THE OFFENSE OF THE CROSS

Gal. 5:11-12

Morning Meditation 9/30/2012

Verse 11-12 says, “And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. I would they were even cut off which trouble you.”

Liars come a dime a dozen. Not only had the unsaved Jewish teachers invaded the churches of Galatia with their perverted gospel, they were using Paul as a leverage to convince the people that their doctrine was right by saying that Paul believed what they did. Paul refuted this claim by asking this question. If I preach circumcision, why does the message I preach still cause me to suffer persecution? The cross was especially offensive to the Jew because it said that one is not saved by keeping the law but by faith in Christ ALONE. There are those today who make keeping the law a condition to salvation or a means of service. It is neither. The purpose of the law is stated in 1 Timothy 1:8-11: “But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.” When the law is imposed on Christians, it is not very complimentary! Holiness of life is produced as a fruit of the Spirit which comes from within, not keeping rules which apply to the flesh. As we look at this text lets look first at,

THE CAUSE OF THE OFFENSE

Paul said, “And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.” The words “suffer persecution” translate “dioko” and mean, “to make to run or flee, put to flight, drive away, to pursue with evil intent.” It is a present passive indicative verb. The present tense means that Paul was at the time of the writing of this epistle bearing the offense of the cross continually. If Paul had dropped the gospel and gone back to Judaism, the Jews would have stopped their persecution. There would have been no reason since that was why they were persecuting him.

The preaching of the cross is still a cause of offense. I am not talking about an ecumenical gospel. I’m talking about a gospel that separates the person preaching from all those who preach a perverted gospel. Let me put it this way. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation. The gospel is defined by God as the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (1 Cor. 15:1-4). So if one adds anything to this definition of the gospel, he is perverting the gospel according to Galatians 1:6-9. This includes baptism. Many professing Christians believe that baptism is a part of the saving gospel and a condition to salvation. Paul said in 1 Cor. 1:17, “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.” This verse makes it abundantly clear that Paul did not preach baptism as a means of salvation. There are those who believe that it is. Baptism, when it is preached as a necessary condition to salvation, perverts the gospel just as circumcision did in that day. See Gal. 1:6-9 where Paul indicates that a perverter of the gospel is unsaved and he said, “Let him be accused.” Does this offend you? It also offended the unsaved Jewish teachers and it caused Paul to be persecuted. Paul didn’t shrink from the truth to avoid persecution. Next let’s look at,

THE SOURCE OF THE OFFENSE

Paul said, “ I would they were even cut off which trouble you.” The words “they were cut off” translate “apokopto” meaning, “to cut off, to amputate.” It is plural. So Paul is not speaking of one false teacher. He is speaking of a joint effort of Jews who had set out to change the Christian gospel. Paul considered them enemies. Preachers and churches have warmed up to that crowd today. There is no place for compromise. When a man preaches a perverted gospel, I may be civil to him, but I’m not going to call him brother. Paul classifies him as unsaved. I would be making a serious mistake if I tried to take that classification off him.

There are still enemies of the true gospel and they are more abundant today than they were in Paul’s day. Jesus warned us of them in Matthew 7:15,22: “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves . .. . Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?” Satan is the ultimate source of the perversion of the gospel. But he uses men and women to do it. They are his willing instruments. We need to be careful about what we accept. Our beliefs need to come out of the Scriptures. Then next let’s look at,

THE WISH PAUL EXPRESSED ABOUT THOSE WHO PERVERT THE GOSPEL

He said he wishes they were cut off or amputated. Not very nice huh? Why didn’t Paul say, “we really love these folks but . . .” Paul was filled with compassion for an unsaved world. He made statements like, “. . . I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh.” Paul didn’t waste his time trying to win unsaved preachers. They are wicked to the core and are deliberately perverting the gospel of Christ. They have made their decision. Paul seems to leave them alone and tries to help the VICTIMS of their ministry. Then finally we see,

THE STEADFASTNESS OF THE PERSECUTED

There was no compromise by Paul. The book of Hebrews was written to correct those who were going back to the Jewish Temple to worship to lighten the persecution. They were instructed to get back in Church (Heb. 10:25) and cease to offer the offerings of the temple (Hebrew chapter 10). There is no place to compromise.

We are stigmatized by the cross and there should be no reluctance to suffer reproach. Steadfastness for the faith is the rule. Paul says in 1 Cor. 16:13, “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” The words “stand fast” means to be set in concrete, unmovable and vocal about our faith (beliefs). Paul is not talking about our private interpretations. He is talking about what the Bible teaches. There are things “most surely believed among us” (Luke 1:1). These are things for which we must contend (Jude 1:3).

Is it right to hate the false teacher? I want you to carefully read the following verse then pick up your Bible and read the reference for yourself: Psalm 139:21-22 says, “Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.” If there is an enemy of God in this world, it is the false teacher. And they all claim to love God. You tell them by their fruits not their false claims.

This has not been an easy meditation. It is easier to write on things that thrill the heart than to challenge people to accept the stigma and offense of the cross. Satan puts us all in situations where if you contend for what you believe you alienate yourself from friends. You don’t want to do that. Neither do I. I want to be a friend to people. Paul lost about all of his friends when he converted to Christianity. He had to start all over again in the “friend department.” We must make up our minds how serious our faith is. Is it serious enough to be willing to accept the stigma of the cross?

May we all be challenged by these truths. I mean no offense. I assume that every Christian accepts what the Bible says at face value. It is our only rule of faith and practice. We do need encouragement to stand in these last days.

God bless each of you.

In Christ

Bro. White