The following is the ”Bible Study” I submitted to coincide with the release of “In The Cross Alone I Glory” on Worshiptogether.com. Both the song and the Bible Study can be downloaded here for free starting Tuesday, March 7. I’ll update the link when it goes online. It is my prayer that this will be an encouragement to you as you grow in what it means to glory in the cross of Christ.
In the Cross Alone I Glory
The world bombards us almost constantly with messages that compel us toward success, stuff, status and image-consciousness causing a real battle with our values. When the world wins the battle, we will often find that what we most highly value in life is “self.” And when self wins, we tend to order our world around what makes us feel good – our possessions, the accolades we do or don’t receive, the position we seek to attain, the recognition we crave… because all of these things, if not brought under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, can feed the ugliness of “self” that stands in stark contrast to the abundant, Spirit-filled life God wants for each of us.
This is why I wrote the song “In The Cross Alone I Glory.” I don’t know about you, but I fight this battle daily, and I need a prayer I can pray during those times when my flesh desires attention or recognition. Those times when I need to remember what is really important in life. I need to ask myself often “What is it that I glory in – Christ and His work on the cross on my behalf - or myself?” That’s a question we all need to ask.
I know I’m not alone in this battle – because so many of Paul’s words in the New Testament speak to his struggle in the same areas – and where he went to find LIFE. So much of this song’s lyrics are taken right from Paul’s words, especially in 1 Corinthians, Galatians and Philippians.This song’s title is taken primarily from Galatians 6:14 where Paul says:
“But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”
The context here at the end of Galatians 6 is those “works” that we might boast in for giving us a greater standing in the eyes of God. Something that we “do” to gain God’s approval – or even closer to this context, to gain the approval of those around us. However, Paul says very clearly that none of these works (in this case, circumcision) counts for anything, but only the work Christ performed for us on the cross. Paul will not boast, or “glory” in, anything but the Cross of Christ: the forgiveness, mercy and grace we received when Christ died for our sins.
Is there something in your life that is causing you to glory in something other than the cross of Christ? Take a moment to think about what it might be. Write it down.
Now, confess it to the Lord - and claim the prayer of this song’s chorus over your relationship with the Lord:
“In the cross alone I glory
Nothing of my own to give
Only that which Christ has offered
For my soul that I may live.”
The cross meant death to Christ, but it means LIFE to us. I have nothing of my own to give Him. The only thing I have of any value to give to the Lord is my redeemed and dependent life, bought by the blood of Christ on the cross! And in living out this truth, we find the abundant life that He desires to give each of us. The first verse lyric says this:
“In the cross alone I glory
Recognition laying down
Greatest treasures count as worthless
Standing next to heaven’s crowns.”
Read Philippians 3:7-11.
In verses 2-6, Paul sets up the case for why he might be able to boast, or glory, in who he is and what he’s done. But in vv. 7-8, He says:
“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”
The crowns we will receive when we get to heaven will far surpass anything we could ever receive on this earth, so why not live with that perspective right now? The problem many of us have is that we live for ourselves today and forget that God has something much greater planned for us (both now and in the future) if we will only live with an eternal perspective.
Is there an “earthly treasure” you are valuing more highly than the heavenly crown that awaits you? Is there something you need to lay down at the foot of the cross - recognition, status, or accolades of any kind? They only pale in comparison to the rewards that await you for living a faithful life that glories only in the cross of Christ. Just a few verses further in Philippians, we see where the song’s second verse comes from.
Read Philippians 3:12-14.
The song says this:
“In the cross alone I glory
Ever reaching for the prize
Pressing on and laying hold of
That for which my Savior died”
In Philippians 3:12-14, Paul gives us a picture of someone reaching for a prize – motivated by the prize – ordering his world around the prize. This prize – “that for which my Savior died” - is eternal life with Christ and rewards for how we’ve lived on this earth. This prize is found in Christ, brought about by His claiming victory over death, pride, sin and self at the Cross. Ask yourself this question: “Am I living like I’m reaching for the prize?”
Philippians 2:15-17 provides the backdrop for the song’s third verse. Read those three verses.
The song says this:
“In the cross alone I glory
Holding fast the Word of Life
Toiling not in vain but being
Poured out as a sacrifice”
What does this mean to you? What does it mean to hold fast to the Word of Life? What does “holding fast the Word of Life” look like in your life? In my life, it means saturating my life with God’s Word – daily taking in His beautiful, life-giving words – so that my every word, thought and decision would be filtered through the objective truth and life-source of Scripture. Then, I can know that my toiling will not be in vain. All of life then has meaning, because the meaning is found in living out God’s will in my life.
If you don’t already, find time every day to get into God’s Word. Whether you are a morning person or a night owl, find time to hold fast the Word of Life and you will find it will come back to you when you most need it.
All the glory belongs to God. We should never seek to take any for ourselves – it was never meant for us in the first place. The sooner we realize that, and live it out in our daily lives, the sooner we will experience the abundant life God wants for each of us… focusing and centering our world on nothing but Christ and the work He accomplished on our behalf on the cross.
O, that this song, this prayer, would be true for each of us, Father. May we glory only in the cross of Christ, laying our very lives at Your feet and reflecting all glory and honor to the One who alone is worthy.
