The offense of the Cross

Galatians 5:11
But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed.

1 Corinthians 2:14
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians 1:18
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:22-25
For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Romans 1:16-17
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”


The gospel offends.
Man does not want to hear that his righteousness is insufficient; pride runs deep.
The normal and expected response to the gospel is that the unbeliever will not understand it, will mock it, or will take offense at it.
The only way this will not happen is if the Spirit of God opens their heart to see and desire Jesus.

We have tried to take the offense out of the gospel, in hopes that people will like it, agree with it, and accept it that way. As though an offense-less gospel will have more power to save than the Spirit Himself.


1 Corinthians 2:1-5
And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:17
For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.


God's way is that we preach "Jesus Christ and him crucified," that we rely not on eloquent words to attract men's minds, but on the Holy Spirit to use the power of the offending message of the cross.

Why should we be "not ashamed of the gospel," when it is likely to be met with a negative response? Because it is the power of God to save everyone who believes!