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[0:00] First three verses tell us what slaves we were to sin. Walking in the ways of this world. Walking in the ways of this world. Walking in the ways of this world. Obedient to the devil. Obedient to the devil.

[0:10] Who's working disobedience and the children of disobedience. And slaves to our own sinful natures and desires and thoughts. But because of his great love for us.

[0:23] God who is rich in mercy made us alive with Christ. Even when we were dead in transgression. It is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ.

[0:36] And seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. In order that in the coming ages. He might show the incomparable riches of his grace. Expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

[0:51] For it is by grace you have been saved through faith. And this not from yourselves. It is the gift of God. Not by works so that no one can boast.

[1:02] For we are God's workmanship. Created in Christ Jesus to do good works. Which God prepared in advance for us to do. We have a preacher to come and tell us of this wonderful love of Jesus.

[1:17] Come brother John. I want to share with you this afternoon. The only boast of the believer. And it's in Galatians 6 chapter 14.

[1:29] The only boast of the believer. Words of the apostle Paul. He said. But God forbid. That I should boast.

[1:41] Except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ. By whom the world has been crucified to me. And I to the world. We live in an age of boasting.

[1:53] Whether it's religious boasting. Or whether it's secular boasting. Men love to boast on their great accomplishments. They love to boast on their prosperity. And their success in this world.

[2:04] We live in an age of a lot of flaunting. And a lot of boasting. I think about this age that we live in. And people love to be on display. And they love to be heard. But this same apostle.

[2:16] By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. That wrote Galatians 6 14. Also wrote 2 Timothy 31. And he says this. He said. But know this. That in the last days.

[2:27] He said. Perilous times will come. And one of the things he said. That will be a trait of the last days. For men will be lovers of themselves. Lovers of money.

[2:38] And he said. They will be boasters. And what he basically says here. They'll be empty pretenders. Full of braggart talk. And then he says that. They'll have a form of godliness.

[2:48] But denying the power. And from such turn away. If you listen to the airwaves today. And you look at TV today. It's just so full of boasting. And glory. And just carnal.

[2:59] Temporary. I would say. Some things I call stupid things. Because they carry absolutely no eternal weight. Now if you look at this. What this word boast means.

[3:10] It means to praise oneself. Or to brag. It means to boast about one's own abilities. One's own achievements. And possessions. And one's knowledge.

[3:21] And one's success. It can mean to be proud. Or to glory in something. Or somebody. If you have a favorite football team. Basketball team. Or whatever else. Most of the time.

[3:31] If you win. And that's only when you boast. Is when you win. But you still boast. On you know. What is precious to you. I like what this definition says though. It says. It means to talk too much about something.

[3:44] One has. One has done. Or what one can do. So it's basically. To glory in something else. Is to give great praise. And honor to something. Or someone. It's something that brings.

[3:55] When you boast into something. It's something that brings a source of joy. And a source of pride to your heart. It's something that you think about. All the time. Well the apostle Paul.

[4:07] His one boast. And the one thing he gloried about. All the time. And this was what brought joy in his heart. Was the cross of Jesus Christ. And the apostle Paul constantly.

[4:19] And if you read his letters and things. In the New Testament. Spoke about the cross of Jesus Christ. You know. He had many religious things. That he could have gloried in. The apostle Paul.

[4:30] Had one of the best religious resumes. That you would ever see. A person that's religious. Have. But he says in Philippians 3. 3. He gives basically his. Religious resume.

[4:42] Up to the time. That he met the Lord Jesus Christ. He said. Philippians 3. 3. He says. For we are the circumcision. Who worship God in the spirit. He said. Worship God in the spirit.

[4:53] He said. Rejoice in Christ Jesus. And have no confidence. In the flesh. He said. Though I might have confidence. In the flesh. If anyone else thinks. He may have confidence. In the flesh. I the more.

[5:04] In other words. Paul says. If I wanted to boast. I have plenty. I could boast about. I have plenty. I could be proud. Out. Proud of. And there's plenty. Plenty that I could point out. This is his resume.

