218. Three Crucifixions.

But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. - Galatians 6:14.

PAUL vigorously rebuked those who went aside from the doctrine of the Cross (verses 12-13).

When we rebuke others, we must take care to go right ourselves; hence, he says, "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross."

Our own resolute adherence to truth, when practically carried out, is a very powerful argument against opponents.

Paul rises to warmth when he thinks of the opponents of the cross. He no sooner touches the subject than he glows and burns.

Yet, he has his reasons and states them clearly and forcibly in the latter words of the text.

Here are three crucifixions—

I. CHRIST CRUCIFIED. "The cross of our Lord Jesus Christ."

He mentions the atoning death of Jesus in the plainest and most obnoxious terms. The cross was shameful as the gallows tree.

Yet with the clearest contrast as to the person enduring it, for to him he gives his full honors in the glorious title, "our Lord Jesus Christ."

He refers to the doctrine of free justification and full atonement by the death of Jesus upon the cross.

In this he gloried so as to glory in nothing else, for he viewed it—

1. As a display of the divine character. "God was in Christ" (2 Cor. 5:19).

2. As the manifestation of the love of the Savior (John 15:13).

3. As the putting away of sin by atonement (Heb. 9:26)

4. As the breathing of hope, peace, and joy to the desponding soul.

5. As the great means of touching hearts and changing lives.

6. As depriving death of terror, seeing Jesus died.

7. As ensuring heaven to all believers.

In any one of these points of view, the cross is a pillar of light, flaming with unutterable glory.

II. THE WORLD CRUCIFIED. "The world is crucified unto me."

As the result of seeing all things in the light of the Cross, he saw the world to be like a felon executed upon a cross.

1. Its character condemned (John 12:31).

2. Its judgment condemned. Who cares for the opinion of a gibbeted felon?

3. Its teachings despised. What authority can it have?

4. Its pleasures, honors, treasures, rejected.

5. Its pursuits, maxims, and spirit cast out.

6. Its threatenings and blandishments made nothing of.

7. Itself soon to pass away, its glory and its fashion fading.

III. THE BELIEVER CRUCIFIED. "And I unto the world."

To the world, Paul was no better than a man crucified.

If faithful, a Christian may expect to be treated as only fit to be put to a shameful death.

He will probably find—

1. Himself at first bullied, threatened, and ridiculed.

2. His name and honor held in small repute because of his association with the godly poor.

3. His actions and motives misrepresented.

4. Himself despised as a sort of madman or of doubtful intellect.

5. His teaching described as exploded, dying out, etc.

6. His ways and habits reckoned to be Puritanic and hypocritical.

7. Himself given up as irreclaimable and therefore dead to society.

Let us glory in the cross, because it gibbets the world's glory, and honor, and power!

Let us glory in the cross when men take from us all other glory.