To: Hebraic-Foundations@yahoogroups.com
From: "Pastor Buddy Martin" <Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org>
Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2000 15:38:43
Subject: HF017 - The Fellowship of the Cross


Hebraics

This Bible study is HF017 - The Fellowship of the Cross. 

I want to draw attention to the essential issue of the new 
covenant, which is the work of the cross, which, in turn, is 
the new creation. The Scripture portion we will reflect on is 
Galatians 6:14-18.

Paul says, "But may it never be that I would boast, except in the 
cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been 
crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither is circumcision 
anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And those who 
will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon 
the Israel of God. From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for 
I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord 
Jesus Christ be with your spirit, Amen." 

When Paul says, "But may it never be that I should boast, 
except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ," he is giving a 
summation of true Biblical Christianity. Jews outside Christ 
based their salvation upon two things: being physical 
descendants of Abraham, and, doing the works of the Law. 
The Judaisers who followed Paul wherever he went, were 
attempting to destroy his gospel message of grace.

This is what Paul is referring to when he calls for a curse 
upon those who preach a gospel other than that which the 
apostles had been given to preach. The Judaisers were 
telling Gentile believers that they had keep the law of 
Moses, which essentially meant they must become Jews 
through circumcision. They were doing was undermining 
Gods message to the world. 

Biblical salvation is a message of grace. There is no way 
under God's green heaven than a person can merit 
salvation. The apostles made this very plain. The prophets 
made this very plain. The apostle says, "For by grace you 
have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, 
it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one 
may boast." (Eph2:8,9)

Isaiah said, "For all of us have become like one who is 
unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy 
garment; and all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities, 
like the wind, take us away." (64:6)

Now compare this to the group who will stand before the 
Lord and tell Him why He should receive them into His 
kingdom; "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, 
and in Your name cast our demons, and in Your name 
perform many miracles?" (Matt7:22)

What was the problem with this latter group? They had not 
done the will of the Father. What was the will of the 
Father? The gospels very plainly tell us that it is the 
Father's will that we trust in the Son and yield to His 
Lordship. Even the prophets told the same story. Do you find 
this strange?

Listen to Psalm 2:12; "Do homage to the Son, that He not 
become angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath 
may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge 
in Him!" This latter group trusted in themselves and in their 
accomplishments, but they did not "do homage" to the 
Son. (You can work on that one by comparison. Study 
ministers and ministries today.)

Who was this Jesus to whom we must place our trust? 
The Sanhedrin Council knew he was from God. When 
Nicodemus came to Jesus, he said, "Rabbi, we know you 
have come from God as a teacher, for no one can do these 
signs that You do unless God is with him." (John3:2)

Why did Jesus ignore the Sanhedrin Council and the 
religious authorities in Jerusalem? It was because the 
system was perverted. The office of high priest was open 
to the highest bidder. Judaism at the time of Christ was far 
removed from the ancient religion of God's people. And it 
was the Pharisaic Judaism that gave birth to Rabbinical 
Judaism after the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D. 

If there is a struggle over denominationalism, this would 
have to be it. (Of course we must always be careful here, 
because the true Church cannot be denominationalized. It 
is found within and without denominations.) The point 
being, that any religion we create is at best the work of our 
own hands. No one can improve on God's redemption in 
Christ. 

The Jews had their own idea of the rule of Messiah. The 
Messiah could come, defeat the Romans, make all other 
nations subject to them, and the Messianic banquet would 
be spread for them continuously. Remember what Jesus 
said about why the people were following Him? Listen: 
"You seek Me...because you ate the leaves and were 
filled." (John6:26) 

Certainly the Jews had a grasp on some truths, but no 
truth is complete without the cross. When they asked 
Jesus what the could do to work the works of God, He 
responded, "This is the work of God, that you believe in 
Him whom He has sent." (John6:29) 

Now we come to the awful scene. And we must listen to 
those words that came from the cross. "Eloi, Eloi, lama 
sabachthani?" (My God, My God, why have You forsaken 
Me?") Finally we hear Him say, "It is finished!" How those 
words must have made heaven and earth tremble. The 
skies darkened and the curtain in the temple ripped in two. 

