“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified to me, and I unto the world.” Galatians 6:14
Perhaps there has never been another Christian that has had such a grip upon the understanding and magnitude of the power of the Gospel, than the Apostle Paul. The language that he uses, though sometimes hard to understand, is as straightforward and clear as possible, simply because the Author of it is Christ, given in the power of the Spirit. So, Paul, in his conclusion to his letter to the Galatian believers, and after dealing with a good many subjects, brings the whole of his teaching in the letter, summerizing it into one simple rule to believe and obey. He writes: “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature (or creation).” (6:15) What is he saying?
The Jews put a great deal of emphasis on the matter of circumcision, as being the “sign” of holiness, and the truth faith. It is true that God gave to Abraham the charge, and obligation, of circumcision, as it was to be an outward sign of an inward attitude of heart towards God. Paul would later write to the Romans, “But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.” (2:29) This is the real issue, not one of the flesh but of the spirit, and heart. And so it is with this “rule” that he speaks of in writing to the Galatians. Very simply, and clearly, the apostle declares what this “rule” is: “…A NEW CREATURE.” (Gal. 6:15) To the Corinthian believers he wrote: “Therefore, if any man is IN CHRIST, he IS a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Cor. 5:17) What does he mean by a “new creature” IN CHRIST?
In Paul’s letter to the Romans, in chapter six, he wrote: “Knowing this that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth, we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.”(6:6,7) This “old man,” as contrasted with the new creature, later declared to be the “new man,” is that sinful self, dead in trespasses and sins, bearing all the weight and responsibility for all of his sins, past, present, and future. Scripture tells us that this man is declared to be IN ADAM, proven true by the sinful nature that dominates his life and existence. He is the prisoner of sin, self, the devil, and the world. But then, in Galatians, Paul declares that by the cross in which he glories, he with Christ, IS CRUCIFIED, and yet he lives. What does he mean? God, in placing the repentant, believing sinner in Christ, at the moment of his new birth by the Spirit, applies the work of Calvary in its entirety to the saved soul. Christ died to all that pertained to the sin of this world, and every aspect of it that was in opposition to God. He also, by His death, dealt with every aspect of judgment that sin brought with it. The apostle is declaring to the whole of christendom that, by Christ’s finished work on Calvary, the Father has brought that believer into the kingdom of God, accomplished for him what he could never accomplish by himself. Having been placed him into living union with Christ by the Spirit, the call of God to the believer is NOT to look at, dwell on, or even consider the “old man” now crucified. The issue, and rule, is living by faith in Christ, as a new creature, a new man. That new man, indwelt by the living Christ, by the Spirit, is complete in Christ, with nothing lacking that he may live freely and victoriously. He is Christ’s and Christ is his. He lives by the faith of the Son of God.” (Gal. 2:20)
Dear Father, Strengthen us to believe. In Jesus’ name, Amen.