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The cross of Yeshua: what do you think about it? I know we can spend the rest of our lives meditating at the cross of Yeshua and still not know everything there is to know about it. However, we should never stop looking at the cross. As we look at it we will discover that the cross is more beautiful and glorious than we thought.
A testimony about the cross of Yeshua
I have read about the testimony of a Native American brother from the last century. He spoke about a missionary who came one day to their tribe to preach. And the preacher began telling them to not steal, lie, curse and to work hard—and similar other things. But nobody was interested in his message so the people in the tribe told him to go home.
Then another missionary came to their tribe a while later. He began telling the tribe that a God created the mountains and the rivers, the lakes and the forests and everything in them. But they told him to go home too because they knew that Someone created the whole world—it was nothing new for them.
One day another missionary came into the tribe saying that the God of heavens and the earth sent him to deliver a message. And the message was about God who came in a human body to deliver them from sin, satan and hell. That was something the people in the tribe never heard before. They were intrigued by the message and began asking more questions about why would such a God come in human flesh and die on their behalf. And that’s how revival broke out in the midst of the tribe.
The problem in the Galatian Congregation
In Galatians 6:14 (TLV) we read
But may I never boast—except in the cross of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. Through Him the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Many theologians believe Paul’s letter to Galatians was his first letter. The Church fathers wrote more commentaries about Galatians than about any other New Testament letter.
Paul wrote his letter to the believers in the Roman province of Galatia. In Acts chapters 13 and 14 we read about Paul and Barnabas preaching in several cities in the Galatian province, cities as Antioch of Pisidia, Lystra, Derbe and Iconium. But after Paul and Barnabas left these cities and Galatia something happened because he has to write them a letter.
What happened? Why did Paul write this letter to the congregations of Galatia? In Galatians 1:6-7 (TLV) we read
I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from the One who called you by the grace of Messiah, to a different “good news”— not that there is another, but only some who are confusing you and want to distort the Good News of Messiah.
From the above verses and from a few more we can understand that some false teachers infiltrated the congregations after Paul and Barnabas left the Galatian province. And now they were preaching a different gospel. A different gospel is a gospel that cannot save. It is a gospel different than the one preached by Paul, Barnabas and the other apostles of Yeshua.
A mixture of Law and Grace
These false teachers did not preach the cross of Yeshua as Paul did. They preached that the Gentile need to observe the Law of Moses and circumcise to be saved. Most importantly to keep in mind, these false teachers preached that the sacrifice of Yeshua was not enough for salvation. And that both Jews and Gentiles needed to keep the Law.
Paul heard about this different gospel being preached among the Galatian congregations and he needed to do something. That’s why he wrote this beautiful letter to them.
With this context in our mind let us look at Galatians 6:14. Paul basically says that he has never put his trust for the salvation of his soul in anything else but in the cross of Yeshua. Needless to say there are people who believe they can save their soul through their good deeds, or money, or something else but Paul said
But may I never boast—except in the cross of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. Through Him the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
It is strange how millions of so-called believers think they can somehow make God write their names in the Lamb book of life apart from the cross of Jesus/Yeshua.
What we believe about the cross of Yeshua makes the difference between hell and heaven, blessing and curse, death and life. And makes the difference how we will stand before God on the day of Judgement.
The cross of Yeshua in the Bible
In some New Testament texts the cross of Yeshua means a piece of wood. As we read in Philippians 2:8 (TLV)
[Yeshua] humbled Himself—becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Apostle Paul never boasted in a piece of wood for his salvation and this is not the meaning of the word cross in Galatians 6:14.
In other verses the cross of Yeshua means the price any disciple of Jesus needs to pay, as I wrote in one of my previous posts. This is the meaning in Matthew 10:38 (TLV)
And whoever does not take up his cross and follow after Me isn’t worthy of Me.
Paul knew this cross well but this is not what he meant in Galatians 6:14.
And finally, in other passgaes of the New Testament the cross of Yeshua means the doctrine of the cross. It means the teaching about Yeshua’s death, His atonement, and His perfect, eternal and final sacrifice. In short, the expression the cross of Yeshua stays for the sacrifice of Yeshua or for the Person of Yeshua crucified on our behalf.
This is the meaning in 1 Corinthians 1:12 (TLV)
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Indeed, this is the meaning Paul uses the word cross in Galatians 6:14 (read also 1 Cor. 2:2 and 15:3).
Paul boasted only in the cross of Yeshua for his salvation
Theologians tell us that no other apostle wrote about the cross as much as Paul did. That was his favorite subject when preaching to both believers and non-believers. Paul was passionate about the cross of Yeshua and traveled all over the world to tell people about the sacrifice of Jesus.
Paul never said that only because he is a Jew he is saved. He never boasted of his ethnicity. Your ethnicity does not save your soul—only the sacrifice of Yeshua does that. Paul never boasted for the salvation of his soul with his ministry. And he did more than any other Pastor, missionary or Church father for the Kingdom of God. However, Paul knew that his ministry could not make atonement for his sins.
Paul never said that only because he is an apostle that means he does not need the blood of Yeshua to be saved. Your Church title cannot redeem your soul. Paul never said that he is righteous before God only because he planted many congregations. Paul never said that because he read many books and learned with the top scholars of his days God is obligated to declare him forgiven. Your University studies or diplomas cannot save your soul—only the sacrifice of Yeshua can save your soul!
Do you know what Paul said? Galatians 6:14 (ESV)
But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Put your trust in the cross of Yeshua
If the apostle Paul never boasted in anything else for the salvation of his soul but only in the cross of Yeshua then we should do the same thing. Needless to say, it is important to work in the Kingdom of God and labor in His vineyard. But never put our trust for the salvation of our soul in what we do. We need to put our trust only in what Yeshua did!
If we put trust in our works for the salvation of our soul then we build our house/life on sand (Matt. 7:26-27). And friend, you don’t want to do that. I believe that when we will stay before the Lord in the Day of Judgement we will be surprized how many of our ’good’ deeds are not that good. Many of our ’good’ deeds are done because of envy, anger, jealousy, pride, or fear. Or because of the love of money, or the desire to be seen by the other people as ’spiritual’ people. Moreover, many of our ’good’ deeds are done out of the wrong motive, attitude, or intention of heart. Needless to day, God looks at our heart.
Perhaps the people around us will be impressed by our good deeds. But God is not if we do them seeking our glory. It is dangerous to put your trust for the salvation of your soul in your deeds because nothing you do is perfect.
Now what?
If you believed so far that you can save you soul from sin and hell—think again. Nothing can make atonement for your soul but the perfect blood of the Lamb of God—Yeshua/Jesus, the Son of God. Do not put your trust in your deeds but put your trust in the cross of Yeshua—in His perfect sacrifice.
Great peace and joy receive those who put their trust in the cross of Yeshua for their salvation.
If you are already a believer in Yeshua then follow the example of Apostle Paul—preach the cross/the gospel. It is the only message that will bring a change in the life of those around you. And if you are a minister and want to see revival in your congregation then all you have to do is preach the cross of Yeshua with all your heart.
Do you agree?
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I am a blogger, writer, pastor, Director of Zion Romania Bible School, husband to Olguta, a father and, most importantly, a child of God. I also completed my studies at the King’s University where I earned a B.A. in Theology with a concentration in Messianic Jewish Studies. I love Israel and I love the ‘Jewishness’ of the Bible.
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