First Corinthians 1:18-23

The Offense of the Cross

w I begin today a series of sermons on the Cross of Christ, which will hopefully, draw each of us closer to Him.

w I am convinced by scripture that understanding the significance of the cross is essential in truly understanding our salvation and even understanding life as God intends it.

The Cross is Grisly and Offensive

w NY Times: Gibson insisted on "rubbing our faces in the grisly reality of Jesus' death."

w Gibson "relentlessly focused on the savagery of Jesus' final hours"

THE OFFENSE

w 1^st Corinthians 1:23 “We preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.”

THE OFFENSE

w Galatians 5:11 “Now brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.”

THE OFFENSE

w Galatians 6:12 “Those who want to make a good showing in the flesh are the ones who would compel you to be circumcised—but only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ”

The Cross Rejects Us At Our Best

w Galatians 6:14 “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ...”

The Cross Reasons That We Are Vile & Helpless Sinners

w Colossians 1:19-22 “For God was… making peace through the blood of His cross… And you were once alienated and hostile in mind because of your evil actions. But now He has reconciled you by His physical body through His death…”

w Colossians 1:19-22 “For God was…making peace through His blood shed on the cross…once you were alienated and enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. Now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through His death…”

The Cross Requires That We Come to God On His Terms

w 1^ST Corinthians 1:21 “For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.”

Not the labors of my hands

Can fulfill Thy law's demands;

Could my zeal no respite know,

Could my tears for ever flow,

All for sin could not atone:

Thou must save, and Thou alone.

The Offense of the Cross

JESUS DIED FOR YOUR SINS

w Will you be offended or will you be cut to the heart by your sin?

w Will you be offended or will you glory in the wisdom and love of God?

w Will you identify with His death on that cross and His triumphant resurrection?

Acts 2:37, 38 - “When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other Apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” (38) Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 6:3, 4 – “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? (4) We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that , just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”