The Glory of the Cross
Galatians 6
June 4, 2017 AM
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
Bible Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland
I.
Introduction (Philp 3:17-19) “…
whose glory is in their shame…”
A.
What if there WAS something, something so thrilling, so real, so
powerful, so awesome, that nothing else could compare – nothing else
could dim its glory, no matter the pain, or the struggle you have to
endure?
B.
Most people glory in shameful acts and shameful things – in such filthy
and dirty things, like manure would be
1.
People glory in almost constant adultery on TV and in the movies
2.
Glory in rebellion and hatred of anything good and clean and godly
3.
Glory in homosexual acts, and sex outside of marriage
4.
They glory in their good looks, and in their wealth, and in their
successes
5.
But it is like a child saying, Look Ma! Look at what “I” accomplished!
(BIG PILE OF HORSE MANURE)
6.
No wonder each generation is falling apart faster than the previous one!
C.
We have something real, something awesome, to glory in
D.
That’s what I aim to tell you about this morning!
II.
Background (Galatians 6:14)
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.
A.
The Meaning of “Glory”
1.
Brightness, splendour, magnificence – like “Glorious”
2.
Fame, like a celebrity
3.
Perfection – something glorious is perfect! No imperfection, spots, or
wrinkles
4.
Power
5.
It means, something Amazing, awesome!
6.
Something to boast about, to brag about
7.
Something that thrills you, and causes you to dance and rejoice and
sing!
8.
You couldn’t get a better word than “GLORIOUS”
a.
Jesus
Christ Himself is glorious!
Php 3:21
Who shall change our vile
body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to
the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
b.
The
GOSPEL is glorious!
2Co 4:4
In whom the god of this
world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light
of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine
unto them.
c.
The
Bible Believing, Bible Obeying Church is glorious!
Eph 5:27
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot,
or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without
blemish.
d.
The
power of Jesus Christ in our lives is glorious!
Col 1:11
Strengthened with all
might, according to his
glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with
joyfulness;
e.
The
soon coming return of Christ in the rapture will be GLORIOUS!
Tit 2:13
Looking for that blessed
hope, and the glorious
appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
9.
None of that may be special to you, but they sure are glorious to ME!
B.
Paul COULD have gloried in a load of things (Philp 3:4-6)
1.
His National heritage
a.
Some people are proud of being Irish, and American, and French
b.
Paul could have been proud and boasted of being a member of the Jewish
race, the very elect, people of God
2.
His high-level of education – at the feet of the greatest teacher of his
day, Gamaliel
3.
His precise religion, and his obedience to it! He is not like most
religious people today – only in name only!
4.
His amazing conversion – one of the greatest most unexpected conversions
of all time, and he should have been quite proud of it!
5.
His ministry accomplishments
a.
Started at least two dozen thriving churches across Asia minor and
southern Europe
b.
Personally trained hundreds of men to preach and pastor those churches
he started
6.
His zeal and energy as a Christian leader – nothing seemed to stop or
slow him down
7.
His survival in spite of all the adversities, and troubles and
persecutions he had to endure
8.
But, ALL of that and more, he treated like it was just one big pile of
MANURE (Philp 3:7,8)
C.
But ONE thing, one event, one moment in time thrilled Paul more than
anything else…
1.
THE
CROSS
(Gal 6:14)
a.
Two words, that say it all!
b.
Those TWO WORDS define Christian JOY; they prove God’s MERCY; they offer
a SURE HOPE for the hopeless!
2.
You need to get this truth folks!
a.
It will make Salvation sweet again!
b.
It will make Jesus REAL and PERSONAL again!
c.
It will make suffering and sorrow and troubles SMALL again!
d.
That’s what the cross, the glory of the cross can do!
3.
“To GLORY in the cross”, is the most amazing if not the most
contradicting of feelings ever experienced by a human heart!
a.
Think about it… to rejoice in the torture, in such sorrow and
abandonment that Jesus experienced, and ultimately in the death He
experienced there…
b.
Well, as strange as it sounds, we rejoice in it! Those of us foolish
enough to believe it
c.
And so did Jesus (Heb 12:2)!
4.
The Cross! A Poem by Craig Ledbetter
a.
Think about the cross…
1)
The place where Jesus died
2)
The place where sin was crucified
3)
Where the wrath of God was satisfied
4)
O think about the cross!
b.
Get to know about the cross…
1)
Find out Who died upon its frame
2)
The torture that could cause such shame
3)
How such a thing could take away ALL our blame
4)
If only you really knew about the cross!
c.
Be very upset by the cross…
1)
It will upset and offend you for sure
2)
Showing all your successes only as manure
3)
And even your righteousnesses as totally impure
4)
Oh yes, expect to be very upset by the cross!
d.
Look to the cross…
1)
There is an invitation waiting there
2)
An open door to heaven, if you dare
3)
Paid for by the blood of Jesus, though so unfair
4)
Will you look to the cross?
e.
