Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit · Sermon No. 1447
“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.
WHENEVER we rebuke other people we should be prepared to clear ourselves of their offense. The Apostle had been rebuking those who wished to glory in the flesh. In denouncing false teachers and upbraiding their weak-minded followers, he used sharp language while he appealed to plain facts and maintained his ground with strong arguments. And this he did without fear of being met by a flank movement and being charged with doing the same things himself. Very fitly, therefore, does he contrast his own determined purpose with their plausible falseness. They were for making a fair show in the flesh, but he shrunk not from the deepest shame of the Christian profession. So far from shrinking, he even counted it honor to be scorned for Christ’s sake, exclaiming, “God forbid that I should glory, save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The Galatians and all others to whom his name was familiar, well knew how truly he spoke, for the manner of his life as well as the matter of his teaching had supplied evidence of this assertion, which none of his enemies could deny. There had not been in all his ministry any doctrine that he extolled more highly than that of “Christ crucified.” Nor any experience that he touched on more tenderly than this “fellowship with Christ in His sufferings.” Nor any rule of conduct that he counted more safe than following in the footsteps of Him who “endured the Cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the Throne of God.” His example accorded with his precept. God grant, of His Grace, that there may always be with us the same transparent consistency.
Sometimes when we notice an evil and protest as boldly and conscientiously as we can against it, we feel that our protest is too obscure to have much influence. It will then be our very best resource to resolutely abstain from the evil, ourselves, and so, at least in one person, to overthrow its power. If you cannot convert a man from his error by an argument, you can at least prove the sincerity of your reasoning by your own behavior. And thus, if no fortress is captured, you will at least “hold the fort” and you may do more—your faithfulness may win more than your zeal could have! Vow faithfully within your own heart and say frankly to your neighbor, “You may do what you will, but as for me, God forbid that I should remove the old landmarks, or seek out new paths, however inviting, or turn aside from that which I know to be the good old way.”
A determined resolution of that sort, fully adhered to, will often carry more weight and exert more influence on the mind of an individual, especially of a waverer, than a host of arguments. Your actions will speak more loudly than your words. The Apostle in the present case warms with emotion at the thought of anybody presuming to set a carnal ordinance in front of the Cross by wishing to glory in circumcision or any other outward institution. The idea of a ceremony claiming to be made more of than faith in Jesus provoked him till his heart presently grew hot with indignation and he thundered forth the words, “God forbid!” He never used the sacred name with lightness, but when the fire was hot within him, he called God to witness that he did not and could not glory in anything but the Cross.
Indeed, there is, to every true-hearted Believer, something shocking and revolting in the putting of anything before Jesus Christ, be it what it may, whether it is an idol of superstition or a toy of skepticism—whether it is the fruit of tradition or the flower of philosophy! Do you need new Scriptures to supplement the true sayings of God? Do you need a new Savior who can surpass Him whom the Father has sent? Do you need a new sacrifice that can save you from sins which His atoning blood could not expiate? Do you need a modern song to supersede the new song of, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain”? “O foolish Galatians!” said Paul.
O silly Protestants, I am inclined to say! We might go on, in these times, to speak warmly to many of the parties around us—the doting Ritualists, the puffed-up Rationalists and the self-exalting school of modern thought. I marvel
not at Paul’s warmth. I only wish that some who think so little of doctrinal discrepancies, as they call them, could but sympathize a little with his holy indignation when he saw the first symptoms of departure from godly simplicity and sincerity. Do you not notice that a little dissembling of a dear Brother made him withstand him to his face? When a whole company turned the cold shoulder to the Cross of Christ it made him burn with indignation! He could not stand it. The Cross was the center of his hopes—around it his affections curled—there he had found peace for his troubled conscience.