The Offense of the Cross

“You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. 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 ‭5:7-12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

We think of an offense as a bad thing. None of us like to be offended. And, for this reason, we try not to offend others.

It happens, usually unintentionally. But, again, it’s never our goal. And when we do offend others, we try to make it right. We try to make it right by either explaining ourselves or apologizing.

This mindset creeps even into our life of faith. We don’t want to offend anyone. And, for this reason, we try to soften the message of Scripture. For this reason, we explain away the clear teaching of Scripture.

The message of the cross, however, naturally offends. And, as we see in the above passage, this is a good thing. The offense of the cross is absolutely necessary.

Anything else hinders us from obeying the truth. Anything else is not from God. And the one who brings another message will bear the penalty. Paul was so adamant about this that he wished those who preached circumcision would emasculate themselves. 

Why is the cross so offensive? It’s offensive because it reveals to us our sin. It’s offensive because it reveals to us the penalty we deserve. And it’s offensive because it reveals that we can do nothing to save ourselves.

In other words, it reveals to us that we’re not good people. It reveals to us that we are undeserving of God’s blessings. In fact, it reveals to us that we’re deserving of death and hell.

It reveals to us our helplessness. It reveals to us that we can do nothing to attain our salvation. It reveals to us that we can’t play even a partial role. 

This message is offensive to us. No one wants to believe these things about themselves. But, if we’re to be saved, we must.

We must be offended in this way because it’s only then that we’re able to receive the message of the gospel. It’s only then that we will trust in Jesus. And it’s only then that we will rely on his atoning work.

It’s for this reason that others must be offended as well. If they’re to be saved, they must. So we must not soften the gospel message nor explain it away.