The Offense of the Cross

By the cross we know the gravity of sin and the greatness of God’s love toward us.

John Chrysostom (347-407 AD)

If you have ever tried to witness to someone who refuses to allow civil conversation to flow, you have witnessed one aspect of the Offense of the Cross.

We take them through the scripture. Creation, the fall of Adam and Eve, the law, then we get to Jesus and the cross. Sometimes from beginning to end there is tension. Man always wants to think he has a hand in the matters of his life, but the cross shows we are helpless.

In 1 Corinthians 1:18 we read “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing”. First, this message of the cross must be spiritually discerned, and without the Holy Spirit man can not understand the things of God (1 Cor 2:14). Apart from the work of the Spirit the fact that there is ONLY one name by which man can be saved(Acts 4:12) seems insane to them.

Second, in our natural state we feel good about ourselves, and will gladly continue traveling down a path that allows us to love all we can get our hands on. Sin doesn’t seem important because we love it and the path to destruction looks like a path to a happy life. The cross and the message of it is foolish and only fools follow it.

At every turn in the life of all unbelievers stands the Cross of Christ. They fight against it and ignore it, but it stands as a reminder that our works are useless. It stands as a reminder of the judgment to come. But in an unconverted state we have no desire for it and do not see our time running out.

Matthew Henry writes “The preaching of salvation for lost sinners by the sufferings and death of the Son of God, if explained and faithfully applied, appears foolishness to those in the way to destruction. The sensual, the covetous, the proud, and ambitious, alike see that the gospel opposes their favourite pursuits”

Matthew Henry goes on to say “By the foolishness of preaching; not by what could justly be called foolish preaching. But the thing preached was foolishness to wordly-wise men. The gospel ever was, and ever will be, foolishness to all in the road to destruction. The message of Christ, plainly delivered, ever has been a sure touchstone by which men may learn what road they are travelling.”

The Offense of the Cross and its foolishness to the lost doesn’t come about strictly by hearing Jesus died. Many know Christ was an actual historical figure. It’s the reason for His death that offends. It points out our depravity, it’s shows us as nothing and less than nothing. It’s message condemns and convicts man. It show him he has no escape and no excuse.

What many find offensive is the very thing the believer loves. Our state of desperation was revealed to us. We understand that what was owed was far more than we could pay. Our works only buried us deeper in sin and got us no closer to Christ. Although the message seems foolish and those who believe it seem to be fools   (For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing 1 cor 1:18), that message for believers gives us confidence and assurance (but to us who are being saved it is the power of God 1 cor 1:18)