[5:14] I was circumcised. The eighth day. Of the stock of Israel. Of the tribe of Benjamin. I was a Hebrew. Of Hebrews. In other words. Concerning the law. I was a Pharisee.

[5:25] He was a very learned man. In the scriptures. He was a scholar. Concerning zeal. Persecuting the church. He said. Concerning righteousness. Which is in the law. He says. I was blameless.

[5:35] He said. For what things were gained to me. These I have counted loss. For Christ. In other words. For the precious privilege. The priceless privilege. Of knowing the Lord Jesus Christ.

[5:47] He said. Yet. Indeed. I count all things lost. For the excellence. Of the knowledge. Of the Lord Jesus Christ. My Lord. For whom I have suffered. The loss of all things. And count them as rubbish.

[5:58] That I may gain Christ. So if there was ever. Anybody that lived on the earth. That could boast about. Their religious accomplishments. It would have been. The apostle Paul. And he boasted.

[6:09] In none of it. And he basically. Called everything. All his accomplishments. In this life. As dung. Compared to having the knowledge. Of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now. Why is Paul.

[6:20] Boasting in. And defending. Christ's cross. Where he's dealing here. With the Judaizers. And they want to. Persuade these believers. To be circumcised. And what they're trying to do. Is they're trying to find.

[6:31] Favor with the Jews. Because the Jews. Are against Christ. And the Judaizers. Will make a good showing. In the flesh. And to turn. In order to turn away. The hostility. That will come from the Jews.

[6:43] To avoid. Persecution. Of the cross. For believing. In the cross of Christ. So Paul is saying. Whereas the Judaizers. Are ashamed of the cross. He said. They underrate.

[6:54] The importance of the cross. He said. They do all they can. To avoid persecution. For the cross. He says. I do the exact opposite. I glory. And boast. In the cross.

[7:04] Of Jesus Christ. The cross of Christ. Was his pride. And his joy. You know. It was his ground. Of confidence. It's what made him. Press on in the faith.

[7:15] And all the days. That he lived. Now. Did not say too much. This afternoon. What does a cross mean? Because if you say. You boast in a cross. Then. What are you boasting of.

[7:25] When you're boasting. About the cross. Of Jesus Christ. I see a lot of people. Wear the cross. On their neck. And they have the cross. On everything. But it makes me wonder. Sometimes. If people even know.

[7:36] What the cross means. Well the cross. Sometimes mean. The wooden cross. Or the wooden tree. On which they nail. The Lord Jesus. On. At Calvary. Philippians 2.

[7:46] 2. 8 says. And being found. In appearance. As a man. He humbled himself. And he became. Obedient. To the point of death. He's talking about. The death of the cross.

[7:57] At Calvary. The death of the cross. It simply means. Crucifixion. On a piece of wood. And this. Is not the cross. That Paul is speaking of. When he says.

[8:07] He glories. And boasts. In the cross. In other words. He is not boasting. In a piece of wood. Because that piece of wood. In which the Lord Jesus Christ. Died on. Is nothing sacred.

[8:17] About that piece of wood. And without a doubt. If the Lord. The Paul was here today. He would have denounced. The Roman Catholic. Worship. And adoration. Of the crucifix.

[8:29] As being blasphemous. Idolatrous. And just simply. Profane. The cross. Was not. Hebrews 12. 2. Who for the joy. Set before him. Endured the cross.

[8:39] Despising the shame. And suffering death. Because. He's just simply. Speaking there. About death. And crucifixion. On that piece of wood. There's another cross.

[8:49] That the Bible talks about. And that's the one. That's given to Christians. Where we have. Afflictions. Trials. And tribulations. And the things. That we have to go through. As believers.

[9:00] And the believers cross. Is mainly. The things that you go through. For following. The Lord Jesus Christ. What Jesus says. To believers. Is he says. Take up your cross.

[9:12] And follow me. So he's saying. That if you follow me. You're going to run into trouble. And tribulation. And it's just simply. But when you follow him. You're identifying. With him. Before a lost world.

