The Offence Of The Cross

by Tony Pirog - Email: tonypirog@hotmail.com

Romans 5:15b-21 "...if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon ALL men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord."

Galatians 5:11 "And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased."

Then is the offence of the cross ceased!

What does Paul mean by this? In his letter to the Galatians, Paul is rebuking them because "the religious" had entered among them, and convinced them that there were preconditions to the Gospel. Specifically, they were to be circumcised like the Jews of the Old Covenant. This is not about circumcision per se, but about forms of religious observance that lead to self-justification:

Galatians 5:2 "Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing."

The cross represents Christ's sacrifice - His death (which began with His incarnation/birth and ended at Calvary) - and suffering in order that He might "take away the sin of the world." (John 1:29)

So... who exactly were those that were offended by the cross? Who was offended by Jesus' sacrifice? Who was offended by the Gospel?

There were two classes of people who found the cross offensive: the religious (Pharisees etc.), and those in power. So, what was it about the cross that offended them? I think I can state without fear of contradiction that the Gospel as it is taught by the bulk of Christianity today offends in that people despise the God of Hell Fire and torment. Ask almost any who has rejected the Gospel that has been presented to them today, and you will get some variation of, "Why would a God of love allow so many people to suffer? And... Why would that same God consign the vast majority of innocent humanity to eternal torment in hell?" And who is it that is offended in this way? The Religious? The People in power? Not at all!!! They embrace this Gospel with all their heart. So what has changed, the leaders or the Gospel?

Ask yourself, would the Pharisees have had a problem with this God as he is preached today? Would they have had a problem with a God who enforces rules, who condemns the disobedient to eternal torment, who sets up a religious hierarchy of professional leaders who believe they are righteous (or "saved" at least), while the vast majority of humankind is doomed to burn in hell? Would they? Would the Pharisees have objected to this kind of God? Not at all!! That was exactly the kind of God they believed in. They condemned Jesus because he consorted with prostitutes, publicans, and sinners. They condemned Him because He disobeyed their man made laws and regulations. They condemned Him because He offered grace, love, and forgiveness to people whom they considered undeserving.

Luke 18:10-14 "Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."

How the Pharisees hated to hear this! And how the religious hate the true Gospel today. As lovingly as I can say it, knowing that they are loved by God and justified by the cross just as much as any other, today's Christian leaders misrepresent the love of God every bit as badly as the Pharisees of Jesus' time. The very suggestion that ALL stand justified before God regardless of their sins, that the cross is all sufficient and has completely erased the guilt of ALL of God's children/creation, provokes cries of "heresy," "blasphemy," "false prophet;" and results in condemnation and rejection by those very leaders who claim to believe in God's grace, but who portray God as more hateful than the most despicable demon imaginable. Please understand that I am not condemning them for this (see Romans 11:32 below). God is sovereign and He has put them in this position for His own eventual glorification.

They call it the Gospel (The "Good" News) - they say God is love, compassion, and mercy, yet they claim He will consign 99% of humanity to eternal hell fire and brimstone - and will feel no regret but will exult in His "righteousness" and "justice." Is it any wonder that common folk despise this god? Is it any wonder then that believers run around in fear and dread, trying to save their loved ones from this caricature? How they try so very hard to love Him (I know - I was one of them)! They are so very sincere - but in the end, most fail, and turn away from this dread-inspiring lie... and understandably so!

Oh no - it is not the pagans and unbelievers who are wrong. They understand what it means to be the God of love. It is the religious who are wrong - it is they who misrepresent the character of God, who steal His glory and brainwash His children with fear, terror, and legalism. It is they who are offended by the cross.

Romans 11:32 (NRSV) - "For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all."

Do you see that word "all?" ALL are imprisoned in disobedience - by the will and hand of God - so that He may have mercy on ALL!

Beloved, nowhere can you find in the Bible any teaching that says, "Accept Jesus into your heart and you will go to heaven (or conversely so that you can avoid hell)." The scriptures are clear; there is NOTHING we can DO to earn our salvation, including "making a decision for Christ." He fully completed the work of salvation and forgiveness at Calvary. When we stand before Him as judge, He WILL be satisfied with His work - and you will stand justified before Him because He HAS paid the price for our sin. And the price was death (not eternal torment or else Jesus did NOT pay the price) - Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death;"

Yes, the cross is offensive - to those who would have mankind suffer for their sins, for those who do not accept that Jesus (I John 2:2) "is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world," to those who refuse to believe that (I Timothy 4:10) "God ... is the Saviour of ALL men, SPECIALLY (not "ONLY") of those that believe." But for those who believe these things, those who trust God's promises, there is no offense, only peace and rejoicing.

"Our God is an Awesome God;
He reigns from Heaven above,
with wisdom, power and love!
Our God is an Awesome God!"

Are you offended? No problem! - Because you are "imprisoned ... in disobedience so that he may be merciful to (YOU)." (Romans 11:32)

Believe it!

ONE FINAL THING

You say, "But the cross offends all kinds of people! Atheists galore are offended by Christianity. Look at all those people who reject Jesus!”

I say, NO! If they only knew what the cross TRULY means, they would drop their pagan beliefs and RUN to Jesus with arms outstretched! It is not the cross that offends the common man or woman, but the slanderous caricature of God the Father that has been portrayed by Mainline Christian doctrines throughout the last 1700 or more years. Almost EVERY PERSON raised in a nominally Christian country, whether raised in a churched household or not, has been taught that God is an insane, vengeful, merciless, tyrant (including "Christians," who themselves live in such terror of this impostor that they delude themselves into believing this is a god of love), who sent His son as a failed "blood sacrifice," who has to intercede for us, while we try to earn ("work out" for the religious) our "ticket to heaven" by choice, good works, living a holy life or some combination of these. This would include, (take your pick), tithing, submitting to the authority of the clergy, going to church, feeding the hungry, giving up all fun activities, not swearing, lying, cheating, or stealing, praying several hours a day, reading the Bible in all one's spare time, taking sacraments, doing "penance," abstaining from sex, dressing in the approved manner, (forget it if you are homosexual!), the list goes one and on - and generally acting like a nut-ball.

It is NOT the cross that offends the common, rational man! It is the "god of hell fire" who created humanity, KNOWING in advance that the VAST majority of them would either "choose" or were "predestinated" (take your pick, Christianity accepts either without crying "heretic"), to everlasting excruciating torture, without any chance of reprieve or mercy, while "the saints" sit in heaven, gleefully rejoicing in God's "justice!" Is it any wonder honest atheists think Christians are mad?

Ephesians 3:14-21 - "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."