Jul 16
13
The offense of the cross
“And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? Then is the offence of the cross ceased.” Galatians 5:11
The preaching of the cross of Jesus Christ is offensive to the natural man. We that believe look at the cross and we see grace, mercy, love, forgiveness, and hope; but this world sees a “stumbling stone and a rock of offence.” I want to look at this by asking one question:
What is the offence of the cross of Christ?
First, it offends the wisdom of men. This world and its religion believe that man can by wisdom know God. That by sincere and heart felt study, man can know His creator in such a way as to bring him to heaven. They think the preaching of the cross is foolishness and that they by wisdom understand that there are better ways to save sinners. But the preaching of the cross tells us that this message, and means, was ordained of God for the salvation of His People apart from the wisdom of this world. (1Cor 1: 17-31)
Second, it is offensive to man’s ability. This world believes that all men have a “free will” in this matter of salvation. That man is the sovereign of his destiny, and he will come to Christ if all the right circumstances exist. But the preaching of the cross of Christ, tells us that no man can come to Christ unless the Father draw him. (John 6:44) This is because all men are born dead in trespasses and sins, which make men both unable and unwilling to come to God by Jesus Christ. The only hope for sinners is that God the Holy Spirit quickens their dead souls to life and faith in Christ. This too is offensive to the natural man.
Third, it offends the merit of men. All men by nature believe that they can by their will, works, and self righteousness merit the favor of God. But the Psalmist asks, “Who shall ascend to the hill of the LORD . . .? He that hath clean hands and a pure heart…” (Ps. 24: 2-3). But the gospel of the cross teaches us that “there is none righteous, no not one.” (Rom.3:11-20) The gospel teaches that the only way for man to approach unto God, is to have the “righteousness of God which is by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ to all them that believe.” (Rom 3:21-22) This is offensive to the natural man.
Therefore, how foolish is it for men to oppose the only hope for their salvation. It is like a drowning man despising the rope that is his only life line. Though Satan, devils, and all men oppose this gospel, it shall prevail to save all of God’s elect. It will save all those who believe on Jesus Christ, and see His cross as their only glory. (Gal 6:14) Believers let us not ever be ashamed of this gospel, but rather proclaim it to all and mind not their offense of it. Don Fortner.
Joy or offense
“Free pardon is a comfort to a malefactor, but it implies guilt, and therefore they who have no apprehension that they have broken the laws, would be rather offended, than comforted, by an offer of pardon.” John Newton
This quote from John Newton describes exactly what happened when our Lord taught in John chapter 8 and made the glorious declaration in verse 32 “and ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” What a wonderful statement this is to any poor prisoner who longs for freedom.
But the Jews’ reaction, rather than joy, was indignation. They said, “we were never in bondage . . .” Thus the good news becomes an impertinence, and that which is, to one, the words of eternal life, is to another a bitter and unwelcome indictment.
How sad that a condemned and sentenced felon, awaiting execution, would deny a declaration of free pardon rather than to admit guilt. How sad that a vanquished and helpless soldier would reject the proposal of unconditional amnesty, rather than confess defeat. How sad that an invitation to a bountiful banquet would cause one to bristle and be offended at the very suggestion that he cannot provide for himself.
I, for one, am hungry, and am without money and without price, and so I am honored to be called and anxious to partake. It is because of God’s distinguishing grace that it is so. Chris Cunningham.
What is this babbler trying to say?
(Letters of John Newton)
The Apostles were accounted as foolish babblers. We are no better than the Apostles; nor have we reason to expect much better treatment—so far as we walk in their steps.
On the other hand, there is a way of speaking of God, and goodness, and benevolence, and morality—which the world will bear well enough. But if we preach Christ as the only way of salvation, lay open the horrid evils of the human heart, tell our hearers that they are dead in trespasses and sins, and have no better ground of hope in themselves than the vilest malefactors; if we tell the virtuous and moral, as well as the profligate—that unless they are born again, and made partakers of living faith, and count all things loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ—that they cannot be saved—this is the message they cannot bear!
We shall be called knaves or fools, uncharitable bigots, and twenty harsh names! If you have met with no treatment like this—you should suspect whether you have yet received the gospel; for, depend upon it—the offense of the cross is not ceased!
“You are out of your mind, Paul! Your great learning is driving you insane!” Acts 26:24
humbled or angered
Rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee (Proverbs 9:8). Someone has said, “Faithful reproofs, if they don’t profit you will provoke you.” God’s prophet, John the Baptist faithfully rebuked Herod for taking his brother’s wife (Matt. 14:4). Herod’s response to the truth of God was anger and murder toward God’s prophet. On another occasion, the prophet of God, Nathan rebuked King David for taking Bathsheba to be his wife and for the murder of Uriah the Hittite, her husband (2Sam. 12:7-14). David, instead of being angry was humbled and confessed before God that he was a sinner and begged for mercy. David expressed this in Psalm 51, “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.” Now here is the question for us. How do we react to the rebuke of Holy Scripture? Are we humbled and broken hearted? Do we beg God for mercy and forgiveness or do we get angry and upset? Believers are humbled, those who don’t believe God are only angered and enraged. Tom Harding.
