In these modern times, offenses come easily for many.  It seems all of society is offended by something.

The New Oxford American Dictionary defines offense this way: annoyance or resentment brought about by a perceived insult to or disregard for oneself or one's standards or principles.

Sadly, being offended seems to be in vogue in the culture at large.  It has even become popular for some in the church.

Interestingly, the Apostle Paul expected his preaching to be offensive in his day.  There was something about the gospel he declared that was offensive to some.  It was a key point that caused such offense. Paul speaks of it as something to be proud of.

Galatians 5:11 And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased.

Hmmm, the offense of the cross.  Why should the cross offend anyone?  Many have proposed that it has to do with the cross being an instrument of death.  But Paul’s thinking isn’t in line with that being the cause.

Here, Paul is speaking of the cross when it is presented as the means of Christ’s finished work.

To better understand this, we need to put this verse in its context.

Galatians 5:7 You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.

Some men had come to Galatia and began teaching that in order for justification to really work, the believers had to be circumcised.  In other words, they must embrace what it means to be Jewish.  To be circumcised was to accept the Jewish ways, which involved coming under the Law of Moses.  Basically, they were being told that what Jesus did at the cross was just a jump start to being justified, that it was really just a means to get them in the door to the rest of what is required for real righteousness.  How can we know this for certain was the issue?

Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. 2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. 4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

The offense of the cross is not about our call to take up our cross and follow Jesus.  It is the scandalous truth of what was accomplished by Jesus upon His cross that is offensive to so many. To fall from grace, one must become offended at the cross of Christ by being deceived into thinking it was not enough and into thinking that the law must now be applied accompanied with one’s own best self-effort in keeping it.

By preaching, Christ did the work of making righteousness and justification our reality at the cross, and it was enough.  Paul suffered persecution.  That kind of preaching was an offense to many in his day and still is in our day when we truly get it right and preach it right.