[9:24] And he just tells his disciples. If you want to be my disciple. You must take up your cross. And you must follow me. Luke 14. 27. He says. Whosoever does not bear his cross. And come after me.

[9:35] He cannot be my disciple. And then he tells them. To count the cross. To follow him. So he basically. Tells you about this cross. He's telling you that. Cheerfully. Without any hesitation.

[9:47] At all. You need to manfully. Bear persecutions. Troubles. And distress. Because you faithfully. Follow me. And Jesus tells us all the time. All the way through the word of God. If you follow me.

[9:58] There's. You're going to run into trouble. Because the world is the opposite. Of what Christ is. And they hate the Lord Jesus Christ. Per se. And you got to remember. When you are bearing that cross.

[10:09] You must bear that cross. In the same spirit. That our Lord Jesus Christ did. When he went to the cross. At Calvary. I never forget. When I'm responding.

[10:20] And having an attitude. Or something. And I'm going through a trial. Or tribulation. For the faith. I remember Jesus words. On the cross. And it helps me. To get through stuff. Father forgive them. For they do not know.

[10:31] What they are doing. And so I tell myself. I said. The reason why. I know what they're doing. Is because my eyes. Have been open. To what they're doing. And it's not because. That they're really. That angry with me.

[10:43] They're angry with the Savior. That hung on that cross. You know. They just. I'm just the one. Promoting him. And they just don't like. What he says. Or what he tells us to do. Which I didn't either. Before I was saved.

[10:54] Well. This is the cross. That he's. Speaks. Basically boasting in. He's boasting in. The finished work. Of the Lord Jesus. That he.

[11:04] When he carried. The weight. Of the sins. Of the world. The cross of Jesus. Goes beyond. That piece of wood. That was carried. By Simon of Cyrene. To Golgotha.

[11:15] It speaks of the atonement. That Jesus made. For sinners. By suffering from them. On that piece of wood. This cross. Paul. Is glorying in. This cross.

[11:25] That he says. That he boasts in. Is the complete. And perfect sacrifice. Offered by our Lord. Jesus Christ. When he. Gave up his life. To be crucified. On that tree.

[11:37] It stands for. Christ crucified. The only. Savior. I want you to listen to what he tells the Corinthians. First Corinthians. One. Eighteen. He said. For the message of the cross.

[11:47] Is foolishness. To those who are perishing. But to us who are being saved. It is the power. Of God. God. And then he says. In first Corinthians. One. Twenty. Three. To twenty. Four. We preach.

[11:58] Christ. Crucified. To the Jews. The stumbling block. And to the greed. Greeks foolishness. But to those who are called. Both Jews and Greeks. Christ. The power of God. Christ.

[12:09] The wisdom of God. Christ. Now I'm going to question you this morning. When you hear. The word. The cross of Jesus Christ. What do you actually think about?

[12:21] Because I would ask. I would dare say that most people think. Of a piece of wood. Or the tree that he died on. Do you think of it as something that stands for an emblem. Of suffering.

[12:32] And shame. When you talk about the cross. The cross of Christ. To other people. Are you thinking about the substitutionary atonement. Of the Lord Jesus Christ. Do you think of his finished work? Do you see him.

[12:44] A wrath burn sacrifice. On the cross. You know. Who died for the sins of the whole world. For all the elect of God. Of all ages. When you think about the cross. Do you think about Isaiah 53.

[12:56] The prophecy in Isaiah 53. Just plainly. It's almost like Isaiah. Standing right there. Watching everything. When it happened. When you think about the cross. But let me ask you this. When you think about the cross.

[13:09] Do you think about the love of God? I do. Because I believe that's the greatest way. That God has ever displayed his love. Toward us. Because a lot of people just see a piece of wood.

[13:21] And a man dying on that. But God's love is being shown on the cross. As well as his wrath against sin. Romans 5.8. He says. But God demonstrates his own love towards us.

[13:32] That in why we were still sinners. Christ died for us. So. The message of the cross. Is just a simple. Simply a synonym. For the gospel of Jesus Christ.

