THE OFFENSE OF THE CROSSTHE OFFENSE OF THE CROSS

First Corinthians 1:18-23First Corinthians 1:18-23

18.18. For to those who are perishing the For to those who are perishing the message of the cross is foolishness, but message of the cross is foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is God’s to us who are being saved it is God’s power. power.

19. For it is written: 19. For it is written: I will destroy the I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the understanding of the experts.the understanding of the experts.

20. Where is the philosopher? Where is the 20. Where is the philosopher? Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this scholar? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God made the world’s age? Hasn’t God made the world’s wisdom foolish? wisdom foolish?

21.21. For since, in God’s wisdom, the world For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of the message through the foolishness of the message preached. preached.

22. For the Jews ask for signs and the 22. For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks seek wisdom, Greeks seek wisdom,

23. but we preach Christ crucified, a 23. but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.foolishness to the Gentiles.

The Offense of the Cross

The Cross is Grisly and OffensiveThe Cross is Grisly and Offensive

NY Times: Gibson insisted on "rubbing our faces in the grisly reality of Jesus' death."

Gibson "relentlessly focused on the savagery of Jesus' final hours"

1st Corinthians 1:23 “We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles.”

THE OFFENSETHE OFFENSE

Stumbling blockFoolishness

Romans 9:33 “As it is written: Look! I am putting a stone in Zion to stumble

over, and a rock to trip over, yet the one who believes on Him will not be

ashamed.”

Galatians 5:11 “Now brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.” The offense of

the cross

THE OFFENSETHE OFFENSE

Scandal: Used metaphorically of anything that arouses prejudice, or becomes a hindrance to

others, or causes them to fall by the way.—Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words

THE OFFENSETHE OFFENSE

Galatians 6:12 “Those who want to make a good showing in the flesh are the ones who would compel you to be circumcised—but only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ”

Persecuted for the cross

The Cross Rejects Us At Our BestThe Cross Rejects Us At Our Best

Galatians 6:14 “But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ…”

We have nothing to offer or to contribute to our salvation.

The cross is an assault on our pride

Now I venture to say that that offense of Now I venture to say that that offense of Calvary is just as powerful now as it was Calvary is just as powerful now as it was then…then…

Written across Calvary is Written across Calvary is sacrificesacrifice; written ; written across this age of ours is across this age of ours is pleasurepleasure. On the . On the lips of Christ are the stem words, lips of Christ are the stem words, I must I must diedie. On the lips of this age of ours, . On the lips of this age of ours, I must I must enjoyenjoy. .

……Make everything interesting, pleasant, Make everything interesting, pleasant, easy. Then is the offense of the cross easy. Then is the offense of the cross ceased-and with it the power of the gospel.ceased-and with it the power of the gospel.

George H. MorrisonGeorge H. Morrison

The Cross Reasons That We Are Vile & The Cross Reasons That We Are Vile & Helpless SinnersHelpless Sinners

Colossians 1:19-22 “For God was… making peace through the blood of His cross… And you were once alienated and hostile in mind because of your evil actions. But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death…”

Colossians 1:19-22 “For God was… making peace through the blood of His cross… And you were once alienated and hostile in mind because of your evil actions. But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death…”Separated from God

The situation was so bad that it took

the cross to fix it

Rebels against God

Offensive to God

The Cross Requires That We Come The Cross Requires That We Come to God On His Termsto God On His Terms

1ST Corinthians 1:17 “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with clever words, so that the cross of Christ will not be emptied of its effect”

Not dependent on human ritual

Not dependant on clever words

Not the labors of my hands Can fulfil Thy law's demands; Could my zeal no respite know, Could my tears for ever flow, All for sin could not atone: Thou must save, and Thou alone.

The Offense of the Cross

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