Galatians 5:7-12 The offence of the cross is that which anchors our soul amidst storms and temptations.
Galatians 5:7-12 The offence of the cross is that which anchors our soul amidst storms and temptations
7 You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. 10 I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view; but the one who is disturbing you will bear his judgment, whoever he is. 11 But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished. 12 I wish that those who are troubling you would even mutilate themselves.
Background
The Judaizers attempted to hinder the Galatians’ journey on the path of the cross. However, Paul was confident that the Galatians would make the appropriate response towards the Judaizers’ proposition. Paul was persecuted primarily because of the offence that comes from the cross. What is seen as offensive by the people of the world is perceived as glorious by the inhabitants in heaven. Indeed, the cross is loved on one side and loathed on the other. Today’s devotion teaches us: The cross, offensive as it is, is that which anchors our soul in the midst of storms and temptations.
Observation
You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you.
Paul saw the Galatians running well towards the goal of righteousness in Christ. But they were hindered from continuing on the path of truth. For the Judaizers had cut in on them intending to deprive them of the prize of righteousness. Apparently, the Galatians were presented an enticing proposal that was based on human persuasion rather than the wisdom and power of God. Indeed, the Judaizers’ proposition have nothing to do with God’s will and purpose.
A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.
Here, “a little leaven” has to do with the false teaching that was perverting the Galatians. Jesus has used leaven figuratively as a negative influence, that insidiously penetrates and corrupts the minds of people (see Mark 8:15). Paul warned the Galatians not to under estimated the destruction that the Judaizers’ leaven might bring to them. Hebrews 12:15-17 portrays false teaching as a root of bitterness that springs up cutting off God’s grace and causing many to lose their salvation.
I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view; but the one who is disturbing you will bear his judgment, whoever he is.
Paul abruptly turned to express confidence regarding the Galatians… that even in their vacillation and waverings they would remain steadfast in the true gospel. The basis of Paul’s confidence may rest in the manner he first laid the foundation of the gospel and their genuine response to it (they were running well…) Indeed, Paul has founded the Galatian church on nothing less than the full counsel of the gospel. The cross, offensive as it is, has since become for the Galatians the anchor of salvation.
But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished.
Paul spoke about the cross as being a stumbling block. A stumbling block (skandalon in original Greek) means the following:
- A trap or snare for catching something.
- A circumstance that leads one to act contrary to the proper course of action or set of beliefs.
- That which causes offence or revulsion resulting in opposition.
The cross has become a stumbling block to the Judaizers in a sense, they cannot get pass it in their pursuit of righteousness. It causes them to turn away from the truth because the very sight of the cross to them is loathsome and offensive. For the cross has become a perpetual sign that goes against everything that the world stands for. Indeed, people love the world and loathe the cross.
If Paul should stop preaching about the cross and its offence, he would have avoided persecution. But the church would not have survived the onslaught of false teachings. The values of God’s kingdom and the world are diametrically opposed. What is seen as offensive by the people of the world is perceived as glorious by the inhabitants in heaven. Indeed, the cross is loved on one side and loathed on the other.
Truth
Why is the cross offensive?
The cross comes across as offensive because …
It brands all men as sinners needing repentance. And Jesus responded to the Pharisees and the scribes who accused Him of eating with sinners by saying, “It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:31). Because the Pharisees and scribes thought of themselves as righteous, who needed no repentance, Jesus sarcastically rejected them as hypocrites… as the “righteous” who needs no repentance.
It demands of us to use all our possessions to serve the needy. Jesus gave the conditions of becoming His disciples, “So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.” (Luke 14:33).
It demands of us to adopt the vision of the kingdom. Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:24-25). The cross represents God’s call to establish His kingdom on earth. All who come to the cross must give up their own dreams and aspirations in exchange for the dreams of God.
It demands of us to go beyond our comfort zone to serve Him. And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Luke 9:58).
