The Offence Of The Cross…
Galatians 5:11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.
1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
What is the offense of the cross?
Do we need to be offended or can we avoid that?
Of course, there are many problems with the cross. We ought to think about them so that when we share the Gospel, it actually results in salvation…
The Offences:
Why did Jesus die if He was innocent?
Deuteronomy 21:22-23 And if a man have committed a sin worthy of
death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:
23 His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury
him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not
defiled, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
Jesus ruined traditional Judaism…
Isaiah 8:13-15Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.
It’s tough on the Jews, but the most offensive parts of the Gospel are
against ALL OF US!!
The Law of God is impossible for us;
-We CAN obey every part of it; but we haven’t obeyed ANY of it!
-It’s seriously annoying that the PURPOSE of the Law is to CONDEMN us.
Romans 3:19-20 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Without Christ, we are ALL wicked in the eyes of God.
1 John 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
Consider:
Each of us knows that we have lied (and will lie again). Every single
one of us!
-Since this is TRUE, why am I offended when you call me a liar?
-Why are “them’s fightin’ words”?
It offends us that without Christ, we are sinners that hate ourselves for being “what God made us”.
Being the bearer of “the truth” doesn’t usually make you popular. We should be aware that the Gospel is offensive because WE are offensive.
-If you tell a fat woman that being so fat is bad for her, she will be
seriously angry with you…
-If you tell her that your doctor (God) told you YOU were fat, she
will be angry at the your doctor.
-If you tell her that your doctor gave you a WAY to have your excess
weight removed OVERNIGHT, she will listen carefully to your story (and
if it worked, she’ll tell her friends about your doctor).
Jesus spends His time with sinners, the wicked and the poor.
Matthew 9:11-13 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Matthew 21:28-32 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.
31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
Even the whores will get saved first? What an insult!
In these last days, ONLY Christians will go to Heaven!
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no
man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other
name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
There are lots of things in Christianity that don’t offend anyone:
Good works
Social Justice
Alleviating suffering in the world
Giving donations to good causes
Praying for everyone
The love of God
The mercy of God
Healing miracles
Forgiveness of sins
New hearts
Eternal Life
Etc…
In many churches, you will only hear about these “sweet” things.
Why does hardly anyone receive Salvation in those churches?
-Some believe, but don’t receive the Holy Spirit.
-They pray, but they don’t hear from God.
-They speak of Jesus, but lives are not changed.
-They continue trapped in sin and the desires of this world…
Why?
Has the Cross lost its effect?
Are we making “happy” sinners instead of Holy Saints?
Galatians 2:20-21 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Jesus didn’t die for those who have managed to keep the Law.
Jesus death won’t save them (the cross won’t work)…
What can we understand from all of this?
It all comes down to these thoughts:
You are not good enough to deserve to be saved.
You are not rich enough to buy Salvation.
You are not strong enough to make God save you.
You are not smart enough to persuade Him to save you.
You are not so good-looking that He will save you.
You are too dead to keep living.
You are too wicked to be reformed.
Only Jesus can save you!!
-Jesus died for you.
-Jesus promises that if you will give your sad, short life to Him,
He will give you His Eternal Life!!
Please! Repent; surrender yourself to Him.
Why continue to suffer in misery and darkness?
Trust your life to Christ today!
Galatians 5:11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.
1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
What is the offense of the cross?
Do we need to be offended or can we avoid that?
Of course, there are many problems with the cross. We ought to think about them so that when we share the Gospel, it actually results in salvation…
The Offences:
Why did Jesus die if He was innocent?
Deuteronomy 21:22-23 And if a man have committed a sin worthy of
death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:
23 His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury
him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not
defiled, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
Jesus ruined traditional Judaism…
Isaiah 8:13-15Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.
It’s tough on the Jews, but the most offensive parts of the Gospel are
against ALL OF US!!
The Law of God is impossible for us;
-We CAN obey every part of it; but we haven’t obeyed ANY of it!
-It’s seriously annoying that the PURPOSE of the Law is to CONDEMN us.
Romans 3:19-20 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Without Christ, we are ALL wicked in the eyes of God.
1 John 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
Consider:
Each of us knows that we have lied (and will lie again). Every single
one of us!
-Since this is TRUE, why am I offended when you call me a liar?
-Why are “them’s fightin’ words”?
It offends us that without Christ, we are sinners that hate ourselves for being “what God made us”.
Being the bearer of “the truth” doesn’t usually make you popular. We should be aware that the Gospel is offensive because WE are offensive.
-If you tell a fat woman that being so fat is bad for her, she will be
seriously angry with you…
-If you tell her that your doctor (God) told you YOU were fat, she
will be angry at the your doctor.
-If you tell her that your doctor gave you a WAY to have your excess
weight removed OVERNIGHT, she will listen carefully to your story (and
if it worked, she’ll tell her friends about your doctor).
Jesus spends His time with sinners, the wicked and the poor.
Matthew 9:11-13 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Matthew 21:28-32 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.
31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
Even the whores will get saved first? What an insult!
In these last days, ONLY Christians will go to Heaven!
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no
man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other
name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
There are lots of things in Christianity that don’t offend anyone:
Good works
Social Justice
Alleviating suffering in the world
Giving donations to good causes
Praying for everyone
The love of God
The mercy of God
Healing miracles
Forgiveness of sins
New hearts
Eternal Life
Etc…
In many churches, you will only hear about these “sweet” things.
Why does hardly anyone receive Salvation in those churches?
-Some believe, but don’t receive the Holy Spirit.
-They pray, but they don’t hear from God.
-They speak of Jesus, but lives are not changed.
-They continue trapped in sin and the desires of this world…
Why?
Has the Cross lost its effect?
Are we making “happy” sinners instead of Holy Saints?
Galatians 2:20-21 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Jesus didn’t die for those who have managed to keep the Law.
Jesus death won’t save them (the cross won’t work)…
What can we understand from all of this?
It all comes down to these thoughts:
You are not good enough to deserve to be saved.
You are not rich enough to buy Salvation.
You are not strong enough to make God save you.
You are not smart enough to persuade Him to save you.
You are not so good-looking that He will save you.
You are too dead to keep living.
You are too wicked to be reformed.
Only Jesus can save you!!
-Jesus died for you.
-Jesus promises that if you will give your sad, short life to Him,
He will give you His Eternal Life!!
Please! Repent; surrender yourself to Him.
Why continue to suffer in misery and darkness?
Trust your life to Christ today!