Trust the cross…
1)
Don’t believe anything else around
2)
Only from the cross can forgiveness be found
3)
And from thence by faith all grace can abound
4)
If only you will trust the cross!
f.
Glory
in the cross…
1)
Rejoice and shout and leap for joy
2)
The Son of God has sin destroyed
3)
And gave eternal life to us, forever to enjoy!
4)
So ever glory in the cross!
III.
Message
A.
The Cross is MORE than just Two Pieces of Wood
1.
People wear crucifixes around their neck, and get a cross tattooed on
their arms, but I am afraid that they have missed the meaning, and the
glory of the cross!
2.
It was the determinate counsel of God (Acts 2:22-24)
a.
What does that mean?
b.
It means it was planned out and carried out perfectly according to the
will and plan of God
c.
It means it was no accident; not a tragedy, but rather…
d.
The most amazing, the most wisest, and the only way, to save sinners
from their sin
e.
Wow!
f.
The
cross was the whole work of God
(from eternity past, throughout eternity future) wrapped up in one
excruciating moment of time!
g.
Eph 2:16
And that he (Jesus) might
reconcile both (Jew and gentile sinners) unto God in one body
by the cross, having slain
the enmity (all the problems and conflicts) thereby:
h.
So, NOTHING that God ever has done, or ever will do, can exceed what was
done at the cross! Think about THAT for a bit! More important than
Creation, was our salvation!
3.
It was the full payment for all sin for all time (Heb 10:10,12,14; 9:12,
26)!
4.
It was the END of the Law! (Romans 8:3) – and the guilt, and the bondage
of our sins!
a.
No other way to fulfil all the rules and regulations of God’s holy Laws
1)
None of us could keep them perfectly – no one on earth could live it
perfectly
2)
And even if someone COULD, they could not do it for everyone else
b.
So the cross was GOD, coming in the flesh, to not only kill off sin, but
also all the requirements of the Law!
c.
If you want to just keep on trying to keep the Law of God, go ahead. You
will fail!
d.
I’ll take the cross! I will trust the cross over anyone’s best efforts
any day!
5.
It was the most gripping, and attention getting event of all time
a.
Nothing else could get MY attention like all the injustices of the cross
b.
Like the betrayal and abandonment of the cross
c.
Like the finality of the cross
d.
And like the victory of the cross!
e.
THAT got MY attention as a hell-bound sinner!
6.
So, Next time you see a cross, on a hillside, remember, it is THE most
glorious thing you will ever see, next to the face of Jesus Christ!
B.
The Cross at FIRST is Totally Offensive, Repulsive, Horrible – the worst
way to die
1.
People hate the cross. Probably some people even in this room today!
2.
People hate the preaching of the cross
a.
People want to hear thoughts about how good they are, and how unfairly
they have been treated, and how God is only loving, and only gentle…
Hmmmm…
b.
Well, the cross is NOT nice, and NOT sweet, or soft, or cuddly
c.
It is rough, and harsh, and stern, and deadly
d.
It is completely offensive, repulsive to think about Someone having to
die so horribly simply because those that He is dying for are so wicked!
e.
Whenever there is preaching about the cross, there will always be
preaching about the reason for the cross – the wicked, selfish,
sinfulness of all mankind
3.
It was so horrible
a.
Philippians 2:8
And being found in fashion as a
man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death
of the cross.
b.
That word ‘even’ shows just
how awful such a death it was
c.
Isa 53:4,5 uses these words, “stricken,
smitten of God, afflicted, wounded, bruised, chastised” – whipped
and beaten, then nailed to a cross, unable to breathe, torn to bits!
d.
The crucifixion of Jesus Christ was horrible – that’s the reality of it!
4.
It just doesn’t make sense to people
a.
And it certainly won’t ever make sense to the intellectuals and the
politicians
b.
You put hardened criminals on a cross, not good people, right?
c.
No one would want such a thing to actually ever happen
d.
And yet, here was an innocent Man, taking the place for those who did
NOT want Him
5.
So they try and smooth it over and make it not so harsh, not so
upsetting, not so offensive
6.
But what Jesus did sure makes sense to desperate sinners, who have no
other hope!
C.
But, Everything about the Cross is Glorious!
1.
The Justice of God
2.
The Wrath of God
3.
The Mercy of God
4.
The Sacrifice of God
5.
The very Son of God!
6.
And then the Resurrection that came BECAUSE of the cross!
7.
Try and show me anything more glorious than all of that! I would like to
see you try!
8.
Stephen
Frye
hasn’t a CLUE about any of this?
Stephen Hawkings is blind as a bat about it!
9.
The Cross is THE ONLY WAY to take care of mankind’s sin problem “It
is finished!”
10.
The Cross is THE ONLY WAY to allow sinners to BECOME righteous, and
still keep God righteous and holy!
a.
Rom 3:25,26
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood,
to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past,
through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his
righteousness: that he might be
just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
11.
