Gal 5:11 Offended by the Cross?

[bcbsr]

 

Offended by the Cross?

Gal 5:11 "Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished."

What was so offensive about the message of the cross? Elsewhere Paul writes, "the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1Cor 1:18 And "we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles"1Cor 1:23

One reason the message of the cross is offensive is because it calls us to abandon any reliance upon religious ritualism for salvation. And that may be particularly offensive to the religious elite, like among those of Islam for example, who end up losing constituents. In contrast, the message of circumcision is, "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved." Acts 15:1 But you could just as well turn that into the general statement, "Unless you are _____________, according to the custom taught by ________, you cannot be saved." That's one aspect of the message of legalism.

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The Berean Christian Bible Study Resources

[Sower]

11 hours ago, bcbsr said:

One reason the message of the cross is offensive is because it calls us to abandon any reliance upon religious ritualism for salvation. And that may be particularly offensive to the religious elite, like among those of Islam for example, who end up losing constituents. In contrast, the message of circumcision is, "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved." Acts 15:1 But you could just as well turn that into the general statement, "Unless you are _____________, according to the custom taught by ________, you cannot be saved." That's one aspect of the message of legalism.

Some what appropriate today here at Worthy, but may not go over too big.
It is still amazing to me, today, God's amazing grace. Undeserved eternal salvation.
Whosoever will.
Jesus Christ and Him crucified!
Jesus, without blemish.
Finished!!
Thanks bcbsr....

[Behold]

The Cross is offensive to an unbeliever because it demands that you admit you are a sinner,  and Trust Christ.

That stings their pride.

Its also the idea of blood being shed , a "bloody savior" as the way to come to God.. that deflects the logical mind.  The Logical mind says...>"what is that....blood, death, cross"......how can that be right.   So, God created salvation to be LOVE.....sacrificial love, that is the greatest love of all,  YET< its literally defined by someone hanging while nailed to a Cross..... so the unbeliever sees the Bloody Cross  as "not logical".

What is logical about preaching about a bloody savior hanging on a cross?   EVERYTHING once you see it, once the Holy Spirit reveals this truth as LOVE.

But not until.

Christianity omits your logic with...."virgin birth"..."God coming to earth"...>"God as Jesus hanging on a Cross".....and requires your FAITH.

You have to BELIEVE in the evidence of things NOT SEEN.  The logical mind can't do it.   But FAITH Does.

 

Edited April 28, 2020 by Behold

[BlessedCreator]

We must remember that a Christian is not one that solely believes in Jesus and His teachings but a Christian is one that obeys Him.

As we are told in James 2:26 that faith without works is dead. The works are obedience unto God's will, His commandments and precepts taught in His word, the Holy Bible (King James Bible for us English readers).

 

Without obeying God your faith is dead. 

 

This is why Jesus warned us in Matthew 25:30 that the unprofitable servant will be cast into outer darkness.

[Behold]

42 minutes ago, BlessedCreator said:

We must remember that a Christian is not one that solely believes in Jesus and His teachings but a Christian is one that obeys Him.

This is why Jesus warned us in Matthew 25:30 that the unprofitable servant will be cast into outer darkness.

Lots going wrong here..^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Lets start from the bottom and swiftly work our way past it.

Your faith can be dead, you can be a backslider, or as Jesus said "lukewarm", but your born again Spirit that in IN CHRIST and in UNION WITH GOD, can't die.   Think on that one.

Also, Put Jesus back into heaven.   Imagine that He never came here, never died....So,  now, for all you life till you die...keeps all the commandments, endure to the end, confess all your sins, then you die and go straight to hell.

THUS, we see that what you do, can't make you RIGHTEOUS......So,  works are not involved with the  act of being REDEEMED. 

The way to see it is like this... What can't cause you to be saved by doing it, can't keep you from being saved by not doing it.

The way to see it is like this... What can't cause you to be saved by doing it, can't keep you from being saved by not doing it.

 

Edited April 29, 2020 by Behold

[BlessedCreator]

If you live in disobedience unto God you will not be saved. It is that simple. 

[Logostician]

Absolutely correct.

Christianity is not a religion.  It's reality asserting the finished work of the cross of Jesus.  It is and continues to be a FINISHED work.  Religions invoke rites and rituals.  But for Christians, any such rituals are superfluous at best and destructive at worst, because they divert focus from Jesus and his finished work of the cross.

The Jews of Christ's time were hesitant to give up the rituals of Mosaic law.  Islam is big on rites and rituals, and very lean about an actual relationship with God.  Eastern religions teach the use of rituals and chants to achieve nirvana as an escape from this world.  But Jesus taught that the kingdom of God is in anyone who believes, and will be made perfect at the second coming.  No rituals.  Just Jesus.