Seeking for the help of the Lord, I direct your prayer for attention to Paul's epistle to the Galatians. Galatians chapter six and verse 14. But God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world. Galatians 6 verse 14, the way of the cross.

The Galatians had first received the gospel, the gospel of the free and sovereign grace of God Salvation by grace and not by works. But then there came teachers that taught that they must needs be circumcised to be saved. The Apostle Paul discerned that that was going back to the law. It was teaching works. It was contrary to grace. It wasn't a thing of no importance. It couldn't be said, well, you can do that, and you can still be saved, you can still have the gospel and have Christ. No, he discerned you were either under the law, under the covenant of works, or you were not. If you were under the covenant of grace, then you had no requirement to fulfill under the law.

And so he counters the teaching that was amongst these churches, not just one church, but the churches of Galatia to whom this is written, with many arguments, teaching them that the law was a schoolmaster under Christ, that once we have come to Christ, then we're not under that master anymore. The law had a purpose, and that was to bring a soul in guilty before God, proving that we cannot of ourselves obey that law and obtain salvation that way, and then pointing us to where salvation is obtained, which, as the apostle sets before us here, is in the cross of Christ.

And of course, this comes in many parts of his teaching, The teaching to the Corinthians, I determined to know nothing among men, save Jesus Christ and him crucified. His focus all the time is upon the cross. And so in the verse here, his glory is in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. What was done upon that cross? And he speaks of the effect of it in a believer by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world.

Put simply, it is that in being a believer, then the world has no attractiveness for that believer. The world is crucified unto me. It is like our Lord lifted up upon the cross and the world is under his feet, heaven is before him, this day shall thou be with me in paradise. He says to the dying thief, he is finished, he is done with this world. They taunt him, they say, if thou be the Christ, come down from the cross. And the other thief, he's saying the same. come down from the cross, save thyself and us. But that is going back to the world, going to the things of this world. But Christ was doing a work to bring his people to the world to come, to heaven.

But you have the other side of it. The world is crucified unto me and I unto the world, because the world itself doesn't want the people of God either. They are saying, with Christ, away with him, away with him, and with the people of God, those that will follow after Christ. It won't be just on one side. If you've got a group of ungodly friends, perhaps, that you've been with in unregeneracy, and the Lord begins to work in your heart, then you will not want their company And you will soon find they do not want your company. So it works on two ways. And in a way, it gives you a twofold witness of whose you are and whom you serve.

But it is a hard cross to take up. And so this is what the apostle is setting before these Galatians. Because those that were not going to be circumcised, they were being persecuted by those said that they should. And there was to be a clear stand in which side they were to go. Is it salvation by works or salvation by grace? So I want to look briefly this evening, three points. Firstly, the way of redemption, the cross of Christ. And then secondly, the way of salvation, the preaching of the cross, and thirdly, the way of obedience, taking up our cross.