Preaching about Christ or preaching Christ?
He (the Holy Spirit) shall glorify ME; for He shall receive of mine and show it unto you.”–John 16:14.
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The Holy Spirit does not reach after something novel, new, or spectacular in order to glorify Christ or to preach Christ to men. He does not need tongues, fleshly emotion, bodily healings, and creature fame and importance in order to bring glory to Christ and call out His sheep. He finds Christ’s glory IN CHRIST HIMSELF!
If we want to honor Christ, glorify Christ, and preach Christ, we must not look for something outside of Christ; but we must honor Him by preaching that which is His already–His deity, His person, His man-hood, His life, His death, His resurrection, His ascension, His intercession, His return! Strange as it may seem, there is today very little preaching OF CHRIST HIMSELF.
Men preach about those who knew Him, who served Him, and who wrote of Him. They preach about His church, His doctrines, and His commandments. They preach series of messages on those who used to preach Christ, on the conduct and conversation of those who profess to know Christ, and on the duties and responsibilities of believers in Christ, but very few messages ON THE PERSON AND WORK OF CHRIST HIMSELF. They read papers and conduct discussions on ways and means to serve Christ, to discipline and organize the kingdom of Christ, and how to honor Christ; and they seldom get around to doing that which God has ordained and commissioned us to do AND THAT IS TO PREACH CHRIST!
Jesus Christ is most glorified, His sheep most edified, His will and purpose accomplished, and His church perfected in faith, hope, and love WHEN WE PREACH CHRIST HIMSELF. The work of the Spirit of God is to reveal to us the beauties of Jesus Christ, AND THEY ARE ALL FOUND IN CHRIST HIMSELF. Henry Mahan.
Only Scriptural preaching is good preaching
I heard of a preacher who very eloquently said that at the conversion of a sinner an angel of God picks up a heavenly quill and flies from God’s throne to that fountain filled with Christ’s blood, dips his quill into the blood of that fountain and then flies to the Lamb’s Book of Life and inscribes therein the name of the newly converted sinner. A hearer objected, reminding the preacher that, according to the Scriptures, the names in the Lamb’s Book of Life were inscribed therein before the foundation of the world, thereby declaring the preacher’s illustration to be unscriptural. The preacher replied, “The illustration may be unscriptural, but it surely is good preaching!”
Unscriptural preaching is never good preaching. God means it when He says, “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20). Only Scriptural preaching is good preaching! Scriptural preaching declares “Thus says the LORD” (e.g., Jeremiah 9:23f) and “It is written” (e.g., Matthew 4:4, 7, 10), not “Thus imagines man” and “It should have been written.” Good preaching is “according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3, 4), not “according to man”. And it will stand the test of all who “searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). Daniel Parks.
What is it to preach the Gospel?
The Apostle Paul said, “Though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of” (I Cor. 9:16). What is it to preach the gospel? Is everybody preaching the gospel? Regrettably no! It would be great if all the churches everywhere did preach the gospel, but this certainly is not the case. Preaching the gospel involves telling the truth as it is revealed in the Holy Scriptures. Telling the truth about God, man, Jesus Christ, and salvation; lets take a closer look at those four things.
TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT GOD!
God is not who we think He is, He is who He is as revealed in the scriptures. All men by nature have an incorrect and false notion about the true and living God. The God that is revealed in scripture is absolutely HOLY. “Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? For thou only art holy” (Rev. 15.4). God is also sovereign in all things (Psalm 135.6). Divine sovereignty simply means that God is God, beside Him there is none else. God is also immutable in all His attributes and actions (Mal. 3: 6). All that He is today, He has been, and ever will be (Heb. 13: 8). He is the etemal I AM (John 8: 24).
TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT MAN!
Men don’t like to hear the truth about God nor about themselves. But we must be faithful to God and His word. Man is the exact opposite of everything that God is. He is holy, we are unholy. He is omnipotent, we are impotent and frail. He is unchanging, we change all the time. The truth is, man is fallen, totally depraved, sinful in all thoughts, actions, and dead in sin (Rom. 3:9-19).
TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT JESUS CHRIST!
Who is Jesus Christ? Fully and totally almighty God, and fully and totally a real man (I Tim 3:16). What did He accomplish? He is the God-Man Mediator sent of God to effectually and eternally redeem His people from all their sin (Heb. 9.12, Matt. 1:2 1). He did not fail to secure the eternal salvation of His blood-bought people (Isa. 42:4; John 19:30).
TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT SALVATION!
Every aspect of salvation from the beginning in election (I Thes. 2:13); to the end in glorification (Rom. 8.30), is of the Lord.
Salvation is all of grace not of works (Eph. 2:8-9)! Tom Harding.