'discover' it. I believe this is because they have never understood the ways of God. Set up against the ways of men - comfort, convenience, attempts to control, influence, manipulate, and succeed - God's ways stand in stark contrast. The ways of God are often ways of obscurity, criticism, servant hood, and deprivation. They involve self-denial, repentance, poorness of spirit, and humility. The ways of God are rarely in line with the ways of this world.... God does His work in suffering ways. I wish this wasn't one of the ways of God. But the fact is, the ways of God are the ways of the Cross. One of the greatest struggles in my life is to die to what I want to be and accept what God wants me to be. Galatians 6:14 says, 'God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world was crucified unto me, and I unto the world.' We must die to our desire for praise, our desire for ease, our desire for control, and be willing to embrace that cross. John 12:24 says, 'Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.' A seed will not produce life until it is buried, covered, and out of sight, never to be seen again. It has to be put into the ground. Are you willing to go into the ground? To be buried, covered, and never seen again? Are you willing to die to yourself, to your reputation, to your praise? This is the only way to gain the true life. This is the only way that God's will can be accomplished through you. Once we grasp the ways of God, we can begin to understand the will of God. The will of God is rarely convenient. (The Ways of God, Steve Canfield) David Curtis... When we talk of the cross of Christ here in our text, we are not talking simply about the wooden instrument of death, which our Lord Jesus was nailed to. The "cross" is used in metonymy for the atoning work of Christ, it refers to all Christ accomplished as He died in our place on the Cross. A metonymy is a figure of speech in which something named is used to represent another thing that is part of or associated with. When we say, "I was reading Calvin last night," we mean that we were reading a book written by him. The name of the author is used to represent the work he has written. Metonymy is a figure of speech where an initial or prominent feature is taken to represent the whole thing. So when Paul says that he boasts in the cross, he is referring to the doctrine of justification by faith alone. Justification is a declarative act whereby God declares righteous him who believes in Christ. Justification is not being made righteous experimentally, but being declared righteous. It is not the removal of our liabilities, it is the imputation of Christ's righteousness. It's not something done in us, it is something done for us. Righteousness is imputed, not imparted. That means that though I may not act righteous, my account says that I am.... ...Paul is saying: My glory, my boast, is all in the Lord Jesus Christ. That's because my salvation is altogether in Christ. He is the One who died on the cross to pay for my sin, and He is the One who has given me the faith to believe on Him. I have been crucified unto the world. I am dead to the world. The things and pleasures that it offers don't appeal to me anymore. I have lost my interest in those worldly things; I just want to live for Christ. These statements (Gal 6:14, Php 3:4, 5, 6, 7, 8) that Paul makes under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit trouble us, don't they? It hits me very hard. It makes me realize that when we put life in its proper perspective, the things of the world are so unimportant. What does it matter how many cars we have or how big a house we live in? What does it matter how much money we have in the bank? Our life on earth is short; sooner or later we will die. What really matters is that I'll be with the Lord throughout eternity. That's the only thing that counts. Paul says, "There's nothing I have to boast about, except the cross of Jesus Christ." Grace takes all the boasting out, because I realize I didn't do anything; I failed; I didn't measure up; I blew it. And all I have is what I received on the basis of grace. He said, "I had to die to the world"-- which means that living life independent from God is believing: "I can do it without God, I don't need help." Paul died to that mindset. (Galatians 6:11-15 Boasting in the Cross) John Piper... My mother wrote in my Bible when I was fifteen years old—I still have the Bible—“This book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book.” The point I am trying to make right now is that my mother’s motto and Owen’s motto, “Be killing sin or sin will be killing you,” are virtually the same. The Word of God is the instrument for killing sin. The truth will set you free. For Owen the cross of Christ was the central message and sin-killing power of the Word of God. It was the central, liberating truth. To focus here, he said, is the main way to kill the sin that kills our joy. As to the object of your affections, in an especial manner, let it be the cross of Christ, which has exceeding efficacy towards the disappointment of the whole work of indwelling sin: “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, whereby the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Gal 6:14). The cross of Christ he [Paul] gloried and rejoiced in; this his heart was set upon; and these were the effects of it—it crucified the world unto him, made it a dead and undesirable thing. The baits and pleasures of sin are taken all of them out of the world… If the heart be filled with the cross of Christ, it casts death and undesirableness upon them all; it leaves no seeming beauty, no appearing pleasure or comeliness, in them. Again, says he, “It crucifies me to the world; makes my heart, my affections, my desires, dead unto any of these things.” It roots up corrupt lusts and affections, leaves no principle to go forth and make provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof. Labor, therefore, to fill your hearts with the cross of Christ … that there may be no room for sin. (John Owen: On Indwelling Sin in Believers) (Bolding and color added) This is the heart of the battle in the fight for joy. You will know the truth and the truth will set you free—free to see the surpassing glory of Christ, free from the blinding, joy-killing desires that make war on the soul. In the fight for joy, there is no replacement for the liberating power of