so that no one will boast (Jer 9:23, 24; let not the wise, strong, rich boast)

I love to boast in my strength, not boast in Christ crucified.

So Paul came in weakness, fear, trembling, not with wise or persuasive words.

I’ve been reviewing some applications for our assistant site position. There are some candidates that are more impressive, talented, sharp. There are others that seem less impressive, less talented, less sharp.

Paul says, I come as a fool, as weak, untalented, a reject. Now remember, Paul was a brilliant and accomplished guy. He planted many churches and wrote many books of the Bible. But Paul to himself, he embraces his folly, stupidity, inabilities, failures. Embracing Christ crucified means we see ourselves as weak and foolish.

I don’t like that. I want to come with wise and persuasive words. I want to come with biblical insights, engaging ideas and a compelling presentation. I want others to see me and I want to see myself as impressive. We often play that game, of image management, of looking put together or successful or even, looking like we’re “good Christians.”

Christ crucified means, I don’t play that game. I’m weak and foolish.

As we move toward Chapter 2 and the launching of a new site, there are so many potential challenges and dangers, so many things that have to come together, things beyond my control.

And our vision to see people transformed by the Gospel, I recognize that despite my best efforts at preaching, despite our best small group bible studies, despite our prayers, it is ultimately only a work that God can do. We recognize our weakness and are forced to rely on the Spirit’s power.

For ourselves individually, perhaps you recognize that you can’t see and love God just because you want to. You can’t treasure God and delight in God because you’re convinced you should. You can’t be patient and kind, generous and gracious, forgiving and compassionate, just because you try. We are forced to reply on the Spirit’s power.

As I prepared this sermon, how much do I think it’s about my preparation, my talents or how much am I dependent on the HS showing up?

Judaizers said that Gentile Christians still had to obey Jewish laws. They had to become circumcised, they had to become Jews. Jesus wasn’t enough.

They were putting confidence in the flesh, in their law-keeping, in their good works. We start by grace but we now we have to really work hard, we have to do our best.

Paul rejects this and says, we start by grace and we live by grace.

It seems these Judaizers would have considered it a personal accomplishment if they could get these Gentile Christians to become circumcised. They would be seen by some Jews as zealously faithful to the law. It would look good.

Perhaps it would be like saying (though not exactly), “I’ve gone on x number of mission trips,” “I led y number of people to Christ,” “I planted z number of churches,”

Paul says, I reject all that. “I boast in the cross.”

My good works are worthless. The cross condemns us (we’re more sinful than we realize).

Regarding our standing with God, law-keeping doesn’t matter, being a Jew or a Gentile doesn’t matter, circumcision or uncircumcision doesn’t matter.

Regarding our stand with God, being a pastor or a prostitute doesn’t matter, reading the Bible or looking at pornography doesn’t matter, giving to the poor or robbing Wall Street investors doesn’t matter.

Our “goodness” isn’t really goodness at all.

It produces humility.

The world is dead to us. It doesn’t control us, we are no longer in its bondage. It is no longer my treasure. It is cold and dead to us.

We are dead to the world. To the world, we are fools, we are scorned, even persecuted.

P. Dwight will preach more on this idea of “death” next week.

God makes us new. Boasting in the cross is boasting in God’s saving work in us. This is not our effort to produce our righteousness. This is God’s new creation that produces righteousness. This is not orange trees trying to make apples. This is God making us new apple trees.

This is not us trying harder. This is not about stapling apples to our branches.

This is in becoming a new creation. It doesn’t matter if we’re circumcised or not. It doesn’t matter if we can keep the law or do good things. What matters is God making us into a heavenly being, a new creation, a righteous child of God. Becoming a Christian is a miracle.

If this is God’s work, God’s project, God’s purpose, then we have hope.

But there is boldness, a confidence and freedom that comes from realizing that God is doing a work in us, God is making us new.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

This is evidence of God’s love for me.

Again, it gives me boldness, confidence. How much does God love me?

We just celebrated Mothers’ Day. I have to say, except for the mom’s, most of us don’t understand how much sacrifice our mothers have made for us.

We don’t understand the discomforts of pregnancy or delivery, we don’t understand the sleepless nights, the countless diapers, they countless meals prepare or messes cleaned.

We don’t understand the sacrifice of careers, hobbies, friendships, freedom. Their lives are never the same.

We don’t understand the countless and constant annoyances of toddler defiance or whining or tantrums.

We don’t understand how much they try to correct bad behavior and instill good values.

After doing all this, they then wonder if they’re doing a good enough job, if there’s something they should be doing better.

We don’t understand burden of concern for health, safety, education, personality development, and spiritual/faith formation.

We don’t know the countless worries, prayers, joys and sorrows.

When parents give their kids away in weddings, when parents grieve when tragedy takes away a child, most of us don’t understand the depth of emotion they feel.

And that’s the love of a human being. How much less do we understand God’s love for us?

But to help us understand, God has given us the cross. The ridiculous sacrifice and shame, the extent to which God went to save us, we now have some human picture to help us understand.

While we were sinners, Christ died for us.

Faith, in one sense, takes the Jesus died for the world and recognizes the personal, Jesus died for me.

Jesus died for me because Jesus loves me.

This takes the cross from an amazing act of God that shakes the theological/spiritual realities of the universe, to a personal, relational love.

This focus produces love.

So an encouraging conversation with a friend, hearing the laughter of my boys, a nice run on a beautiful spring day—these were purchased by Jesus on the cross for me.

Being able to worship with a community of heavenly citizens, having people pray for me, being able to be encouraged by God’s Word—these were purchased by Jesus on the cross for me.

The bad grade, the lost job, the difficult relationship—difficult things that God uses to confront our pride, to expose our sin, to teach us wisdom and shape our character—these also were purchased by Jesus.

A life centered on Christ crucified is perpetually thankful, worshipful, for it sees more and more the benefits of what Christ died to give me.

God deserves all the credit. Thankfulness and praise to Him.

We want to give God glory. We want to celebrate Him.

We’re not looking to get credit, to be seen as impressive or cool or attractive. We’re thinking about how great our Jesus is and how we want more people to admire Him.

In Revelations, we see heavenly beings exclaiming, Worthy is the Lamb!