It demands of us to give God the highest place in our lives. Jesus said “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.” (Luke 14:26).
It demands of us to change, to put to death our old selves. Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.” (John 12:24-25).
Why is it important for people to embrace the offence of the cross in order to be saved?
Isn’t it sufficient to believe in the cleansing power of the cross? Didn’t Hebrews 10:4 says, “For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.”? Yes, we are perfected by the cross in order that we may carry the cross as Christ did. Indeed, the cross has opened a way for the Spirit to put the virtues of Christ within us and to cleanse us of our sinful nature (see Hebrews 10:16-17). Although Jesus died for all of humanity, only those who actually work out their faith by embracing the cross and its values are considered as righteous. When Jesus comes as Judge on the last day, He will judge men’s hearts by their works. In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus was recorded as gathering humanity before Him while separating them into two groups: the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. By their works, He separated them, not by their knowledge, heritage or religious affiliation.
Is the church today embracing the offence of the cross?
The church today is likened to the Judaizers in Paul’s days. Although they preached Christ as the Saviour, they did not see themselves as sinners who needed repentance. They put on an appearance of righteousness by way of circumcision and observance of Jewish rituals. Similarly, the church today preaches the forgiveness of the cross, but not the vision and the values that the cross stands for. Believers are taught faith as simply being assured of the power of the cross to forgive sins. Such come away being assured of salvation but without the conviction to carry the cross as Jesus did. Like the Judaizers, they put on an appearance of righteousness by way of baptism, holy communion and other religious rituals. The church, in wanting to increase their membership has replaced the offence of the cross with a message of blessing and salvation.
That said, the way of the cross albeit offensive is paved with abundance and breakthroughs. And those who find it will have the honour of walking on the path that Jesus walked… a path of eternal significance and glory. The psalmist says concerning the one who fears God, who embraces the vision and values of the cross,
Praise the Lord!
How joyful are those who fear the Lord
and delight in obeying his commands.
2 Their children will be successful everywhere;
an entire generation of godly people will be blessed.
3 They themselves will be wealthy,
and their good deeds will last forever.
4 Light shines in the darkness for the godly.
They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.
5 Good comes to those who lend money generously and conduct their business fairly.
6 Such people will not be overcome by evil.
Those who are righteous will be long remembered.
7 They do not fear bad news;
they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.
8 They are confident and fearless
and can face their foes triumphantly.
9 They share freely and give generously to those in need.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.
They will have influence and honor. Psalm 112:1-9
The offence of the cross is that which anchors our soul amidst storms and temptations.
The offence of the cross was preached to the Galatian church at its conception. Because the Galatians came to God being fully aware of the offence of the cross, Paul is confident that they will respond appropriately to the Judaizers’ propositions. If Paul had neglected the offence of the cross in his initial teachings, he would have little reason to be optimistic.
Indeed, the churches who exchange the offence of the cross for a message of blessing and salvation will see casualties when the storms of life and false teachings strike. Many well intentioned ministers, who in wanting to secure a favourable response from the hearers, offered them a “progressive” gospel where the cross is merely a means through which salvation is gleaned… Jesus suffered and died so that believers can live to fulfil their dreams and desires. Subsequently, the new converts will come to realise that they have been sold a phoney gospel. And many of them will leave devastated and disillusioned with God. But their absence will not be felt as many more like them will come in through the revolving door to take their place. The cross, offensive as it is, is that which anchors our soul in the midst of storms and temptations.
Application
To carry the cross of Christ, we need to do the following daily:
- To be aware of our shortcomings and repent.
- To actively look out for those who are needy and help them.
- To know our calling and to be faithful towards fulfilling it.
- To leave our comfort zone in service to others.
- To obey God rather than men.
- To die a little more to our former selves.
Dear Lord, I thank you for the opportunity to carry the cross as Jesus did. Give me the grace to leave my comfort zone and to die a little more to my former self. Use me to alleviate poverty and to bring comfort to the sorrowful. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.