The Offense of the Cross
By Bruce Atkinson
Special to Virtueonline
www.virtueonline.org
March 5, 2014
As we work our way toward Good Friday, it is important that we remind ourselves of why this particular Friday is so good and why so many other people see it otherwise. Unbelievers are always repulsed by the "offense” of the cross. The manner of Jesus’ death and even the requirement of it by God for our salvation is regarded by unbelievers as a scandal. Atonement makes no sense to them. But Paul, the Apostle to the gentiles, was very clear that he did not want this scandalous offence removed from its position as the centerpiece of the gospel message. The theological of the cross is crucial.
In the circumstances of Paul’s church planting, the Judaizers were still insisting that even gentiles should follow all the Jewish laws and be circumcised as Jews in order to become Christians. They were leaving behind the essential gospel truth that it is faith in Christ and His work on the cross that saves people, not obedience to all the rules (which in fact is patently impossible).
Read the full story at www.VirtueOnline.org
By Bruce Atkinson
Special to Virtueonline
www.virtueonline.org
March 5, 2014
As we work our way toward Good Friday, it is important that we remind ourselves of why this particular Friday is so good and why so many other people see it otherwise. Unbelievers are always repulsed by the "offense” of the cross. The manner of Jesus’ death and even the requirement of it by God for our salvation is regarded by unbelievers as a scandal. Atonement makes no sense to them. But Paul, the Apostle to the gentiles, was very clear that he did not want this scandalous offence removed from its position as the centerpiece of the gospel message. The theological of the cross is crucial.In the circumstances of Paul’s church planting, the Judaizers were still insisting that even gentiles should follow all the Jewish laws and be circumcised as Jews in order to become Christians. They were leaving behind the essential gospel truth that it is faith in Christ and His work on the cross that saves people, not obedience to all the rules (which in fact is patently impossible).
Read the full story at www.VirtueOnline.org
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