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Then is the offence of the cross ceased Galations 5:11
Paul intends here to declare that the offence of the cross never has ceased, and never can cease.
To suppose it to have ceased is folly. The religion of Jesus is most peaceful, mild and benevolent. Yet its history shows it to have been assailed with bitterness and hate all along. It is clearly offensive to the unregenerate mind. There is no reason to believe that it is one jot more palatable to the world today that it used to be. The world and the gospel are both unchanged.
1. Wherein lies the offence of the cross?
a. Its doctrine of atonement offends mans pride
b. Its simple teaching, offends mans wisdom, and artificial taste.
c. Its being a remedy for mans ruin offends his fancied power to save himself.
d. Its addressing all as sinners offends the dignity of Pharisees
e. Its coming as a revelation offends modern thought.
f. Its lofty holiness offends mans love of sin.
2. How is the offence shown?
a. Frequently by the actual persecution of believers.
b. Often by slandering believers, and sneering at them as old fashioned, foolish, weak-minded, morose, self-conceited, etc.
c. Often by omitting to preach the cross. Many today preach a Christ-less, blood-less gospel.
d. Or by importing new meaning into orthodox terms.
e. Or by mixing the truth of Christ with error.
f. Or by openly denying the Deity of him who died on the cross, and the substitutionary character of his sufferings.
Indeed there are a thousand ways of showing that the cross offends us in one respect or another.
3. What then?
a. Herein is folly, that men are offended......
With that which God ordains; With that which must win the day; with the only thing which can save them; with that which is full of wisdom and beauty.
b. Herein is grace,
That we who once were offended by the cross, now find it to be the hope of our hearts; The great delight of our souls; The joyful boast of our tongues.
c. Here-in is heart searching.
Perhaps we are secretly offended at the cross; perhaps we give no offense to those who hate the cross.
Many professed Christians never cause offense to the most godless.
Is this because they bear no testimony to the cross?
Is this because they are not crucified to the world?
Is this because there is no real trust in the cross, and no true knowledge of Christ?
Let us not follow those preachers who are not friends to the cross.
Let us have no fellowship with those who have no fellowship with Christ.
Preachers who have caught the spirit of the age are of the world, and the world loves its own; but we must disown them.
Let us not be distressed by the offense of the cross, even when it comes upon us with bitterest scorn.
Let us look for it and accept it as a token that we are following Jesus.
There is a want in the human mind which nothing but the Atonement can satisfy, though it may be a stumbling-block to the Jew, and foolishness to the Greek.
In the words of Henry Rogers: It is adapted to human nature, as a bitter medicine might be to a patient. Those who have taken it, tried its efficacy, and recovered spiritual health, gladly proclaim its value. But to those who have not, and will not try it, it is an unpalatable potion still.
Paul intends here to declare that the offence of the cross never has ceased, and never can cease.
To suppose it to have ceased is folly. The religion of Jesus is most peaceful, mild and benevolent. Yet its history shows it to have been assailed with bitterness and hate all along. It is clearly offensive to the unregenerate mind. There is no reason to believe that it is one jot more palatable to the world today that it used to be. The world and the gospel are both unchanged.
1. Wherein lies the offence of the cross?
a. Its doctrine of atonement offends mans pride
b. Its simple teaching, offends mans wisdom, and artificial taste.
c. Its being a remedy for mans ruin offends his fancied power to save himself.
d. Its addressing all as sinners offends the dignity of Pharisees
e. Its coming as a revelation offends modern thought.
f. Its lofty holiness offends mans love of sin.
2. How is the offence shown?
a. Frequently by the actual persecution of believers.
b. Often by slandering believers, and sneering at them as old fashioned, foolish, weak-minded, morose, self-conceited, etc.
c. Often by omitting to preach the cross. Many today preach a Christ-less, blood-less gospel.
d. Or by importing new meaning into orthodox terms.
e. Or by mixing the truth of Christ with error.
f. Or by openly denying the Deity of him who died on the cross, and the substitutionary character of his sufferings.
Indeed there are a thousand ways of showing that the cross offends us in one respect or another.
3. What then?
a. Herein is folly, that men are offended......
With that which God ordains; With that which must win the day; with the only thing which can save them; with that which is full of wisdom and beauty.
b. Herein is grace,
That we who once were offended by the cross, now find it to be the hope of our hearts; The great delight of our souls; The joyful boast of our tongues.
c. Here-in is heart searching.
Perhaps we are secretly offended at the cross; perhaps we give no offense to those who hate the cross.
Many professed Christians never cause offense to the most godless.
Is this because they bear no testimony to the cross?
Is this because they are not crucified to the world?
Is this because there is no real trust in the cross, and no true knowledge of Christ?
Let us not follow those preachers who are not friends to the cross.
Let us have no fellowship with those who have no fellowship with Christ.
Preachers who have caught the spirit of the age are of the world, and the world loves its own; but we must disown them.
Let us not be distressed by the offense of the cross, even when it comes upon us with bitterest scorn.
Let us look for it and accept it as a token that we are following Jesus.
There is a want in the human mind which nothing but the Atonement can satisfy, though it may be a stumbling-block to the Jew, and foolishness to the Greek.
In the words of Henry Rogers: It is adapted to human nature, as a bitter medicine might be to a patient. Those who have taken it, tried its efficacy, and recovered spiritual health, gladly proclaim its value. But to those who have not, and will not try it, it is an unpalatable potion still.
