Last week we closed off at verse 10 of the chapter having considered the verses 1-10 with our title Stand Firm. Today, we will consider verse 11 and my title for this morning is the phrase The Offense of The Cross.
But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. (Galatians 5:11)
There are quite several issues to be addressed here. But primarily, this sermon will arrive at trying to establish the meaning of The Offense of The Cross. When Paul spoke about the offense of the cross, what was he talking about? What is the relevance of that to us in the 21st Century? How are we today to view the offense of the cross? Some Bible commentators have indicated that in Galatians 5:11, Paul was defending himself in this argument because some Jews have accused him falsely of inconsistencies. Look at Acts 16:1-3
Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
Why did Paul circumcise Timothy here and refuse the circumcision of Titus Galatians (2:3). The difference is that Timothy was not being circumcised to be counted a Christian. He was already a Christian: He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. The issue is that the Jews who were in those places, and these Jews are unbelievers, different from the believers, knew Timothy’s Father was a Greek. And for the sake of culture and missionary strategy, Paul will have to circumcise him. Else, he won’t be allowed to interact with the Jewish unbelievers.
Note that at a point in Scripture, Paul was almost stoned because he was accused of bringing uncircumcised into the temple. But in the Galatians’ situation, they insist Gentiles be circumcised to be saved. Which is evil
Now let me attempt to address the subject. The word offense is translated from the word skandalon in the original Greek from which we get our word scandal. The word means a trap, snare or a stumbling block that leads people to sin. It also means something that brings great displeasure, agitation or disapproval. And that’s what the word largely has come to mean. The offense of the cross therefore is simply the offense the preaching of the cross produces. The message of the cross is offensive and it confronts us in many ways.
The Cross Confronts Our Sin
The cross in the then Roman Empire was an instrument of capital punishment. And rightly so, the cross was the most gruesome death of the time reserved for worse offenders. Jesus Christ was wrongfully tried and crucified on the cross. And the cross over a period of history then became the Christian symbol. The cross therefore reminds us of the death and suffering of Christ. He died. He was crucified. He paid for sins so that whosoever will believe in him will not perish but have everlasting life. The cross is the Christian message. It is the gospel. It is good news. This is what we preach. This is what sinners must hear, that Christ died for their sins and that in believing they will be saved.
Christ gave himself for our sins to deliver us from evil (Galatians 1:4). “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Dear friends, see, this is the gospel! There is no other message that saves but the message of the cross. Think about all the problems of this world. It is a problem of sin: wars, murder, rape, corruption etc. We are all affected by a sin problem. Look at the list Paul mentions as works of the flesh in v.19-21
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions ,envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Maybe you are so good that you may say I don’t belong to this list. Paul has a category for you:” and things like this.” Do you see that? All these things were paid for by Christ and he calls sinners to salvation. The cross is the centre of Christianity.
Dear believer, cherish the message of the cross: this is where our salvation was purchased. This is where the deal was brokered. This is where the transaction was completed. We were purchased from the slave market of sin. Cherish the cross because on it your sins were crossed out. And oh, what lovely hymns we sing about the cross:
On A Hill Far Away
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the Dearest and Best For a world of lost sinners was slain.
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross, And exchange it someday for a crown.
When I Survey The Wondrous Cross
When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of Glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.
I want to believe that all of us here can indeed sing and say such of Christ. That he is our Saviour. But just in case you cannot truly say these about Christ and his death, then I call on you to consider these things I have spoken about. You are a lost sinner separated from God if the message of the cross doesn’t stir your heart with joy. Or if the message of the cross doesn’t make any meaning to you, I employ you to seek Christ now. Call upon his name. trust him his name for your salvation, that is that, God will forgive you of all of your sins, reconcile you to himself and grant you eternal life. Your soul hangs on this message. And it is the only message that saves.
Unfortunately, today, we hear many things as gospel that don’t speak about the gospel at all. The offense of the gospel has been removed on many pulpits: people are no more confronted with their sins. In its place, people are told they are good. They have to build their self-esteem.
The Cross Confronts Works Righteousness
Naturally, human beings are raised with a reward mentality. We work to earn a living. The best student gets a prize at the speech and prize giving day. Or they receive a special award. The best performing students at the National Science and Math quiz get awarded champions. So we are naturally wired for rewards. We must be paid in accordance with what we think we are worth or putting in. That’s why trade unions exist. So employees will not be short changed. We saw this reward mentality displayed in our first Scripture reading. The master agreed on the wages of everyone he called, but after he had paid them, they grumbled. Why? Because others who have worked less than they worked got paid the same amount. And the others were angry.
We live our lives expecting outcomes based on how much we have put into life. Now in the context of the text, the Jews preached circumcision as a means of salvation. They want to do something to earn their salvation. But the gospel, the cross, rejects this. The cross cuts and confronts works righteousness. The cross is offensive because it says you cannot do anything to earn salvation. You only have to believe. This is truly offensive and human beings cannot accept it. You mean I don’t have to do anything else? I only have to believe? It is too good to be true, they say. We have to work. We have to present something. We have to present some good works.
We saw last week how Paul dealt sufficiently with the matter of circumcision in the preceding verses and pointed out its weakness to save from sin. Remember I indicated circumcision is not being used in isolation here, but it also has a broad application where the Law of Moses is being put forward as a means of being right with God. More broadly, for us, it will also mean people making their “good lives or actions” a means by which they will find salvation or justification with God.
I am a good person, I do not lie, I do not steal, I do not fornicate, I do not gossip, I am an honest person, people will erroneously put all these up as a means of salvation. But through and through this series, we are clear in our minds we cannot be saved by our good deed or works. You cannot be saved because you do not do all these. Look at Chapter 3:11.
Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for the righteous shall live by faith.
It is evident: it is clear. It lacks any ambiguity. No one can be saved by their good works. “I attend church regularly. I treat people well. I am a good citizen. I am a good husband or wife, I am a good boy or girl. I am a good mother.”None of these and any good thing you do will save you friend.
Tell people to just believe the gospel and be saved and they don’t want that. They want something complicated. They want to do something to feel they have earned their salvation. You and I must not trade this for anything.
Salvation from sin is solely a work of God he accomplishes all alone. All you have to do is believe. Receive Christ. Turn away from your sin and embrace the gift of salvation.
The Cross Confronts Our Comfort
Paul says if he preaches circumcision, why is he suffering persecution? This tells us something. It tells us that the gospel will bring us into opposition and persecution. You see, the cross doesn’t only point us to the death of Christ. The cross also symbolizes self-denial. Take up your cross and follow me, Jesus told anyone who will be his disciple. Preaching the gospel will come with persecution and we see this clearly in the lives of the Apostles. They were beaten, they were jailed, they were stones. All for preaching the gospel.
Many of us may not come to the point of such hard persecutions the apostles encountered. But if you are faithful to the truth, be assured that you will experience your own form of persecution. Friends may mock you, You may actually lose friends. You may have to sacrifice some comfort for the sake of the gospel.
Some preachers preach that if you are a Christian, you don’t have to be sick. You have to prosper. Dear friends, run away from such preachers. These are no gospel promises these are lies. We must count ourselves indeed crucified with Christ and separated from the world.
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:22)
But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world (Galatians 6:14)
Dear friends, to remove the offense of the cross is to water down the gospel. It is to present things that are not gospel as gospel. Paul calls this tickling ears. To remove the offense of the cross is to give people the falsehood they want to hear. It is to tickle their ear
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths (2Timothy 4:3-2)
And wander off into Myths: O what many myths people have wandered off into and shipwreck their faith. I pray that the Lord will keep us so we do not dilute and remove the offense of the gospel.
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