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THE OFFENSE OF THE CROSS

Galatians 5:10-12 (King James Version)
10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.
11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.
12 I would they were even cut off which trouble you.

Intro:

¨  The cross of Christ OFFENDS people.

¨  When we preach the cross, people get angry

¨  They feel attacked, and they will persecute us

¨  Many were offended by the Lord when He walked the earth:

¨  Mark 6:3 (King James Version)
3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

¨  Matthew 13:57 (King James Version)
57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.

¨  Matthew 15:12 (King James Version)
12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?

¨  CHURCH

o  If you preach HIM, His salvation, and His word, you will offend people

o  too. You will offend them without even TRYING to offend them

¨  A BIBLE-BELIEVING CHURCH WILL OFFEND MORE PEOPLE IN A MONTH WITHOUT TRYING, THAN A LIBERAL CHURCH WILL OFFEND IN 10 YEARS ON PURPOSE!

LET US BEAR…

I.  THE OFFENSE OF THE WORD OF THE CROSS---

1 Corinthians 1:18 (King James Version)
18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

A.  TO THE UNSAVED, IT IS A WORD OF FOOLISHNESS-

1. What happened on Calvary makes no sense to them

2.  They don’t understand WHY Christ died (for our sins).

B.  TO THE UNSAVED, IT IS A WORD OF FAILURE---

1. To them it appears that the mission of Jesus was cut off when he was crucified

2.  however, when He died. HE said, "It is FINISHED." (Jn. 19:30)

C.  TO THE UNSAVED, IT IS A WORD OF FINALITY---

1. Death is a final word to unsaved people

2.  to our Lord and Savior, He AROSE, victorious over the grave, death, sin, hell, and the devil!

3.  Let's keep preaching it! It is the power of God!

II.  THE OFFENSE OF THE WITNESS OF THE CROSS—

Acts 2:23 (King James Version)
23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

A.  THE CROSS IS A WITNESS TO THE INIQUITY OF MAN---

1. The cross brings a reproach (1 Cor. 15:3)—

2.  Christ died for the UNGODLY (Rom. 5:6).

B.  THE CROSS IS A WITNESS TO THE IGNORANCE OF MAN---

1. Christ had to die in order for people to fully know God.

2.  He had to die in order for people to see the way to heaven (John 14:6).

C.  THE CROSS IS A WITNESS TO THE INABILITY OF MAN---

1. it testifies that man is unable to save himself

2.  man cannot atone for his own sins.

3.  Let's keep preaching it! It is the power of God!

III.  THE OFFENSE OF THE WORK OF THE CROSS---

Colossians 2:14 (King James Version)
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

A.  THE CROSS WAS A WORK OF REDEMPTION—

1. It was on the cross that the sin problem was solved.

2.  It was on the cross that the price was paid for our sins and for our redemption.

3.  Unsaved people don't like to hear that, because they want to do something to save themselves.

B.  THE CROSS WAS A WORK OF RECONCILIATION—

Ephesians 2:16 (King James Version)
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

C.  Unsaved people may not like the work of the cross,

D.  but let's keep magnifying it! Let's keep preaching it! It is the power of God!