"Far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ..." Gal 6:14

The term to glory or glorying can be defined as an expression of one's attitude towards something they passionately possesses and highly esteems. From a human perspective it refers to taking pride in one's accomplishments, intellect, superiority, honorable estate, righteousness, wisdom, outward appearance, etc., all of which characterize the apostle Paul prior to his conversion. But, by the grace of God, he had learned that all of his works and achievements were rubbish in comparison to the righteousness given to him through the Cross.

In glorying in the Cross one focuses not only on Jesus' substitutionary suffering and death but also upon His resurrection from the dead. It is this supernatural power of the Cross of Christ that radically transformed Paul (and all believers) into an entirely new creature and gloriously imputed to him the righteousness of God. Thus, this doctrine became the foundation of all Paul's hope as a Christian.

For this reason, Paul was compelled to declare to the world, "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come" (II Cor. 5:17) and that "God made [Christ] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in [Christ] we might become the righteousness of God.

With his heart weaned from the oppression of legalism and traditions, and with his eyes fixed upon his Savior, he resolved to passionately preach the message of grace even though it brought him much scorn and persecution. But through it all he glorified in the power of the resurrection!

Likewise, should not the Cross of Christ be our chief glory? Should we not glory in it and be passionate in our service to Him? For to Him we owe all our forgiveness, justification, and the certainty of heaven … yes, all of our hope and joys!