The Gospel is Offensive

What is offensive about the gospel?  The Apostle Paul states in Romans 9:33, quoting Isaiah 28:16, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”  The fact of the matter is that Jesus is a stumbling block to many; He is the rock of offense.

I have observed that we are in danger in our day of political correctness to take the offense out of the gospel.  We want to make the gospel a safe, pleasant message that would offend no one.  “If you are unhappy in life, try Jesus.  He will make you happy.  It is what my professor of pastoral counseling called the “happy Jesus view.”  You don’t have to worry about your sin – no repentance required.  Just believe and live as you’ve always lived!”  My friends, that is not the gospel.  Augustine pointed out, “If you believe what you like in the gospel and reject what you don’t like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.”

The gospel confronts every sinner with his/her sin.  It confronts the religious sinner with her pride.  It confronts the immoral sinner with his immorality.  It confronts the greedy sinner with his love of money.  It convicts every sinner of his/her guilt before the holy God.  And, it offers to every sinner the free grace of God, who sacrificed His own Son as the righteous substitute for sinners.  It shows that no sinner can save himself, but that God will save everyone who trusts in Jesus Christ alone.

If we are saved, it is because God chose to save us, and all the glory goes to Him.  If we are lost, it is because of our stubborn pride and disobedience.  That message is offensive because it confronts human pride and glorifies God alone.  And, that is the only message that we are to proclaim. 

Sunday Worship

• May 17th (Tuesday afternoon) Comfort Care will need to move all of the furniture and prep the walls for painting (patch holes, etc). They are still working out details as to where the furniture is going (maybe just to the garage). They are NOT moving the exam table, so there shouldn’t be anything too heavy.

• May 18 and May 19 (Wednesday & Thursday) Comfort Care will need folks to paint the majority of their first floor clinic in Staunton. There are 4 rooms and an entryway. They can’t have too many painters or they’ll be in each other’s way but, yet, they need to get the job done.