I have watched the movie “Do You Believe?” five times in as many days. This movie is such a powerful, Christ-centered reminder that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. I found it fitting, then, that in this week’s post I talk about the cross of Christ. In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, he tells them the only thing he’ll boast about. In Galatians 6:14, Paul says this:
“But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through the cross, and I to the world.”
Paul’s standard “signature” has historically been, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you”; however, he was so concerned the Galatians receive the message that he chose to write an entire paragraph as his closing message in Galatians 6 (v. 11-18). Paul’s intent with this non-standard closing message was to provide a final contrast between the legalists and the Spirit-led Christian, to show that the Spirit-led believer lives for the glory of God, not the praise of man.
The legalists, as Paul explains, were a bragging group. Their purpose was not to win people to Christ. Instead, their chief purpose was to convert people to their group so they could brag about them. Their work was not done for the glory of God; it was done for their own glory. While it isn’t wrong to want to win people to Christ, it’s certainly wrong to want these blessings for the glory of man. Paul further explains that these Judaizers were hypocrites (v. 13).
“They want you to submit to the law, but they themselves do not obey the law” (paraphrased from v. 13). The legalists belonged to the same group as the Pharisees about whom Jesus said, “They say and do not” (Matthew 23:3). Paul wasn’t suggesting that the Judaizers should keep the law. Instead, he was condemning them for their dishonesty. They had no intention of keeping the law, even if they could. Their preaching of keeping the law was only a cover for their real goal: winning more people to their cause. Their overall goal was quantity of converts and glory for themselves.
Paul brought everything back to the cross of Christ. In Galatians 2:21, Paul said, “If righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Paul’s message was about glorifying the cross. Now, let us not be confused. Paul was not glorifying the cross and the brutality and suffering associated with it; he was glorifying the Cross of Christ. Why would Paul glorify the cross? Because he knew the Person of the cross.
Jesus Christ was mentioned at least 45 times in Paul’s letter to the Galatians. That means one third of the verses contain some reference to Him. Paul was fascinated by the person of Jesus Christ which made the cross glorifying to him. Furthermore, Paul knew the power of the cross. Saul could not even comprehend the notion of sacrifice on the cross. He thought it was ridiculous. When Saul experienced the power of the cross and became Paul, the cross was no longer a stumbling block. Instead, the cross became the very foundation stone of his message: “Christ died for our sins.” For Paul, the cross meant freedom and liberty from self (Galatians 2:20), the flesh (Galatians 5:24), and the world (Galatians 6:14). In the death and resurrection of Christ, the power of God is released to rescue believers and give them victory. It is no longer we who live; it is Christ who lives in and through us.
So, the overall theme of the movie “Do You Believe?” is found in its title. Do you believe in the cross of Christ? Do you believe that Christ was crucified on the cross for our sins? Do you believe?
Paul’s message to the Galatians was as important then as it is now. As a Christ follower, we must completely surrender to Him. To paraphrase a quote from the movie, and something we need to remember and understand is, “Our sins that separated us from God died on the cross with Christ.” Do you believe that? It may be a challenge to comprehend, but it is so very true. But, faith requires action.
Maybe you are in a place right now where you’re a little uncertain of your future. Perhaps your faith has been shaken by an event or circumstance in your life. Maybe this is the first time you have ever heard of Jesus’ sacrifice for your sins. Wherever you are in life, Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He died on the cross for YOU. Yes, YOU! If we go back to Paul’s message in Galatians 6:14, we have to boast about the cross of Christ. Check out what James 2:17 says:
In the same way faith, if it doesn’t have works, is dead by itself.
James is stating that people with dead faith substitute words for deeds. They know the correct vocabulary for prayer and testimony and can even quote the right verses from the Bible, but their walk does not measure up to their talk. As followers of Christ, we must not only have faith, but we must show our faith through our actions and words. To put it another way, we need to boast about the cross of Christ. So, there’s only one question left to ask you. Do you believe in the cross of Christ?
Jeremy Meier