What was finished? The cross fulfilled God's work of redemption on 
the earth. The sacrifice has been offered! Jesus was the guilt 
offering for the sins of the world. From the cross they carried Him 
to the tomb. But from the tomb He went to the glory. And out of 
this would come our completed salvation. This is true gospel. 

There is a mistake some make about the message of 
grace. Does it leave room for works? Yes, but on a different 
level. The works of the new creation come from the new 
nature that is formed in believers in their birth from above. 
We love, we forgive, we care for others by nature. Other 
special works are assigned to us by the Spirit. 
And this is why the term 'new creation' is the center piece 
of God's new covenant in Christ. 

The book of Hebrews begins its closure with, "Now the 
God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great 
Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal 
covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good 
thing to do His will, *working in us* that which is pleasing 
in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory 
forever and ever. Amen." (Heb13:20,21)

Notice who is doing the works in the believer? God works 
in us that which is pleasing in His sight. God Himself 
equips us to do His will. This is why it is so important to 
give your brother and sister breathing room to do what the 
Lord has for them to do. 

And this is where we must be careful with our language, 
our accusations, or our condemnations. No one can 
condemn those for whom Christ died. Paul said we are to 
walk by this rule. Remember the rule? "For neither is 
circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision (religious 
works), but a new creation. And those who will walk by 
this rule, peace and mercy be upon them."

Isn't it interesting that the Lord didn't give us a bunch of 
rules to live by. He gave us a rule. But perhaps we need to 
define this better. 

The word 'rule' is the Greek word 'kanon.' It refers to a 
measuring stick. This is the word used in fixing the 
Scripture. But the word carries a deeper thought. It speaks 
of the limit on which one's power or influence is fixed. Or, 
the principle on which a law of investigation and judging is 
based. (This word is not used any other place.)

Paul's point is that a person is either born from above as 
part of God's new creation, or they are not part of God's 
new creation. If they are part of God's new creation, then 
you will see heaven's influence in this person. And when 
he says "neither is circumcision anything, nor 
uncircumcision," he is merely stating that the former 
covenant has no jurisdiction in the new covenant. 

The reason for this great change is that in the new 
covenant every born again person is given the nature of 
Christ. God deals directly with our nature. Certainly 
believers can sin, but sin is contrary to their nature. When 
we sin, we have this grieving in our spirit. What is it that 
grieves in us. It is the Holy Spirit, who has sealed us for 
the day of redemption. 

So where did Paul say we are to make our boast? Only in 
the cross. He said, "But may it never be that I would 
boast, EXCEPT IN THE CROSS of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to 
the world." (Caps for emphasis only.) 

The work of the cross is to remove believers from their 
former state of being, and to cause believers to know the 
Lord personally. The Old Testament mediatorial ministry is 
gone forever. The prophet of old spoke of this. It was this 
prophet that Paul quoted from in another place concerning 
our boast. (1Co1:30,31)

God spoke to Jeremiah, and said, "Let not a wise man 
boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of 
his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let 
him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and 
knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises 
lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I 
delight in these things." (Jer9:23,24) 

Stop and think for a moment - All false religions are based 
on the principle of mediatorial personages. So when Paul 
said that he bore in his body the brand-marks of Jesus, he 
was saying that the scars on his body testify to his refusal 
to cave in to false religions. 

True believers cannot give up their testimony of faith. We are His 
witnesses. Our life began at the cross. We are a new creation. 
There is no witness on earth greater than this, and Satan knows it. 
We bear witness to the power of the cross. 

The Lord bless you. Share as you will. 

Shalom in Christ, 

Buddy

Lawrence E. (Buddy) Martin, HF Host
email: Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org
Web: http://www.ChristianChallenge.org