Jul 11
15
WHY IS THE GOSPEL OFFENSIVE TO MEN?
No man can faithfully preach the gospel of Christ without offending men. Unbelievers and self-righteous religionists are always offended by the gospel. To many it is a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. The preaching of the cross is the one means which God has ordained for the salvation of sinners. Yet, it is most offensive to the natural man. Why? The answer is not hard to find.
The gospel of the grace of God offends man’s dignity, because it addresses all men as sinners. The gospel leaves no place for human dignity. It is the great leveler of men. It puts the self-righteous moralist and the drunkard, the respected mother and the despised harlot, the promising college boy and the strung-out addict all on one level. All are sinners. We all by nature are nothing more than helpless, condemned sinners.
The gospel of God offends man’s wisdom, because it comes by Divine revelation. It is not possible for any men to know the gospel, unless it is revealed in his heart. Man, with all your proud learning and boasted achievements, you can never know God, you can never grasp the doctrines of the gospel, you can never understand the Word of God, you can never know Jesus Christ, unless God the Holy Spirit reveals Christ in you.
The gospel offends man’s pride, because it declares a particular and effectual redemption. Our Lord Jesus did actually put away sin. By his mighty act of death, as our Substitute, Jesus Christ did really and completely accomplish eternal redemption for his people. There is nothing for the sinner to do, whereby he might proudly claim merit before God. You must bow to Christ, receiving all grace from him as a pure, free gift, or you must perish.
And the gospel of God’s grace and glory in Christ offends man’s love of self, because it demands discipleship. The gospel demands commitment. It demands total, unreserved surrender to the Lordship of Christ. No man has saving faith in Christ who does not in his heart confess and acknowledge that Christ is Lord, submitting to his will, surrendering to his dominion, and trusting his grace. If Jesus Christ is not your Lord and King, he is not your Redeemer and Savior.
To many the gospel is offensive. That cannot be changed. As sure as you attempt to make it pleasing to natural men, you will compromise its message, and there will be no gospel in it. But to them who are the called by almighty grace, it is the power and wisdom of God.