So firstly, the way of redemption. How is it that we can be redeemed or set free from bondage under the law? How is it that we can be brought out from a death sentence and be given life. How is it that it can be done honourably and to God's honour and to his glory? With that way of redemption, Paul is setting before us, is in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot, we must not just look as it were at the cross. And what I mean is that because there's many things that, in just the accounts of the crucifixion alone, if we were to take that in isolation, then there's many vital, important features of that redemption that was done on the cross that are not seen there. In fact, those two on the way to Emmaus They were looking for redemption. They trusted that it should have been He that should have redeemed Israel, and they didn't see it. They didn't recognize it. But when we understand from other scriptures what is actually happening there on the cross, that it is, according to all the types and the shadows, an offering that is taking place here. There's a sacrifice here. a sacrifice being made by the one that is being sacrificed. He is both the offerer, he is the high priest, but he also has somewhat to offer that is his own body, his own flesh. Then when we think of the Old Testament requirement that the lamb had to be spotless, that it had to be laid up and seen that it had no blemish in it whatsoever, So then for this sacrifice to be a redemption sacrifice, it must be like that. If it is to have the same effect as what the Passover had, to redeem the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage with the shedding of blood of that Paschal Lamb, and it was effectual, nine other signs were not effectual, they did not result in loosing the bondage of the children of Israel, but as soon as the blood was shed, then they were immediately loosed and set free, not by a weak hand, but by a strong hand, the Lord brought them up out of Egypt. And so we must understand that our Lord Jesus Christ is, as John Baptist, those 33 years before, pointed out, behold the Lamb of God. The Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. He is the Paschal Lamb, so he also is the spotless Lamb of God. And so with the life of our Lord, all of the miracles that he performed, they all testified as to who he was, There were those that said, who can forgive sins but God only? And the Lord Jesus Christ did forgive sins while on earth. And he is truly God. And those miracles that he did, they, as our Lord said, bore witness of me that I came forth from the Father. I and my Father are one. But then to be a sacrifice, he needed to be truly man as well, and so born of a woman and made under the law. He is in the position exactly where Paul points these Galatians. They were trying to go back to the law. Our Lord was made under the law, and it was to redeem them that were under the law. Very clearly set forth, this is the redemption. This is what sets people free from condemnation. The law can only condemn. It can only condemn. Who so offendeth in one point is guilty of all. The law was given that all the world might be brought in guilty before God. And so in the cross of our Lord, the cross of Christ, You must understand it is a sacrifice, it is an offering, that the Lord Jesus Christ was spotless, sinless, and that offering is offered to God as an acceptable sacrifice. But before that is proved, then there is again what is not seen. It may be indicated by a Lord's cry, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? The physical sufferings of the crucifixion were terrible. They were terrible also to the thieves that were crucified with him. But so much greater being the spotless Lamb of God, and so much greater because the wrath of an offended God, the wrath against the sins of all the people of God, was poured out upon him at that time. He endured it all. If He had not endured it all, if there had been any sins that were not atoned for, or the debt not paid for those for whom He died, then He could not have risen from the dead. But He did. And God then giving witness that He raised Him from the dead, that that sacrifice And that debt had been paid. The whole central doctrine, trust of the Christian church is in the cross of Christ. Jehovah's Witness would say, Jesus is not God. He's not the eternal God. You'll get those that say, and the apostle counters this, the Corinthians, in 1 Corinthians 15, that he didn't rise from the dead. And again, just like here with the Galatians, Paul sees this is a crucial thing. In fact, the Corinthians said that there was no resurrection of the dead. And Paul says, if there's no resurrection of the dead, then is not Christ risen. The cross is followed by the resurrection. and that which is accomplished at the cross is sealed in the resurrection. It is in the cross of Christ that is remembered in the ordinance of the Lord's Supper. This too in remembrance of me is set before us, his broken body and his shed blood. God hath chosen, the Lord hath chosen, how the church should remember the cross. And that is observed as often as we do it here and in other churches. It is to focus the church's attention upon the cross and all that would know and seek salvation, that they seek it there. There is a secret. There is the whole hope of the Christian church. The true Church of Christ is bound up there in Christ. And the Apostle Paul sees this. He feels it, he knows it, he's experienced it, and I trust and hope that some of us here have as well. And those that haven't, this is why we preach, and this is the second point. The way of redemption is the cross of Christ. But the way of salvation is the preaching of the cross.

The apostle, when he writes to the Romans, he says before them, and this chapter again is the contrast, it begins with a real desire that the Romans might be saved. Chapter begins, brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved. Redemption, salvation, that they might be saved. But then he views what they are doing, that they had a zeal for God. They were ignorant of God's righteousness, going about to establish their own righteousness. They were doing exactly the same as the Galatians. They were looking to works. for salvation. And we are born under a covenant of works. It's not surprising that the only way that those in nature can seek for salvation is in works. And it's not surprising as well that those like the Galatian believers can so easily be drawn back and to go back again to lean upon works instead of leaning upon grace. The natural thing is when we sin, when we do wrong, we want to put it right and we want to make ourselves look better towards God. But very often the thought is, well, if we do that and succeed, then we are better, when in fact, What we need is grace and mercy and a fresh application of the blood of Christ, not to seek back to go to the law and to repair breaches that way. Yes, we should in all things attempt and desire to walk uprightly and godly, but not with a thought. that we are redeeming ourselves or making ourselves acceptable to God. We're not doing Christ's work. Christ has done a finished work of redemption.