[13:44] And what Paul is boasting in. And I believe he explains it. In his epistles. As good as anybody could ever explain it. The finished work. Of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ. Now we have a hymn that we sing.

[13:56] And y'all may sing it sometimes. And it's the hymn 435. In the Trinity hymn book. It said. What you ask me is my prize. You ever read that hymn?

[14:07] He says this. I'll give you a few stanchions from me. He said. What you ask me is my prize. What's a secret to be wise? He says. What the health. Health. The wealth. I value most.

[14:19] And most. And what the name were. And I boast. Who the ground. Of my belief. Who from guilt. Doth give relief. Who my ransom. Once has been.

[14:30] Who forgiveth. All my sin. Who doth comfort me in woe. Who protect me from my foe. Who revives my fainting soul. Who doth heal.

[14:41] And make me whole. And I like this. Who by death. Has conquered death. Who receives my parting breath. Who can grant me endless rest. Who enrolls me.

[14:53] Mid the blessed. And then he says. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus Christ. The crucified. Jesus Christ. The crucified. Was Paul's joy. And delight.

[15:04] Is his comfort. His peace. His hope. His confidence. It was his foundation. It was his resting place. As one man said. It's his ark. And refuge. It was his food.

[15:15] And the medicine. Of his soul. So. Paul did not glory. What he had done. Or what he had suffered. He did not meditate. On his own goodness. Or his own righteousness. He boasted.

[15:25] In the cross. Of Jesus. And what he boasted in. Was not that piece of wood. That was stained by blood. But he boasted in the one. Whose blood stained. That piece of wood.

[15:36] And he loved to think. And meditate. On what Christ had done. What he had suffered. His death. And his right. His death. His righteousness. His atonement. His redeeming blood. His finished work.

[15:47] This is what the apostle Paul. Loved to preach. He loved to glory in it. This was the hope. Of his life. If you read through his epistles. And if you read the book of Acts.

[15:58] He went to and fro. Throughout the earth. Risking his life. Proclaiming to sinners. The son of God. That has shed his blood. On the cross. To save them. From their sins.

[16:09] He tells the Corinthian church. First Corinthians 15. Three. For I deliver to you. First of all. That which I also receive. That Christ died for our sins. According to the scriptures. And then verse two.

[16:21] Chapter two. Verse two. He said and I determined. Not to know anything among you. Except Jesus Christ. And him crucified. So I really believe. That this is what made him.

[16:32] So willing. And so strong. In his labor. This is what made him. Sacrifice so much. To see sinners saved. And this is what made. The apostle Paul. So long suffering.

[16:42] And patient. And what made him write. Most of the New Testament. With such zeal. As he wrote it. It was Jesus Christ. And him crucified. We see in Galatians 2.

[16:53] 20. This is what his life. Was all about. He said. I have been crucified. With Christ. It's no longer. I who live. But Christ lives in me. And he says. And the life. That I now live.

[17:04] In the flesh. I live by faith. In the son of God. Who loved me. And gave himself. For me. In other words. He said. My life. Is consumed.

[17:15] With Jesus Christ. And this is what made. The apostle. Great. Because he has such a great love. For his crucified savior. He had no letters to write. To the churches in the New Testament.

[17:27] Without the hope. Of a crucified savior. You think about it. This evening. And you take away the cross. The Lord Jesus Christ. And the Bible. Will become a dark.

[17:37] Hopeless book. Because from Genesis. To the revelation of John. It all boils down. To Christ crucified. You know. If I had to put one. Label on the book.

[17:49] You know. We have our. Bibles labeled. You know. The Holy Bible. If I had to put another word on it. I'd put Christ. And him crucified. Because that's what the Bible is all about. God sent his son.

[17:59] To make an atonement. For the sins of the world. And he's going to redeem. A group of elect. Out of this world. When you open up. The book of Genesis. God immediately.

[18:11] Reveals this truth. You know. The scripture. Genesis 315. After Adam and Eve. Has sinned in the garden. He says. I will put enmity. Between you and the woman. And between your seed.

