FINAL GREETING OF JESUS

 

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.

 

1.      Paul finishes this letter by reminding his audience and readers that he is only going to boast of one thing.  This thing is the most important element of this letter.  He is going to boast, rave, emphasize the cross of Jesus Christ.  It is on the cross these eight things were done.

 

-        He was the final sacrifice for sin. (Hebrews 9:24-26;Hebrews 10:11-12)

-        Christ was the propitiation that satisfied the wrath of God. (Romans 3:25;1 John 4:10)

-        Christ paid the redemption price to purchase guilty sinners. (Romans 3:23-24)

-        Christ was the ransom paid to redeem sinners. (Matthew 20:28;1 Timothy 2:5-6)

-        He made reconciliation between God and man. (Hebrews 2:17; Romans 5:10)

-        He justified guilty sinners, satisfying God’s holy justice. (Isaiah 53:11;Acts 13:38-39;Romans 3:23-24)

-        Christ sanctified those people, setting them apart as holy. (Hebrews 10:10;Hebrews 2:11)

-        Christ perfected forever those that he bought, justified, and sanctified. (Hebrews 10:14)

2.      Paul says the result is that he has been crucified with Christ.  He is no longer subject to the images, standards, and control of this world.  He doesn’t want, need, or desire anything of this world.  This world is dead to him. 

3.      The world wants nothing to do with him.  Watch how fast people leave you when you come to Christ.  That is not so bad because you get a better family.  Paul knew that we were in this world but not of this world.  We are passing through, but this is not our home, and this is not the best there is. 

 

15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation.   

 

1.      Paul spent the entire letter refuting the idea that the law and circumcision meant anything.  He called it another gospel and those who promoted were cursed.  All that matters is the new creation.  As a new creation the old has passed away and all things are new. 

2.      You have a new beginning, relationship, identity, destiny, position, power, and purpose.  That is a sweet deal.

 

16 Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to the Israel of God.

 

1.      Paul gives two benefits to the cross.  First, is peace.  Peace with God and man.  No more internal, warfare, control, and strife.  You have found what the swami, teachers of the east and motivational speakers are searching for. 

2.      Secondly, you have mercy.  You did not get what you deserve.  Remember He paid a debt he did not owed I owe a debt I could not pay. 

3.      This statement is both a prayer and declaration of faith.  All who follow this rule.  What is the rule?   To know you are a new creation and to God a chosen people.  You are a covenant people like Israel.  You have been grafted in and have the peace and mercy of God.

 

17 From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

 

1.      Paul makes a statement and a realized truth.  It is obvious the Judaziers were slandering, lying, and gossiping about Paul.  They were discrediting him to make themselves look better.  That is what the enemy does, accusation and deception are two of his main attack forms. 

2.      Paul says I bear on my body the brand marks of Jesus Christ. 

3.      Listen to what Paul went through in 2 Corinthians 11:24-28:  24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.

4.      Paul is basically saying this is what I have suffered what has you gone through?

 

18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

 

1.      He says the grace of God.  In your race of life add the Lord and it will be a grace walk.  You have divine assistance.  You have God’s riches at Christ expense.  You have all the benefits of heaven and it cost you nothing.  Jesus paid it all.

2.      It came through the master, God man and Messiah.  This benefit is in the spirit which when submitted to God effects the whole person.  The spiritual component of your life is the software that drives your whole mainframe of life.

3.      He closes calling them brothers and sisters in the Lord.  They are one family.  He closes by saying Amen which means so be it or borrowing from Star Trek, “make it so.”