So Paul saw this with the countryman that he desired to be saved. And he says to them, and you can read it at your leisure, that it is not who shall descend into the deep, that is, bring up Christ from the dead. It's not depths of experience. You might be thinking, well, I've got to have a real depth of experience. I hear some of God's people saying they've been held over hell or they've had a deep law work. And it's not depths of experience. We need enough depth, enough knowledge of sin to make Christ needed, precious, and the only one that can help and to save us. It's not heights of experience either. That is, Paul is saying it's not, who shall I send into heaven? That is to bring Christ down from heaven. And that's emphasized by Paul. He says, I've been up into heaven, into the third heavens, heard things unspeakable to be heard or to see. But then he says, I'd rather glory in my infirmity that the grace of God might be magnified in me. He's pointing souls in that same chapter, not to wonderful visions, but to receiving the grace of God in infirmities, in weaknesses, in the thorn in the flesh that he had. And Peter, He was with the Lord as with John and James on the Mount of Transfiguration. But he refers to that in the epistles that he wrote to the churches to strengthen the churches, that we have a more sure word of prophecy than that. Where unto you do well to take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place. He's pointing to the word of God. He's pointing to the scriptures. That, he says, is better for you than to look for these great visions. If God does give them, if he does give blessings like that, that is a blessed thing, and he may choose to do so. But that is not what we're pointed in expectation.

In fact, in Romans 10, Paul's answer is to those that go to those extremes of depths or heights. He says, what does the word say? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth and in thy heart. That is the word of faith which we preach. He says to the Corinthians, and please God, we've read this passage, through the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. It's good to really realize that in the hearing of the preaching of the word, this is how God saves sinners. This is how he blesses the word to them. He gives them a hearing ear that's emphasized in those seven letters to the churches in Asia. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. And it is the Lord that sends his servants with that message. And so he says later on in Romans 10 that, how shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? Now shall they preach, except they be sent. As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things. The apostle is setting forth God's plan and God's way of saving. And he is preaching, but not just preaching anything. It is preaching the cross of Christ. that that is the only way of salvation and what Christ accomplished there. And when Christ said it is finished, then he declared that that redemption was finished, the debt was paid, the scriptures were fulfilled. God had sent forth his son. He had accomplished salvation And the means of salvation, the only name given among men whereby we must be saved, is in the Lord Jesus Christ. We read this, that he has said, if I be lifted up above the earth, will draw all men unto me. And then again, no man can come unto me except the Father which sent me draw him, and I'll raise him up at the last day. And this is one of the effects of the preaching of the cross. You see on those and the two on the way to Emmaus, the Lord spoke in all the scriptures, the things concerning himself, a suffering savior. That's what they'd seen, but that which they did not realize was being set forth in all the Old Testament scriptures. But their heart burned within them while he taught with them by the way. Do we know that? Under the preaching of the cross, the preaching of Christ, our heart burned within us. Those are precious times when that is so. That really is. When you hear the gospel preached, to then feel so drawn, your heart drawn to it, you love that word, it's just what a poor sinner needs, It gives hope where you felt there wasn't hope. It sets forth a way that is a finished way, a glorious way. The eunuch would have felt the same under Philip's preaching. Began at the same scripture and preached unto him Jesus. And he brought to know who it was spoken there in Isaiah 53. All the sufferings, they were all pointing to the Lord Jesus Christ. And so with the preaching of the cross is that which the world does not like, doesn't want. You won't go into a lot of churches in this country and hear the preaching of the cross because people don't want to hear it. They want to have a social religion or a works religion. And sometimes the very public services that have been broadcast from the main churches in London on special occasions, they again and again have set forth works, lifted up the works of their hearers rather than Christ, rather than exalting him. You know, the apostle says, no, he must increase. I must decrease. The publican going down to his house justified rather than the other is not speaking of his works. He is pleading God be merciful to me. A sinner is a most humbling doctrine and teaching that a sinner can do nothing for his salvation, but has everything to be done by Christ. and that their sinners' sins and all their guilt and all their horrendousness have all been laid upon Christ and he has borne them. That all the glory and all the praise is on Christ and all the shame is upon the sinner. It's the preaching of the cross that will divide, divide between those looking something that pleases the flesh. And those are looking for that which delivers them from the flesh and from condemnation and sets them to heaven. It is through the cross to behold the crown. The way the Lord Jesus Christ left this world, the way he finished his work, was through the cross. Rising from the dead. and ascending up into heaven. May we always remember this, the way of salvation is the preaching of the cross. My son often reminds me of this, that when he left home, he didn't intend really going anywhere, but I gave him this charge, not to go to this chapel or that chapel, but to go where Christ was preached, where Christ crucified was preached. And he's never forgotten it, and that's his aim still, his desire still. And that's a good thing, good measure for us. Where is Christ? Is he being lifted up? Do I see him? So said the Greeks, we would see Jesus.

