The OFFENSE of the Cross

[Lockheed]

Gal 5:11 But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed.


What is the "offense" of the cross, and what makes it offensive?

 

[rural_preacher]

Romans 3:23

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

John 14:6

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

I think this is one part of the "offense": The Cross (the Gospel) declares that all are sinners and are separated from their Creator. Then Jesus declares that there is only one way to be reconciled to that Creator and that is through Him. That is offensive to the unbeliever because they don't want to be called a sinner and they don't want to be told that there is only one way to God.

There is another offense of the Cross (this is probably more in line with what Paul is referring to): II Corinthians 5:21

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Jesus the sinless One took sin on Himself for us so that we might receive reconciliation with God. Jesus voluntarily was offended by sin and the punishment required so that the offense could be removed from us.

--

Grace is not favor in the absence of merit; it is favor is the presence of demerit.​

 

[Matthan]

Yep!!!

 

[ZiSunka]

Have you ever talked about Christ to someone who doesn't think he's a sinner? And he gets all mad because you are telling him that everyone sins and is guilty and condemned. And that person tells you to stop cramming your religion down his throat but all you did is tell them that he's a sinner in need of a savior?

That's the offense of the cross.

Paul is saying that if he was preaching that we can make ourselves acceptable in the eyes of God by following the law, he wouldn't be persecuted by the Jews, but since he was preaching that no one can be saved outside of faith in the atoning death of Christ, a lot of people were really mad at him. They were offended that he was saying that even though they were good people who lived moral lives, they were still condemned because they were sinners. No one who thinks he is good could ever take joy in the message of the cross. Only people who know they are lost are not offended by such a message.

 

[brotherjim]

"For the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. . . ."

It attempts to take away all that man has strived to attain whereby he can consider himself, whether in God's eyes ot the eyes of others or his own eyes, righteous.

It attempts to make null and void that which man thought was his ever since Adam partook of the knowledge of [self-righteous] good and evil.

It is anti-cosmopolitan sophistication; anti-intellectualism; anti-self [the list can go on and on].

brotherjim

 

[Fat]

Gal 5:11 But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed.



What is the "offense" of the cross, and what makes it offensive?

My Bible uses "stumbling block"

5:11But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished.

Easton's Bible Dictionary also uses stumbling block.

# A stumbling-block or cause of temptation (Isaiah 8:14; Matthew 16:23; 18:7). Greek skandalon, properly that at which one stumbles or takes offence. The "offence of the cross" (Galatians 5:11) is the offence the Jews took at the teaching that salvation was by the crucified One, and by him alone. Salvation by the cross was a stumbling-block to their national pride.

Fat