What is the one thing people need to know about you? Galatians 6:14

If there was one thing that you wanted people to know about you what would it be?  You can tell by what you boast about.

"May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." Galatians 6:14

We tend to boast either intentionally or unintentionally about those things that we think are important. They are the things that we feel others must know about us.  These things make us feel important. When we boast about something it usually is to communicate that this is a thing that we are particularly identified with and that we feel is important for others to know,

MAY

Galatians 6:14 Begins with the word May. Its use can be wishful thinking or resolve.  It can mean to let something happen as if to create the circumstances that allow something to occur, or it can be to intentionally remove the obstacles from the path of this happening. In the context, it appears that the Apostle is speaking in a resolute manner.

NEVER
Here, the word never gives the sense that he is resolved and committed to a course of action.  This is the idea of not giving any opportunity to boasting in the wrong thing.

BOAST

We generally look down on boasting as being a shallow and self-absorbed activity.  If the Apostle is boasting about himself that would be a correct conclusion; however, there is a sense of boasting that is not vain, when it is giving objective and correct information.

CROSS

We in our modern times have romanticized the cross but in the days of the Roman Empire, it was a shameful and torturous death for the worst offenders.  In Paul's day, no one would have worn a cross as a piece of jewelry- it was considered ugly.

CRUCIFIED

The past tense of this is that something has happened. The apostle is declaring that he is dead to the world and the world is dead to him.  Something that is dead has no ability to respond or react to its environment or to stimulation.

THE WORLD HAS BEEN
Another past tense statement, where the Apostle is saying, "It is over," he sees the world, the kingdoms of man, as dead to him.

Since he is dead to the world, there is nothing in the world that has or stimulates the apostle: nothing draws his affections or attention.

His boasting is not about anything he has done but about an event that occurred by the hand of God.  His message is that God has worked a marvel in his life to change him and his values; it was done through the death of Christ on the cross on his behalf.

If you are interested in knowing more about how you can have a new beginning in Christ follow this link to learn more.

(c) Adron 4/26/17

An Eyewitness Testimony of the Crucifixion of Jesus. Luke 27:54

If you could interview a non-bias witness you could expect to have an accurate account without prejudice of the events.

"When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!" Luke 27:54, NIV.

THE ROMAN
This Roman Centurion had no vested interest in Jesus one way or the other.  He was not looking for a messiah, and he was not a disciple or follower so far as anybody can tell. He does not appear elsewhere in the gospels, Acts, or letters of the New Testament. This makes him the perfect witness.

The Centurion

THE CRUCIFIXION
Jesus died as no other died, not that the crucifixion in his case was worse than anybody else.  The Romans routinely mocked their victims.  The scourging was the standard operating practice to weaken the condemned.  The crown of thorns was an extra measure, but extra measures were not uncommon.  This Centurion would have seen hundreds of deaths maybe thousands and would have presided over many executions.  He did not see death in the sterile modern hospital common in the western world. Death happened daily on the streets of his world- he knew death. Something was outstandingly unique in the death of this one that caused the hardened Centurion to remark, "Surely, he was the son of God!"

The events recorded in the Gospel accounts include darkness over the land, earthquakes, the resurrection of many righteous from the tombs, Jesus' own loud cry.

We cannot fully understand the context of the Roman times, but something terrified these hardened veterans of hand to hand warfare. They saw and experienced something at the death of Jesus that was petrifying.

SON OF GOD
What did he mean by the "Son of God?" In the setting of the first century and the thinking of the average roman, gods were everywhere and every king claimed to be one or descended from one. The events convinced the Centurion that Jesus was the true incarnation of the One and the Supreme God.

A PERSONAL CHOICE
Not everyone who encounters Jesus becomes a follower.  This Roman acknowledged the truth and as far as we know that is as far as he got.  Many of us today give lip service or nod our head to the truth that Jesus was God incarnate and his death paid for our sins; but we don't admit our personal need for a savior, we do not call on him to be our own savior and Lord. We must make that choice for ourselves.

To know more about trusting Jesus as Savor follow this link: Jesus and the Plan of Salvation

(c)Adron Dozat

How Can Your Sins Be Cleansed? 2 Corinthians 5:21, NIV

We want our sins to be clean before God, so we say prayers, attend services, fast, etc. but do we have any assurance of cleanness?

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21.

God does not weigh our sins against counterbalancing “good deeds” and judge us based on the greater of the two. Sin deeply grieves God, who is so holy that the only payment is absolute death and eternal banishment from Him. But God does something about our sin we could never do; we can’t pay the price for sin but God puts our sin on one who did not have sin of his own to pay for.

RIGHTEOUSNESS
God freely gives what no man can ever earn- His righteousness. It is complete and satisfies the judgment of God against sin. God's righteousness is so far above any human righteousness that there is no comparison. Man’s righteousness only dresses up sin, but God's righteousness purifies as if sin never occurred.

SIN
Whatever God does is done perfectly. The fact that God put my sins on Jesus, and gives righteousness is a done deal; it is perfect and can’t be improved upon. We can rest, even rejoice, and celebrate that God has done what we never could do.

HIM
It is all because of Jesus. The pronoun "Him" is used twice, making the point.
     * In him we are offered righteousness.
     * In him we are given salvation. In him we have blessings.
     * In him we live. Why would anybody want to not be "in him?"
     * If you are not in him you am in your sin and will face judgment.
If you trust Jesus for salvation then you are are in him.

MIGHT
The word “might” means that the possibility now exists where it was not before but an action is required. You will have righteousness if you receive the salvation God offers through the sacrifice of his Son, Jesus.

SALVATION
Salvation is free because Jesus paid a great price on the cross; salvation is not cheap because it cost Jesus everything. To learn more about salvation see my other blog.

(c)Adron Dozat