The Offense of the Cross

The Offense of the Cross

“And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased.” Paul was afraid that this had happened.

The offense of the cross is that we are utterly incapable of doing the good, and therefore we come to this acknowledgment: “But I am carnal, sold under sin.” Rom. 7:14. Then we are in a state in which we are able to hate our own life and begin to love the cross.

“And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.”

People are much occupied with trying to achieve something, whether they are converted or unconverted. They want to have something they can put their confidence in according to the flesh, something they can boast of. Phil. 3:3-4. The cross makes an end of all this; therefore the cross is an offense to the Jews (and just as much as to religious people), and to the Gentiles it is foolishness.

“For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh . . . .” Phil. 3:3.

“And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” 1 Cor. 2:1-2. This implies that we are crucified as well, for we are baptized into His death. 2 Cor. 5:15; Rom. 6:3; Gal. 6:14.

Paul could have come with excellence of speech and with persuasive words of wisdom, but then what he was according to the flesh would have become evident, and the offense of the cross would have ceased. We can both see and hear how preachers use all their talents when it comes to eloquence and the written word to make the gospel as attractive as possible. They can speak about the cross and self-denial, about Paul’s mind of sacrifice, and about Jesus’ humiliation, and they use illustrations so effectively that thousands are attracted by their excellence of speech. They make use of psychology as an aid to bringing about revival. They also use psychology in their spiritual counseling, and they bind souls to themselves instead of leading them to the head—Christ. They write books about people in the Bible walking by faith, and what God used them for, so that they themselves are admired as speakers and authors. People enjoy their talents, but they never come to the offense of the cross and the death of Christ. They can certainly establish large religious denominations, but not the body of Christ, which is the church.

If a person hates his own life, he will also die to wanting to be someone—die to making a good appearance. Then he can, by the foolishness of preaching, save those who believe—but never by his excellence of speech. 1 Cor. 1:21-24. The offense of the cross separates those who are upright, those who have a heavenly calling. Heb. 3:1. Only they can be built up to be the body of Christ. Their boasting is in Christ, and what they are they have become by the grace that is in Christ. Then there will be an end of admiring each other according to the flesh or despising each other according to the flesh. We become one in the Spirit of Christ, with Christ as our head. Eph. 4:15-16; 2 Cor. 5:16-17.