The Offense of the Cross | Galatians 5:11-12

But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves! Galatians 5:11-12

From the beginning, the message of the cross has never failed to stir up anger, offense, and uproar among its hearers. It is the message that brought persecution upon the church, and it is the only message the church carries to this day. In confronting the Galatians for accepting circumcision as a means for salvation, Apostle Paul zealously defends the pure gospel of Jesus Christ.

Why is the cross so offensive?
– The message of the cross claims you can do nothing; God can do everything. Man’s effort, intellect, and power counts for nothing towards salvation, for salvation is by Christ alone. (Rom 10:4)

– It confronts human depravity, challenging hearts with the need for repentance. Man can not do anything to satisfy God. (Rom 3:23, Acts 6:51, 54)

– It is narrow and intolerant, declaring that Jesus is the only way for salvation. (Acts 4:12)

– It demands transformation. It is meant to turn man from unrighteousness to righteousness, to transform sinners into saints. (Acts 2:38, 40)

– It confronts human pride. Man boasts in his philosophies, social status, and religiosity, using whatever grounds to reject the gospel message. (1 Cor 1:23, Jn 19:10)

– The cross is offensive to those who are perishing. Man searches for every reason to avoid the gospel, and their rejection is a sign of their hell bound state. We are saved and transformed only by the power of God. (1 Cor 1:18)

The nature of the cross is marked by agony, pain, and death. Why did God make Christianity so bloody? From the Old Testament to today, Christianity has been full of blood- not the blood of animals or man, but the blood of Jesus Christ. (Heb 9:22) It was the Father’s will for the Son of God to suffer in order to reconcile us to God. (Acts 3:18, 1 Pet 2:24) The cross can not be removed from Christianity. Without the cross, there is no forgiveness. Knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is the only way to escape the wrath of God. (1 Cor 2:2) The cross precedes the resurrection- Jesus died on the cross, and His resurrection fully proved who He was- the eternal God who cannot remain in the grave. In Christ, we are resurrected believers- we have died with Christ, and will be raised with Him. (Rom 4:25) The cross displays God’s amazing love, for while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. In moments when our hearts yearn for love, we need only to look upon the cross. (Rom 5:8) The cross fulfills Scripture that testifies of God’s death and resurrection, and it is the cross that frees us from Satan’s enslavement. (Jn 5:39, Phil 3:10-11)

Our nature is to reject the cross. Only a broken man can love and embrace the cross. Brokenness is what sets Christians apart from the world- you can not be saved until you are poor in spirit and humbled before God. To become poor in spirit is to become completely dependent on another. It is to deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow Jesus. (Matt 5:3, 16:24) All believers are disciples of Christ, desiring to obey the will of God above all in loving obedience to Christ. In every circumstance, we must turn to God’s Word and obey. Without the cross, this transformation is impossible, but praise be to God, for He has made the cross sweet to our souls. It is our gospel, our hope, and our strength to press on to share the truth of the cross with the lost.