The New Creation: Galatians 6:14-16
We boast in the cross, because Jesus’ death bought everything we need. Jesus’ death brings forgiveness of sin. Jesus’ death brings restoration with God. Jesus’ death brings the promise of eternal life, which we will receive in the age to come. Everything we need comes through the cross.
We are called to be a new creation. Paul is not interested in the old creation. He is not interested in the “Old Paul.” He’s not interested in impressing people who are not interested in the new creation. For Paul, there is only the life to come.
This is what Paul means when he says the world is crucified to him. The world can no longer offer him things that interest him. Paul doesn’t want worldly fame. He doesn’t care about worldly riches. He doesn’t need power over people. The only thing Paul needs is Jesus Christ because Jesus is making him into a new creation. When Paul looks to his life, he wants to focus on Jesus and the calling Jesus has for Paul.
These words are incredibly inspiring. These words are also incredibly hard to accept as a standard. It is hard to not pursue worldly fame. It is hard to not pursue worldly wealth. It is hard to not pursue power. Who doesn’t want to be accepted, appreciated, recognized, and have enough resources to satisfy our desires? The lure of the world seems very reasonable when put this way. Considering the reasonableness of the worldly lure, though, has no place in the life of someone who claims to be crucified to the world. Those who are crucified to the world no longer consider the lures of the world to be reasonable.
What is the focus for those crucified in Christ? The focus is the cross. Jesus died so we could live a new life. Jesus put aside His life so we could know relationship with God. If Jesus put aside His own life for our sake and we claim to follow Him, how can we not be willing to also put aside our own life and boast in the cross?
After all, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision matters for salvation. We could also say our fame doesn’t matter for salvation. Our wealth doesn’t matter for salvation. The size of our house doesn’t matter for salvation. The number of our kids – or how successful they are – doesn’t matter for salvation. Our social standing and our ability to wield power doesn’t matter for salvation. All these things will pass away and not follow us into the life to come. The only thing that matters is Jesus’ faithfulness on the cross. Everyone who lives with this understanding will walk with God’s peace and understanding.
What a wonderfully simple statement. Our world is increasingly complex. We devise even more complex plans to get what we want. There is only one plan we need. We boast in the cross, because Jesus’ death bought everything we need.