truth—the truth of God’s promises and the word of the cross, where all the promises were blood-bought by the death of Christ. (When I Don't Desire God - Online) A W Pink on overcoming the world... "For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith." 1 Jn 5:4 One of the fruits of the new birth, is a faith which not only enables its possessor to overcome the sensual and sinful customs, and the carnal maxims and policies by which the profane world is regulated--but also the lying delusions and errors by which the professing world is fatally deceived. The only thing which will or can "overcome the world" is a God-given--but self-exercised faith. Faith overcomes the world firstly, by receiving into the heart God's infallible testimony of the world. He declares that "the world" is a corrupt, evanescent, hostile thing, which shall soon be destroyed by Him. His Holy Word teaches that the world is "evil" (Gal 1:4); that "all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father--but is of the world" (1Jn 2:16-note); that "the whole world lies in wickedness" (1Jn 5:19) and shall yet be "burned up" (2Pe 3:10-note). As faith accepts God's verdict of the world, the mind is spiritually enlightened; and its possessor views it as a worthless, dangerous, and detestable thing! Faith overcomes the world secondly, by obeying the Divine commands concerning it. God has bidden us, "Do not be conformed to this world" (Ro 12:2-note); "Do not love the world, neither the things that are in the world" (1Jn 2:15-note); and warns us that "Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world, becomes an enemy of God." (James 4:4-note). By heeding the Divine precepts, its magic spell over the heart is broken. Faith overcomes the world thirdly, by occupying the soul with more glorious, soul-delighting and satisfying objects. The more the substance of the heavenly world engages the heart--the less hold will the shadows of this earthly world have upon it. "For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God" (He 11:10-note). Faith overcomes the world fourthly, by drawing out the heart unto Christ. As it was by fleeing to Him for refuge, that the soul was first delivered from the power and thraldom of this world--so it is throughout the Christian life. The more we cultivate real communion with Christ--the less attraction will the baubles of this world have for us! The strength of temptation lies entirely in the bent of our affections, "for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Mt 6:21-note). While Christ is beheld as "the chief among ten thousand" (Song 5:10) and as "altogether lovely" (Song 5:16) --the things which charm the poor worldling, will repel us. The world gains the victory over the unregenerate by captivating their affections and capturing their wills. But the Christian overcomes the world, because his affections are set upon Christ and his will yielded to Him. Here--then, we have a sure criterion by which we may determine our Christian progress or spiritual growth. If the things of this world have a decreasing power over me -- then my faith is becoming stronger. If I am holding more lightly the things most prized by the ungodly--then I must be increasing in an experimental and soul-satisfying knowledge of Christ. If I am less cast down when some of the riches and comforts of this world are taken from me--then that is evidence they have less hold upon me. (Faith as an Overcomer) Brian Hedges - Christ's death on the cross is both the ground of our boasting and the pattern for our living. Pride is demolished; servant hood is embodied in the cross. (A Passion for the Cross - Life Action Revival Ministries) George Findlay - Paul knows but one ground of exultation, one object of pride and confidence- his Savior's Cross. Before he had received His gospel and seen the Cross in the light of revelation, like other Jews he regarded it with horror. Its existence covered the cause of Jesus with ignominy. It marked Him out as the object of Divine abhorrence. To the "Judaistic Christian" (Ed: Seems to be a bit of an oxymoron!) the Cross was still an embarrassment. He was secretly ashamed of a crucified Messiah, anxious by some means to excuse the scandal and make amends for it in the face of Jewish public opinion. But now this disgraceful Cross in the Apostle's eyes is the most glorious thing in the universe. Its message is the good news of God to all mankind. It is the center of faith and religion, of all that man knows of God or can receive from Him. Let it be removed, and the entire structure of revelation falls to pieces, like an arch without its keystone. The shame of the Cross was turned into honour and majesty. Its foolishness and weakness proved to be the wisdom and the power of God. Out of the gloom in which Calvary was shrouded there now shone forth the clearest light of holiness and love. (The Epistle to the Galatians Online) Phillip Doddridge writes that Paul desires not to boast in "my descent or circumcision, in my abilities or interest in making converts, or indeed in any thing else...I view the world, as little impressed by all its charms as a spectator would be by any thing which had been graceful in the countenance of a crucified person when he beholds it blackened in the agonies of death, and am no more affected by the objects round me than one that is expiring would be struck with any of those prospects which his dying eyes might view from the Cross on which he was suspended. (The Family Expositor) John Piper...in defining Biblical Counseling lists 10 essentials, one of which is "Cross-cherishing - (Galatians 6:14): It is not enough to say that our counseling honors Christ. Some non-Christian systems, even Muslims, say this. Biblical Counseling must go to the heart of our problems and the heart of God's solution, which always means going to the cross where the depths of sin and the heights of grace are revealed. There is no true exalting of Christ or honoring of God that does not cherish the cross. The decisive severing of pride and despair is the cross of Christ. It is the ground of humility and hope. There is no true mental health without understanding the desperate condition we were in without the cross, and without feeling the joy of deliverance from that condition through the death of Christ on our behalf. (Read the article to see all 10 essentials - Toward a Definition of the Essence of Biblical Counseling) S Lewis