And I, Brethren, if I yet preach Circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? Then is the offense of the Cross ceased (Gal. 5:11). The doctrine of the Atonement is offensive to the self-righteous mind, for it declares that man is morally lost, wicked and hopeless, helpless and dead, and that he can only be recovered by being re-created. This re-creation takes place when he believes upon Christ as an atoning Saviour. Man denies that he is altogether lost, and he claims that he can add something to the Sacrifice that Christ infinitely accomplished for him at Calvary. Such an addition destroys the Gospel, for it denies the infinite perfection of Christ’s Sacrifice. If that Sacrifice is infinite, then there is no room for human additions to it in order to add to its perfection. To preach Christ and good works—proudly named “the ethical gospel,” or some such like—does not involve persecution; but to preach the true Gospel always involves persecution. What is the offense of the Cross? Why is the Cross an offense? The “offense of the Cross” is the fact that God demands that there is only one way to Justification and Sanctification, and that is the Cross. That puts to death every effort of man—above all, his religious efforts. This is offensive to the flesh, offensive to the carnal nature, and it arouses enmity against those who place their Faith totally and completely in Christ and the Cross. As we have previously stated, Abraham did not want to give up Ishmael, but the Cross demands it. The answers to both questions, i.e., “What is the offense of the Cross?” and “Why is the Cross an offense?” are very similar. The Cross of Christ, and one’s total Faith placed in that Finished Work, must, of necessity, eliminate all self-righteousness. As Ishmael was dear to the heart of Abraham, our self-efforts are also dear to us. The Cross of Christ offends all religion, all self-effort, all works, and all self-righteousness. These things must be cast out, even as the bondwoman and her son were cast out by Abraham (Gal. 4:29–30). There is no room for both the “Cross” and the “flesh.” One or the other must go! The Cross is always an offense to self-righteousness, because it exposes it for what it really is—the flesh, which God can never accept. The Lord can only accept the Righteousness of Christ.
Posted on: Tue, 21 Oct 2014 12:43:44 +0000
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