[18:22] And her seed. Now her seed. Would be the Messiah to come. And he says. And he shall bruise your head. And you shall bruise his heel. And then as you read. Through the old. And the new testament. And you continue reading.

[18:33] Through the word of God. You will see. That the centerpiece. Of the whole Bible. Is basically Christ. And him crucified. It actually shines out. And even though it's veiled. In some places.

[18:43] In the old testament. It's still in the law of Moses. It's in the history of the Jews. Throughout the old testament. When you read about the daily sacrifice. Sacrifices. The Passover lamb.

[18:54] The continual shedding of blood. In the tabernacle. In the temple. They were all. Emblems. In the old testament. In the old testament. In the old testament. People tell us all the time. You know like. The old testament is hard.

[19:05] And it doesn't say anything. About Christ. I'm going. You're wrong. Christ is all through the old testament. It's veiled in places and stuff. But he's all through the old testament. And I tell people. I said.

[19:16] Next time you read. The book of Hebrews. It will kind of help you. To show you spots. Where Christ is. In the old testament. And you need to pay attention. Next time you read. The book of Hebrews. Because what it does.

[19:26] Is it gives you a treatise. Of all the types. And shadows. Of Christ. Over all the old testament. All those slaughtered bulls. And goats. And it tells you.

[19:37] That they could never. Take away sin. And then it points you. To the savior. Of the world. So the word of God. Opens with Christ crucified. And the word of God.

[19:48] Closes. Exalting the lamb. That was slain. Now his crucifixion. Is honored in John's vision. Of heaven. Before the book of Revelation. Closes. I want you to listen.

[19:58] To their boast in heaven. People ask all the time. You know. What do you think. People are doing. In heaven. Of course nobody. Knows actually. Has ever seen.

[20:09] What people are doing. In heaven. But one thing. I can tell you. They are doing in heaven. They're boasting. On the savior. They're singing his praises. They're boasting. On the lamb. That was slain.

[20:19] And you even have. Evidence. Throughout the word of God. What is going on. In heaven. Revelation 5 verse 6. John said. That I looked. And behold. In the midst of the throne. And of the four living creatures. And in the midst of the elders.

[20:31] Still a lamb. And though it has been slain. Having seven horns. And seven eyes. Which are the seven spirits of God. Sent out into all the earth. And then here it comes.

[20:42] Revelation. 9. 5 verse 9. Then there's praise. And boasting. Going on in heaven. And this is what they say. You are worthy. To take the scroll. And to open its seals.

[20:53] For you were slain. And have redeemed us. To God. By your blood. Out of every tribe. Tongue. And people. And nation. And have made us. Kings and priests.

[21:03] To our God. And we shall reign. On the earth. You think we're singing good. About Jesus here. You ought to hear. Every way they sang about him up there. Because I guarantee you.

[21:15] They're singing his praises. You know. I hear all this crazy stuff. People are saying. About what's going on in heaven. I'll tell you. This is one thing. I know that's going on in heaven. They're worshiping. And praising. The lamb of God.

[21:25] And that's why. Paul was so involved. In so much love. His crucified. Savior. And then he goes on to say. In Galatians 6. 14. By whom the world.

[21:36] Is crucified to me. And I. To the world. What Paul is basically. Saying there. Is because of the sacrificial death. Of our Lord Jesus Christ. Upon the cross.

[21:47] And because. Of his participation. In that death. And not only him. But all the elect of the world. This has made the apostle Paul. Dead to the world. And the world. Is dead to him.

[21:58] He has died to everything. Outside of Christ. In which man seeks his glory. And man puts his trust in. Because of the cross of Christ. The whole world.

[22:09] Has died to Paul. And what that means is. Is that the world to Paul. Has lost all its significance. And attraction. To him. First Corinthians 2.

[22:19] He said. If I determine not to know anything. Among you. But Jesus Christ. And him crucified. I'm not concerned. With everything that's going on. In the world. I have a savior. That I am worshiping.

