zeal

Boast in Christ

“As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh … that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ”

Galatians 6:12

The apostle Paul is addressing those Christians who are not living in a manner consistent with what he has written in this letter. The reason they are not living that way is that they are trying to avoid criticism and persecution from those who choose to live by moral and ritualistic law. They were boasting in their carnal achievements in keeping that law. To avoid criticism they conceal their faith in Christ alone and speak of their fulfillment of the law. Paul denounces that as hypocritical. All any Christian has of which to boast is Christ crucified and risen again (v 14).

Obedience to a code of law or disobedience makes no difference. What is absolutely essential is “a new creation” (v 15). Unless one is born of God he is not saved. The new creation that we are in Christ is what God does and not what we do and therefore we have nothing of which to boast.

Jeremiah, in accord with Paul, wrote, “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me” (9:23-24a). The one who strives to appear wise in the world is a fool before God. The one who is wise before God will appear foolish to the world. To avoid the persecution of criticism we can boast of our moral and ritualistic performance. That may make us appear wise to carnal, nominal Christians and the world but it persecutes Christ’s people who choose to identify with Christ.

Paul tells us that there is no fence-sitting here. We are either with Christ or persecuting Christ. He ought to know because he had persecuted Christ by persecuting His church with religious zeal. He only had a change of heart when he met Jesus and it was revealed to him who Jesus is and what He has done for him. It was then God was able to make him a new creation.

We may boast that we sing the right songs, pray the right prayers have communion at the right frequency, use the right translation of the Bible and have the right doctrines but these avail nothing unless we are born of God and are therefore a new creation in Christ. “… who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:13).

Pursue Love

“So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken?” 1 Corinthians 14:9

This chapter begins with the words, “Pursue love” and follows a chapter describing the characteristics of God’s kind of love. This in turn follows a chapter describing the nature and purpose of spiritual gifting to the church through members of Christ’s body.

The Corinthian church regarded spiritual gifts as a thing of which to boast as if they merited the gift. Further to this they argued that their particular gift was better or more important than others. The focus was on exalting themselves in the eyes of others. There is no shortage of such people today and, unfortunately, we contribute to their pride when we idolise them.

Pursuing love is described by Paul in this chapter. It means to develop and exercise our spiritual gifting in order to edify other members of Christ’s church. This is accomplished through communicating understanding of God and His word in a language easily understood by the hearers. The key words in this chapter are edification and understanding. Rather than attempting to proclaim Christ in a language his hearers did not understand Paul writes that in the church he would rather speak five words with understanding than ten thousand words in a language not easily understood (v 19).

Love will demand that we minister to others and that means building up, strengthening and encouraging other believers. Apparently a spirit of pride had overtaken the Corinthian church and self exaltation had erroneously become recognised as a spiritual blessing. Paul corrected this attitude to spiritual gifts when he wrote, “Since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel” (v 12). This is love in action.

To other Christians Paul described the difference between the spirit of manipulation and the spirit of ministry. “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit.” That would be manipulation of others to serve one’s own pride. “But in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.” This is the right attitude of mind. “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” This is ministry to others out of love (Philippians 2:3-4). In the same chapter, commending Timothy for this right attitude and ministry, he comments of others, “For all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ” (v 21).

Paul gives to the Corinthian church, and to us, the principle to be applied, “Let all things be done for edification” (v 26).  He concludes his letter by writing, “Let all that you do be done with love” (16:14). That is how we pursue love.