GOD FORBID THAT I SHOULD GLORY

GAL. 6:14

Pastor Rick Jackson                                                                          

 

Think about who wrote these words. A missionary, an apostle, a writer of over half of the New Testament books, a church planter, one of the greatest Christians who ever lived and yet, he said, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” and you know what? He was right. And if he could not glory, how can we?

A couple of years after I got saved the Lord showed me the local church I had been attending all my life was NOT preaching the Bible so I started out to visit other churches. I was surprised to see one of my classmates at the first church I visited and so I, being the shy fellow I am, decided to sit with him. As the song service started, I had a Gomer Pyle revelation. My friend had a great singing voice! After church I ignorantly said to him, “Man, you have a great singing voice. You should be proud of that.” He wisely replied, “Why should I be proud of something that was given to me?” That was over 50 years ago, and it still has a profound impact on my life. He was saying, “God forbid that I should glory.”

 

I. WHO DID PAUL REFUSE TO GLORY IN?

1. Paul Refused to Glory in Himself [1:13-15, 5:1-6]

2. Paul Refused to Glory in Other Christians [1:16-24]

3, Paul Refused to Glory in the World [6:14]

 

II. WHAT DID PAUL REFUSE TO GLORY IN?

1. Paul Refused to Glory in His Own Works [1:13-15]

2. Paul Refused to Glory in the Opinions of Others [1:10, 2:4-5, 6:12]

3. Paul Refused to Glory in the World’s Applause [6:3-5, 14]

 

III. WHO & WHAT DID PAUL REJOICE TO GLORY IN?

1. Paul Gloried in the Triune God [1:3-5, 3:1-3, 4:4, 5:25-26, 6:14]

2. Paul Gloried in the Word of God [1:6-12]

3. Paul Gloried in the Work of Christ [6:14, 1:1, 4-5, 6:14]

 

John Newton who wrote the song Amazing Grace was a pastor, a mentor to Wm. Wilberforce and others grew very forgetful in his old age. He could not recognize his family and friends at time. Someone asked him questions but he could not remember the answers which he had previously known. He did say however, “Although my memory's fading, I remember two things very clearly: I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior.”