Boasting Only in the Cross - Part 3

But you need to know this thing and live for it and die for it. Boast only in the cross. The word boast is used for exalting, rejoicing. Rejoice only in the cross. Exalt only in the cross. Boast only in the cross. Now how in the world can that be? That is a shocking statement. Isn't it? It's a shocking statement. Why? Two reasons. It's like saying, if you're going to exalt, exalt in lynching. If you're going to exalt, exalt in the electric chair. If you're going to exalt, exalt in the gas chamber. If you're going to exalt, exalt in lethal injection, lynching. I glory in lynching. That's strange. That's one reason why it's strange to say, if you're going to boast in life, boast in one thing, the execution of the Son of God under the device, more horrible than has ever been devised by a human being to die. If you had been there, you would have thrown up. You would have pulled on your hair. You would have screamed and torn your clothing. No, no, no, no. You would have cried and you would have run away and thrown yourself on the ground. This we're going to boast in. This we're going to exalt in. This bloody, horrible screaming. You think Jesus died quietly? I think he screamed until his voice was raw. No human being can have nails driven through his wrists without screaming. That's one reason why it's shocking to say, only boast, only exalt, only rejoice in the lynching of the Son of God. But there's a second reason why it's so shocking. The word, only. May I never boast except. That's the negative way of saying, may I boast only. But really, isn't that just double talk for me to say that to you? Exalt only in the cross, what? Don't exalt in the glory of God. Don't exalt in suffering, Romans 5, 3. I exalt, same word, same word in Greek. Exalt, I exalt, I boast, I rejoice in my suffering because they were patience and patience works approvingness and approvingness works hope. Or 2 Corinthians 12. I boast, I exalt, I glory in my weaknesses. Or 1 Thessalonians 3. You are my boast, he says to the church. So what in the world does he mean when he says, boast only in the cross? He's boasting in other things. He's exalting in other things. The glory of God, his own suffering, his own weaknesses, his own converts. What does it mean, boast only in the cross? Here's what I think it means. For the Christian, all other boasting should be a boasting in the cross. If you boast in the hope of glory, Romans 5, 2, let the boasting in the hope of glory be a boasting in the cross. If you boast in your tribulations, let your boasting in your tribulations be a boasting in the cross. If you boast in your weaknesses, let your boasting in your weaknesses be a boasting in the cross. If you boast in your converts, your friends, your family, your health, let it be a boasting in the cross. In other words, boast only in the cross means bring all other boasting under that boasting and make that boasting express through this boasting. Now, what in the world is that? What does that mean? What am I saying? Here's what I'm saying. And this is the most important thing I think I will say today. When Christ died, he purchased for sinners everything they enjoy that is not part of their condemnation. Say it another way. We are sinners all. The only thing everybody in Shelby Farms deserves is damnation. That's all we deserve. Therefore, every beat of your heart on this lawn, every sight with a wholesome eye, every word sung to the Lord, every movement of a strong arm, every step taken with healthy legs, every word heard with a healthy eardrum, every friend at your side, every word that you can read, every joy that springs in your heart is a blood-bought gift which you would not have had he not died. Therefore, if you boast in one of these things, if you glory that you have eyes, glory that you have ears, glory that you have hands, glory that you can sing, glory that you have friends, glory that there's an assembly like this, it is, if you're thinking rightly, a glorying in and a boasting in the cross because he bought them for you on the cross. That's the meaning of boast only in the cross. Let every legitimate pleasure and every pain that God turns for your good become an occasion for glorying in the cross by which they were purchased for you. My heart's desire is that all of you would see why we should be a cross-saturated people. I fear that we have a theology of the cross that says it has to do perhaps with the Bible study or with the evangelistic effort or with mission or with something when in fact the cross is everything. You would not have anything but judgment if it weren't for the cross. We are sinners all. You are and I am doubly undeserving. How so? Here's what I mean. First of all, you are creatures not creators. God made you. He is not beholden to you. You have absolutely no rights over against the living God. He has all rights over against you. You have no claims on God. He may do with you as He pleases. The Lord gives. The Lord takes away. Job said, Blessed be the name of the Lord.