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Are you offended by the gospel? We live in a time where much of the church is historically and biblically illiterate. Because of this we can expect to repeat some of the same mistakes made throughout history. It has been said, those who do not study history are doomed to repeat its mistakes. When it comes to Christianity, most believers, including pastors do not know Christian history. The old saying error that crawls in one generation walks in the next is an accurate description of what we see thriving today. All of this softening took years in the making and is now mature. We are reaping the bad fruit. In America we don’t seem to care anymore about what someone does, because of freedom of choice. This same attitude seems to have crept into the Church. Instead of slipping on our knees we have just slipped, onto another part of our anatomy. You can say many of us are sleeping – and it is high time for us to wake up, and stand up. ‘for what has been prophesied is coming upon us.’ We live in a multi religious culture where tolerance of nearly everything is a way of life. Many are taught in our schools there are no absolutes, there is no one who is right because they disagree on what truth is. This is applied to both religion and lifestyle. A poll taken says that 67% of Americans believe there is no such thing as absolute truth. If one were to choose which religious system they would join, truth would not be part of the criteria in their choosing. They would choose what appeals to them, what they think would work for their individual needs (pragmatism). Unfortunately. what works is no test for truth. The fact is, this is what the false teachers have taught to the church to practice; is relativism. Our society has had a radical shift from what was clearly understood as absolute standards to now inventing one’s own. Different religions may work for different people temporarily but giving people personal choice on what they think is right or wrong (is there wrong anymore) does not solve the issues of life, death. It is ONLY by knowing God, the one who holds the keys to life and death. Today, an allowance of any choice is acceptable, no matter how depraved it can be. We are to help those who are in need, which is in abundance in our day. This allowance to do whatever one wants is not helping anyone. It is not love nor does it involve truth to help people by accepting their wrong choices and have them continue in what can hurt them, love is to try and prevent them from harm. Today too many are focusing on social improvements in the church. Instead, we should be focusing outward reaching the lost. But this cannot be accomplished unless we focus inward and bring people to maturity in Christ. How can we witness with conviction to someone when we not sure what we believe on Jesus? We must first know what we believe to convey it to others, understanding the basic teachings of Christianity is crucial. The call for unity for unity sake is not the answer either, people are perishing and if we have to wait until we agree on everything, it’s going to be longer than you or I will live. But we should not drop our differences just so we can agree on the surface. If one does not agree with the Spiritual fundamentals, the core teachings of the Bible, they are not part of the Church no matter what they insist. And we should not join in unity with them. A true spiritual unity cannot be manufactured no matter how hard we try. Unity at the expense of truth is not unity, it is a facade. Without the crucifixion (the cross of Christ) the Church becomes just another cult or religion with teachings about a man named Jesus. The new age movement does this. 1 Cor. 1:18 “the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” Paul said he and the apostles ‘ preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Cor. 1:23-25). The cross, the crucifixion, is the focus of the gospel and has everything to do with our justification and sanctification and future glorification. This is the hope, the only hope for mankind. General Booth of the Salvation Army had said, "The chief danger of the 20th century will be religion without the Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God, Heaven without Hell". This time has come, and we see it everywhere. Gal 5: “And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased." and this is where he illustrates the critical issue. IT WAS THE CRUCIFICTION! Not the law. The word "offence" is "scandalon," meaning "a stumbling block". What the apostles found in their day is still true today: THE CROSS OFFENDS MEN WHEREVER IT IS PREACHED AS GOD'S ONLY SAVING MEANS FOR SINFUL, DEPRAVED SOULS. In our presentation of the Gospel the Cross of Jesus who is God come in the flesh must never be viewed as anything other than central to it. If he is not presented as the creator, then who incarnated to die for our sins? Scripture says only God is the savior. If you deny that God became man and died for our sins you cannot be saved. It is as essential as the sacrifice. Because It is who was sacrificed that makes this an eternal transaction. Cross of Jesus spares no one who relinquishes themselves in surrender. You are alive going to it - and dead when taken down! The Cross represents sacrifice and commitment, holiness and separation, selflessness and humility -it is death to self. And that’s OFFENSIVE TO ALL! Why do all the religions reject and even hate the gospel; which is Christ being crucified? Because it nullifies their own works to be accepted by God, it offends our pride. It points out that we are sinful, not good and cannot do a thing to have Gods acceptance by our own works. The Bible states It is the " preaching of the cross" that contains "the power of God" (1 Cor. 1:18). You can't speak of Christ and salvation to the unsaved without his crucifixion. And you can’t speak of him being put to death for our sins without the resurrection. The whole gospel must be understood and accepted for it to result in salvation. 1 Cor. 2:1-2 The power of God is found in the place where Christ gave his life for our sins. Of all the world’s philosophies and religions, Only Biblical Christianity has this solution, that by the savior’s death we are given life. This is because of the one who died, who did not stay dead but was raised back to life and is alive forevermore. Modern day Christianity is certainly missing these elements and they need to brought back in, if we want to give the message of salvation, to have people rescued from their sins. The churches vitality and health depend on our living by and for the gospel. |
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