I Boast in Nothing but the Cross (Galatians 6)

I Boast in Nothing but the Cross

Galatians 6

12 Those who want to impress others by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.

14 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.

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

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

1. The Motive Behind Empty Boasting: Those Who Avoid Persecution

In his final warning, written in his own hand, Paul pierces straight through to the hypocritical motives of the false teachers. They weren't compelling circumcision out of zeal for the salvation of the Gentiles. It was simply a cowardly act of self-preservation—an attempt "to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ." In that day, the gospel that the cross alone was sufficient was considered blasphemy by the Judaizers, a dangerous ideology that threatened to dismantle the social order. They wanted to remove this stumbling block of the cross. By mixing the gospel with the Jewish tradition of circumcision, they could maintain their safety and religious privileges within the Jewish community. Their boast was in "the flesh"—in external achievements like how many Gentiles they had circumcised. This poses the same question to us today: Am I dressing up my faith in outward appearances that the world can understand and accept? Am I compromising with worldly values to avoid the misunderstanding and discomfort that the pure gospel of the cross might bring?

2. A Declaration on a New Plane: The New Creation

While the false teachers argued within the old framework of circumcision versus uncircumcision, Paul completely overturned the table. He elevated the issue to an entirely new dimension: "Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation." This is the essence of Pauline theology and the very heart of the gospel. The new creation is not simply ethical improvement—becoming a better person. It is God's new world, a new order itself, inaugurated through Christ's death and resurrection. In this new creation, all human-made divisions (Jew/Gentile, male/female, slave/free) become powerless. Everything that was a source of pride in the old world becomes meaningless. This new creation is not some distant utopian future—it is a present reality already begun within us through the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit we're called to bear is the firstfruit of this new creation's life force breaking through into our lives. Therefore, the essence of faith is not about what religious acts we've performed (circumcision), but about who we have become in Christ (new creation)—even if we cannot grasp it with our hands.

3. The Mark of Our Only Boast: The Stigmata of Jesus

Paul concludes all his arguments with the most powerful and personal confession: "May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ... I bear on my body the marks (stigmata) of Jesus." Stigmata was originally an indelible brand burned into slaves or livestock. Paul displays his countless scars received from preaching the gospel and proclaims himself as one eternally belonging to Christ. The power of these marks lies in their irreversibility. The world's boasts come and go, but the seal of salvation that Christ has branded on our souls through the cross can never be erased.

Here lies the stunning paradox of the gospel. The more we strive to live as those who bear the stigmata of Jesus, the more deeply we discover our own weakness and sinfulness. Yet it is precisely at this place of failure that the true power of the stigmata is revealed. These marks are not maintained by our qualifications or achievements, but are the sign of Christ's infinite grace claiming us as "Mine" despite our lack of qualification. My failures actually draw me back to the grace of the cross. This is not a cycle of despair, but a spiraling ascent toward grace.