Hatred for the Cross, literally, Christians today are too often  being murdered by Muslims provoked at the sight of the cross as the Christian cross is the quintessential symbol of Christianity but it is a lot more than that. Judaism  and Islam’s age-old hatred for the Christian cross and what it represents leads them all to Hell.

.

“But we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:23, 24).The cross offends because sinners do not deserve, cannot earn, and cannot buy salvation.

.

“Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.” [Galatians 5:11]

.

Judges 21:25, “In those days there was no king in Israel:  every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”

.

Matthew 16:21. From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.  22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” 23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

.

The man who is relying on his own strength for salvation, does not like the doctrine of the cross. If anyone preaches a gospel which tells the sinner that he has power to save himself; if he preaches a gospel which says that Christ died to put all men in a “savable” condition, that they only have to exercise the power they have, and they will be able to deliver themselves; if a man preaches something which exalts the skill and strength of the creature, he will never, never offend his unregenerate listeners. But if he starts to cast the sinner down in the dust, and to teach what Christ himself taught, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him;” and that, in the Scriptures, all men are declared to be “dead in transgressions and sins;” then the proud sinner will turn away/ Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin (Hebrews 9:12, 22-24; Revelation 7:14).;

.

No sin is more offensive to God than the sin of pride. … The world system operates on the basis of pride for all that is in the world is lust and pride (1 John 2:16).     Repeatedly, the scripture warns of pride precipitating a fall. “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov. 16:18). “The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted” (Isa. 2:11). Uzziah was greatly blessed and marvelously helped, “till he was strong. But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction” (2 Chron. 26:15-16). He transgressed by entering the temple to offer incense on the altar. When confronted by the priests, Uzziah became furious. While he was holding the censer in his hand God smote him and leprosy rose up in his forehead. He lost the throne and was a leper the rest of his life.    God not only dwells in the high and holy place. He also dwells with him “that is of a contrite and humble spirit” (Isa. 57:15). The man who sits nearest the dust sits nearest heaven. It is the valley of humiliation that leads to the mount of transfiguration. He that is low need fear no fall.

.

Galatians 5:2. 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.

.

Galatians 6:12. Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.

.

Galatians 6:15. For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

.

The great apostle Paul said, “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Galatians 6:14a; KJV; ).

.

Romans 9:33, “As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”

.

“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.  For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.” -Matthew 10:34,35

.

Jesus sternly told His disciples that He would bring offense (Matthew 16:16–23; 26:31–35; Mark 8:27–33). Christ even used a Greek word that means “scandalized,”  saying that His followers would be offended in Him (Mark 14:27–31; John 6:60, 61).  The Greek word for “scandalized,” skandalizo, means “to fall away.”

.

We will not understand the salvation that Jesus brought until we understand the cross. At the cross God said that the only way to defeat sin is through the righteous judgment of sin. If the cross does not matter, then nothing matters!

In Zechariah 12:10, the prophet Zechariah wrote, So that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him, like the bitter weeping over a first-born. ‘

.

‘Except you lose your life, you cannot gain your life’ (Matthew 16:25). The only way to save your life is through losing your pride and life. The only way to become a new creature is to be crucified with Christ.

.

The Old Rugged Cross

1. On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
   The emblem of suff’ring and shame;
   And I love that old cross where the Dearest and Best
   For a world of lost sinners was slain.
   • Refrain:
     So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
     Till my trophies at last I lay down;
     I will cling to the old rugged cross,
     And exchange it someday for a crown.
2. Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
   Has a wondrous attraction for me;
   For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
   To bear it to dark Calvary.
3. In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
   A wondrous beauty I see,
   For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
   To pardon and sanctify me.
4. To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
   Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
   Then He’ll call me someday to my home far away,
   Where His glory forever I’ll share..

.

Related Texts

• Alas, and Did My Savior Bleed
• Beneath the Cross of Jesus
• Blessed Redeemer
• There Is a Fountain
• Near the Cross

.