I want to look then thirdly at the way of obedience, taking up our cross. The Apostle says to the Galatians, but God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world. A separation that he's brought about. Our Lord says in John 17, I've given them thy word and the world hath hated them. In the cross, there is that which the natural man cannot understand and cannot delight in, but the new man of grace will. Our Lord said, In John 3, as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but should have eternal life. And those that believed on him, in John 8, the Lord said to them, that if ye continue in my word, ye shall be my disciples indeed. You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.

Obedience is a vital seal to a believer. We might say that we believe, but if we do not act, then there is no evidence of that believing. The apostle gives the illustration of Abraham. When it is said that God did tempt or try Abraham, he told him to take his son, his only son Isaac, and go to a mountain that he would tell him of and offer him there for a offering. And Abraham obeyed. He went. And Paul says that he was justified in that he obeyed. He was justified by works. Not that his works earned salvation, but they proved the reality of his faith. If he'd have just stayed where he was and said, Lord, I don't need to go to this mountain. I believe that thou could raise my son from the dead, even if I killed him. But he didn't. He went. And he bound his son. He was going to slay his son. We're told in Hebrews 11 that in time he received him from the dead.

James, he says, faith without works is dead. Our Lord teaches, be ye doers of the word, not hearers, only deceiving your own selves. And he gives that well-known illustration Oh, the one that built his house upon the rock and the one that built his house upon the sand. The one on the sand was a hearer, but not a doer. The one on the rock was one that heard and did.

Mr. Ansbottom and his little book, Bible Doctrine, simply explains a good book. Good for you to read it and then read it again and then read it again. Very simple truths, but Very effective. But he gives the illustration of a famous tightrope walker. And he was telling a friend that he could put a tightrope across Niagara Falls and wheel someone across on a wheelbarrow. He said, do you believe I could do that? Yes, he said. I believe you could. But he wouldn't get into the wheelbarrow. So there's one thing to say you believe something. Another thing, to put all your trust and lean everything upon it, and to actually walk in that way. You think of Moses. Moses didn't think, now I've got a nice pad here in Egypt in Pharaoh's court. Hebrews are my people, but I want a little bit of both. He can't do that. And God made sure he couldn't do that. And we are told that he is by faith choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than the pleasures of sin for a season. There's no middle road. You're either a follower of the Lord or not.

And it is the Lord himself that sets before his people, and especially in the picture, the illustration of this cross, how the world dealt with him, how he viewed the world. And our Lord taught that we are to take up our cross and follow the Lord. That is why we read the portion in Matthew, in Matthew 16 and verse 24.

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it, and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? What shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

A way of obedience, obeying the Lord, obeying his teaching, and continuing in that path that we've been set in to walk in. We spoke this morning of Paul's direction to Timothy, but continue thou in the things which thou has learned. We spoke of the solemn case of Solomon, Solomon who the Lord appeared to twice and told him the way that he should go, but Solomon didn't go in it.

It's a good thing, especially at the beginning of the year, to think of all what the Lord has shown us and taught us, and to walk in those ways, not to forget the lessons, not to forget the guidance, but to be renewed again and again as to what is vital and what is important. And that is the cross of Christ, and that is us. taking up our cross, enduring the ridicule, enduring that being counted as someone strange, someone different, separated.

It's what we hate as men and women. We like to be liked, but to be cast out, as the Lord said, that his disciples would be cast out, rejected like he was. walk the path that he walked. If, says our Lord, they have done these things in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry? If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you. It is in this way. Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity against God? Whosoever will be a friend of the world is an enemy of God.

That they're set before us. the cross of our Lord. And you know in the wilderness, it was sin-bitten souls, or souls that were bitten with the serpents, that were bid to look. And those that looked, they lived. And we are bidden as well to look unto Christ. Look unto me and be saved, or the ends of the earth. For I am God and there is none else.

May we know the blessing of being drawn unto Christ and to be given that obedient spirit and that desire to not just one day of the week, not just on one occasion, but day by day, fashioning our whole life, our thought life, our affections, what we do, what we don't do, all of them fashioned as walking after Christ and walking in the light of the cross, truly a new creature and one whose old things are passed away, all things are become new. And that newness is in obedience, walking in obedience unto Christ.

But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world, the way of redemption, the cross of Christ, the way of salvation, the preaching of the cross, and the way of obedience, taking up our cross. Amen.