215. The Offence Of The Cross.

Then is the offence of the cross ceased. - Galatians 5:11.

PAUL intends here to declare that the offense 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 bitterest 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 than it used to be. The world and the gospel are both unchanged.

I. WHEREIN LIES THE OFFENSE OF THE CROSS?

1. Its doctrine of atonement offends man's pride.

2. Its simple teaching offends man's wisdom and artificial taste.

3. Its being a remedy for' man's ruin offends his fancied power to save himself.

4. Its addressing all as sinners offends the dignity of Pharisees.

5. Its coming as a revelation offends "modern thought."

6. Its lofty holiness offends man's love of sin.

II. HOW IS THIS OFFENSE SHOWN?

1. Frequently by the actual persecution of believers.

2. More often by slandering believers and sneering at them as old-fashioned, foolish, weak-minded, morose, self-conceited, etc.

3. Often by omitting to preach the cross. Many nowadays preach a Christless, bloodless gospel.

4. Or by importing new meanings into orthodox terms.

5. Or by mixing the truth of Christ with errors.

6. 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.

III. WHAT THEN?

1. 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.

2. Herein is grace ---

That we who once were offended by the cross, now find it to be—

he one hope of our hearts.

The great delight of our souls.

The joyful boast of our tongues.

3. Herein is heart-searching.

Perhaps we are secretly offended at the cross.

Perhaps we give no offense to haters of 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 in the right.