The Ultimate Offence

This week, we have been focusing on offences towards God  and we have already discussed ten issues so far.

11. The cross is an offence to many

Galatians 5.11 Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.

Although, many christians use the symbol of cross as an ornament or a signage etc, the true meaning  is an offence to many. For many, the cross is foolishness.

1 Corinthians 1.18 says “For 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.”

But we must know that the divine exchange of man’s curses and God’s blessings happened on the Cross.

Paul says in Galatians 6.14, “ May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

It is in the cross that we receive healing, deliverance, prosperity etc. But people cannot accept the fact that what happened 2000 years ago is still applicable today.

12. For some people baptism is an offence
They are willing to accept Jesus, come to the church etc but baptism offends them.
 
Luke 7.29,30 “All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John. 30 But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)”

As in the times of John the Baptist and Jesus, even now people are offended when asked to baptise. They say it is meaningless to immerse in water in the name of the Father, son and the Holy Spirit. Satan tries to create havoc to prevent people from obeying what God has commanded us. It is misunderstood as a tool to convert people from their religion. If Jesus being God could humble Himself and be baptised by John the Baptist, are we greater than HIm?

Pharisees were offended but people who truly repented validated it by taking baptism. Child baptism is scripturally not correct as Jesus Himself took baptism at the age of thirty.

13. The greatest offence in the world is Jesus

Isaiah 28.16 “Therefore the Lord God says this, “Listen carefully, I am laying in Zion a Stone, a tested Stone, A precious Cornerstone for the [secure] foundation, firmly placed. He who believes [who trusts in, relies on, and adheres to that Stone] will not be disturbed or give way [in sudden panic].”

Jesus is the tested stone here

1 Peter 2.4 As you come to him, the living Stone —rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For in Scripture it says:
“See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” 7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” 8 and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.”

Jesus, the cornerstone sent by the Father became a stone that causes those who cannot believe in Him to stumble.In John 14.6, Jesus Himself said “6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” But people have distorted this message.

1 Peter 2.9 They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Living Godly Lives in a Pagan Society
11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Those who believe in Jesus are saved while those who are offended stumble and fall.

Recovery from feeling offended by God

1. God is always right : God is always good and His plans are good.
2. Every single thing that comes from God is intended for a long term benefit:  People get offended when they don’t get immediate answers to their prayers but His plans are eternal and only He has a big picture. 1 Corinthians 15.34 “Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God —I say this to your shame.”. The reason people are offended with God is because they don’t know Him.

So what do we do?

1. Trust God  even when we don’t understand everything
2. Get along with God
3. Pray, study the Word of God and get clarification.
4. Obey; turn to the right degree of God’s instruction.

The result is :

1. A great peace from God. When we are reconciled to God, we receive peace 
2. Strength which is always followed by a next level of blessing and ministry 
3. Failure in taking these steps will make you end up in serious sin and disasters that follow.