The Offence Of The Cross

Temple Baptist Church - 10-07-2009

Galatians 5:10-12

Introduction:

A. In these verses, we find that there are many religious people who are, in actuality, enemies of the cross of Christ and—therefore—salvation.

Philippians 3:18-19 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

B. The Holy Spirit—through the pen of the Apostle Paul—went as far as to say, “I would that they were even cut off which trouble you.” This is not the wish of this pastor but the wish of God! He is talking about those who would pervert the grace of God by:

1. Adding To The Gospel

2. Taking Away From The Gospel (Both creating the “another gospel” found in 2 Corinthians 11:1-4)

C. Religion—which is manmade—has never been a friend of either Jesus Christ (they crucified Him) or of salvation (they bypass Him)!

D. Salvation is by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone! Most denominations or churches have a mixed faith.

1. They teach salvation through Christ plus the church.

2. They teach salvation through Christ plus their works.

3. They teach salvation through Christ plus their baptism.

4. They teach salvation through Christ or Mary.

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.e. Others even deny our Lord Jesus Christ by making Him a “son of God” instead of the “Son of God!” They teach that He was an angel, great prophet, or something other that God Almighty!
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

E. What makes the cross of Christ so offensive to these folks? It seems that the simplicity of the gospel and salvation would bring joy to their hearts. Heaven is so free and salvation is so simple that even a small child can be saved by trusting the Lord Jesus Christ as his or her personal Saviour!

1. The Offense Of The Preaching (It is just too simple! Salvation cannot be as easy as believing!)

1 Corinthians 1:21-24 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

2 Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

2. The Offense Of The People (Not many wise; not many mighty; not many noble! Not many lawyers, doctors, professors, etc! Because their salvation is in what they can perceive, not what they must believe!)

1 Corinthians 1:26-29 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

James 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

3. The Offense Of The Praise (If salvation is completely of God and through God, then man has nothing in which to glory! It shows both man’s sinfulness and helplessness.)

Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

Romans 3:24-27 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

4. The Offense Of The Person (The Jesus Christ of this world is the “another Jesus” of 2 Corinthians 11:1-4.)

Luke 19:14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.

John 19:14-15 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! 15 But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.

Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.