"We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord . . .” Meeting at 4702 Greenleaf Road, Sellersburg, IN USA 47172

The Offense of the Cross

Did you know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is an offense to the natural religious man of this age? The message of Jesus Christ and Him crucified was not a message that was received in our Lord’s day nor is it a message that men by nature desire to hear or receive in our day.

The Apostle Paul quoted from Isaiah 8:14 said that Jesus Christ was a “rock of offense”.

Now, no one hates the Jesus of modern religion. He is a gentle, meek man who wants to save men. He came and died upon the cross for the sins of men and is hoping that men will choose him. The Jesus of modern religion is helpless, weak and cannot interfere with the sovereign choice of men. But this is not the Christ of Scripture. This is not the Son of God who was manifest in the flesh.

A.W Pink rightly said, “the Christ of modern religion no more resembles the Christ of Scripture then a candle resembles the noonday sun.”

Behold the Great Savior of men is the Son of God. He is one in power and will, and in all the attributes with the Father and the Holy Spirit. This same Jesus was made flesh and has come to “save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Our Lord Jesus did not come to save all men without exception, for if He did, then they would all be saved.

But behold the offense of Christ, and His cross is that Jesus died for those that the Father had given to Him (John 6:37-40). The offense is when Jesus declared in His High Priestly pray, “I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me, they were thine” (John 17:9).

This is an offense to the dignity of man that the scripture declares that all men are dead and depraved by nature (Rom.5:12, Eph 2:1). It is an offense to the will of man that Jesus said: “no can come unto me except the Father which hath sent me draw him” (John 6:44; 1:12-13). It is an affront to the self-righteousness of man that “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags”, and that “there is none good no not one” (Isaiah 64:6; Rom3:10-11).

Yet it is none the less true, that unless God the Holy Spirit comes in power to quicken the dead sinner to life, that man will never come to Jesus Christ.

Does this offend you? It will unless God opens your heart and exposes your sins. When he quickens you, then you will see that we are an offense to God (Isaiah 65:5).

And only then will you see your need of the cross of Christ. Only then will a sinner cry unto God for mercy. Oh, how blessed is such a man who sees his need of Christ for this is the gospel: “I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” And all His people shall come to Him, and He will never cast them out. This is no offense to us who were chosen, redeemed, and called of God to faith in Christ.

-Fred Evans

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