The Cross was VICTORY – not defeat at all (Col 2:13-15)
a.
… having forgiven you all trespasses;
b.
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances (all the Laws) that was
against us, … took it out of the way,
nailing it to his cross;
c.
And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them
openly, triumphing over them in it.
12.
The Cross is still THE ONLY WAY to attract real conversion (John 12:32)
a.
Music can’t do it
b.
Fancy speeches can’t do it
c.
Money can’t do it
d.
Do you want to be saved from the wrath to come on sin and sinner?
Believe on the Saviour who died on such a cross!
e.
Don’t believe on Mary, or a Pope, of Mother Theresa, or your grandmother
f.
Jesus
said in John 12:32
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
g.
Only believing the foolishness of the cross can save anybody!
h.
And I am proudly a fool to
believe it, and preach it, and rejoice in it!
13.
I’ll ask again! Do you want to try and show me anything more glorious
than all of that??? I would like to see you try!
14.
Gal 6:14
But God forbid that I should
glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ…
D.
Shame on ANYONE that promotes ANYTHING equal to the cross!
1.
There are so many people who value, cherish, and promote things more
than the cross
2.
Take a look at all the
ceremonies and celebrations promoted today!
a.
1Co 1:17,18 For Christ sent me not
to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the
cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the
cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it
is the power of God
b.
That includes Jewish Circumcision
c.
Baptism
d.
Ordination
e.
The elaborance of the Mass
f.
A fancy
wedding – yours, or even princess Diana’s
g.
A crazy birthday party
h.
A huge funeral – and we all have seen some doosey’s
i.
The
Jew’s bar-mitzvah
j.
Ramadan
fasting
k.
No matter how much money you spent on it all! All are DUNG folks! Pure,
stinking, putrefied manure, when compared to what happened on the cross!
l.
That’s
why we Bible believers have very few ceremonies
3.
No personal prestige can equal the glory of the cross
a.
No Taoiseach - No President - No big company CEO
b.
No King, or Queen
c.
No sportsman or rock musician or artist
d.
No one on earth who has ever lived or ever will live can match the glory
of the cross
e.
So don’t think for one minute that your feeble attempts to be great,
actually matter anything in eternity!
f.
They
are all as NOTHING! Listen to Isaiah 40:17
All nations before him are as
nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.
g.
Not when the cross took first place in the mind of God!
4.
Forget all the celebrations of people’s accomplishments
a.
Like the Oscars, the Tony Awards, Eurovison
b.
The World Cup, the Stanley Cup, the Rugby World Trophy Cup
c.
None of it matters when compared to one man’s soul
d.
And yet most religions, and even churches now care only about big name
celebrities, and honour great accomplishments, ignoring the shame of the
cross, and the power there!
5.
All the self-sacrifices of good people throughout history… DUNG!
6.
And most of all, ANY and all prosperity stinks to God!
a.
Nothing wrong with working hard for money and having money
b.
But, Preaching that Christians should not be poor, and should not get
sick, and should fly first class, and should live in multi-million euro
homes!
c.
SHAME on ALL the wicked false prophets who preach a prosperity kind of
gospel
d.
SHAME on all of that false gospel preaching, damning millions of people
who love their wealth more than the old rugged cross of Christ!
e.
All of the wealth of this world is NOTHING like the glory of the cross!
Only DUNG!
IV.
Application and Invitation
A.
If the cross means little to nothing to you, then you my friend have not
known what it was all about – you have been lied to and misled
1.
If church to you has to be basilicas and cathedrals, ornate altars and
fancy robed priests, Children’s programmes and padded pews… well…
2.
You have missed everything about the cross!
3.
If Sunday is hit and miss for you and your kids… then you have not
encountered the cross
4.
If this old Bible is not being read and obeyed, every day, then it was
not the preaching of the cross that brought you to church
B.
Don’t think that your feeble prayers and miniscule religious efforts
mean anything to God
C.
THE CROSS – it is the ONLY thing that matters in all of eternity!
1.
To the lost, it means nothing –
as a matter of fact, it is offensive, repulsive, upsetting, awful
2.
But to the broken sinner, who has looked on the cross, and believed the
One who died there on it, 2,000 years ago, it is GLORIOUS! It is the
power of God! And it saves!
D.
There is still room at the cross for anyone, even just one!
1.
Will you believe that what
happened there was enough?
2.
Will you, like the thief next to Jesus on the cross, cry out to Him, and
ask Him to remember YOU and get you into His glorious kingdom, all
because of His substitutionary death on that cross?
3.
The Lord Jesus promises that if you would just trust Him, and ASK Him to
save you, you would be so saved, that even if you died right now, you
would be with Jesus in PARADISE!
E.
And to the Christian, it’s time we shook off all the glitter of this
world, and cling to the old rugged cross, glorying in it, and thanking
God that it happened, all for sinners like you and me!