[22:30] And a savior. That I am serving. And that's what my life. Is all about now. Jesus Christ. And him crucified. Well. Our message to this lost world.

[22:41] That is rapidly headed. For judgment. Is Jesus Christ. And him crucified. People say. What do you preach to the world? Jesus Christ. And him crucified.

[22:53] You abandon this message. And there's absolutely no hope for sinners. And Paul knew that. And it's only by his completed sacrificial work. And on that blood on the cross.

[23:03] That men can ever be. Forgiven of their sins. And made righteous before God. And escape the wrath. That here. That is to come. If you're here today.

[23:14] And say you're lost. And you're outside of Christ. You're unconverted. And you're living in sin. You have your boast. Either in somebody else. Or you have your boast.

[23:24] In something else. Or you have your boast. In yourself. You may be nice. You may be moral. Decent. And respectable. And kind. And most of the time. When you're like that.

[23:35] That's what your boast is basically in. Because you're boasting. In your own righteousness. But that righteousness right there. Is just simply. Filthy rags. Before a holy God. And your goodness. Cannot.

[23:46] Wash away your sins. One of my favorite hymns is. What can wash away my sin. Nothing. But the blood. Of Jesus. And that is the only.

[23:58] Boast of the church. The crucified Savior. Is the heartbeat. Of every church. That's on this earth right now. Basically the church. Of Jesus Christ. So.

[24:10] Is your faith in a crucified Savior. What is your boast today? What lights your heart up. In this world.

[24:20] Now I admit. I'm into sports. And things like that. And we win. I like to boast. And get on other people. That don't like the other team. But what really. Lights my heart up.

[24:32] Is the Lord Jesus. And him crucified. When I'm doing my devotions. And I get to these points. And I see what he's done. That lights my heart up. I mean that makes. Is some people say.

[24:42] That makes my day. Because you know. We boast in everything. In this world. And if you're unsaved. This morning. You need to find your boast. In the crucified Savior. Because he's the only one.

[24:53] That can rescue your soul. From sin. Amen. And I want to close down. This morning with this. If you're a believer. Keep Christ crucified. Before your eyes.

[25:04] You're not a new creature. Because of what you've done. You're a new creature. Because of what he has done. And as you go through these trials. And tribulations. You need to keep that. Before your eyes. Because that's your guarantee.

[25:15] Of heaven. That's your guarantee. Of eternal life. The cross of Jesus Christ. If you're going through. These hard trials. And tribulations. Remember what your Savior. Went through. On the cross.

[25:25] At Calvary. In the last scripture today. First Corinthians 1 31. Paul says. That is. That as it is written. He who glories.

[25:37] Let him glory. In the cross. The world can boast. About his money. The world can boast. About his prosperity. The world can boast. About his. Political associations.

[25:49] And everything else. That the world is boasting about. But I'll tell you. The church should be boasting. About a crucified Savior. Because that was the Apostle Paul's. Only boast.

[26:00] And that's what made him. Such a great apostle. You know. When Jesus stopped him. On that road that day. And converted his heart. From that day on. The boast of the Apostle Paul.

[26:12] Was Jesus Christ. And him crucified. Let's pray. Father. We thank you. For such a Savior. Father.

[26:22] We realize. Without him. We could do nothing. As our brother talked about. His love for us. Lord. Great is his love for us. Lord. We cannot measure. Even comprehend. How much he loved us.

[26:34] To come to die. On that cross. For our sins. Father. Our hearts desire today. Is those in the room. Right now. That do not know that Savior. That you would have mercy. And you would draw them. Savingly to yourself.

[26:45] Lord. That they would see. A crucified Savior. Who can save them. From their sins. A Savior. Who will love them. And can save them. From the wrath. That is to come. Father.

[26:56] I pray that you will continue. To bless. And to prosper this church. I pray that in the coming days. That you will use them mightily. As a shining light. In this town. And the towns around here.

[27:08] And Father. We cry out for revival. Simply because the pure gospel of Christ. Is being preached. Father. We thank you for the love. That is in your son. We ask it in his name.

[27:19]  Amen. Amen.