September 22^nd 2024

10:00 am -------------------------------------The Old Paths & the Good Way – Jeremiah 6:16

Is Our Message Offensive?

PAUL called his message "the offense of the cross" (Galatians 5:11). Again and again he warned that the true gospel of God's grace and glory would meet with great opposition from the religious world and the natural world. "The preaching of the cross is foolishness" (1 Corinthians 1:18). "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God" (1 Corinthians 2:14). Our Lord said, "Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you" (1 John 3:13). He also said, "They shall put you out of the synagogues (organized religion): yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service" (John 16:2). If what we preach is NOT offensive to the religionist and to the worldling, then it is NOT THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. I repeat, it is not the gospel!

1. GOD'S ABSOLUTE SOVEREIGNTY in creation, providence and redemption offends man's claim to free will! “We will not have this

man to REIGN over us" (Luke 19:14).

2. The preaching of TOTAL DEPRAVITY AND INABILITY offends man's dignity and claim to personal righteousness. "We be not born

of fornication," that is, "We be not (they say) born in sin." "We may not be perfect, but we are not totally corrupt in God's sight."

3. The gospel of Christ comes by REVELATION, and this offends man's natural wisdom. The college professor knows as much about the

mysteries of grace as the farmhand, which is nothing apart from the Spirit of God.

4. EFFECTUAL REDEMPTION through the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, our Substitute and Sin-offering, offends man's

pride. Men would have God do all that He wants to do and all that He can do, but there must be a work left for the sinner to perform, that

we might share somewhat in the glory.

5. THE LORDSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST offends man's desire for recognition here and hereafter. "They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory" (Mark 10:37). "Let us have a system of rewards to distinguish us in some way from the beggar." We have established our social levels here and choose to continue them in heaven. -- Henry Mahan

“Giving No Offence in Anything” – 2 Corinthians 6:3 (Philippians 1:10)

As we grow older in the faith, we should grow wiser. We need to be ‘wise as serpents, harmless as doves’; wise as to what to say, how to act, how to ‘walk in wisdom toward them that are without.’ Unlike the serpent, Satan, we need to know how to influence others for their good, not their destruction. Like our Lord, we need to be ‘holy, harmless, separate from sinners’ . . . in the world but not of it, not consumed by nor concerned about it; friends of sinners yet different, peculiar, strangers in this world.

When I was young in the faith I ignorantly thought it didn’t matter what other people thought about me, especially self-righteous religious people. But I believe I have learned from scripture and experience that it matters a great deal how others perceive me . . . what the world (religious or irreligious) thinks of me. I profess to be a child of God, like the Jews of old. I am reminded from God’s word how often the Lord was angry with and rebuked the children of Israel for ‘profaning His Name’ . . . in the way they acted just like the world, with their sins of covetousness, idolatry and worldliness (Ezek.36, Psa.106). They appeared to be no different than the world and so the world mocked their profession, mocked their God. O let it not be so with us who profess the Name of the Lord our God, the Name of Christ. It does matter what others think. What I do and say, how I act, where I go, and who I go with, is a direct reflection upon my Lord and my God.

Paul wrote a whole chapter in Romans 14 about eating and drinking before others. He said, though there is ‘nothing unclean of itself’ he said it is evil if you offend anyone by doing so (Rom.14:14-21). We have liberty, but are to have it to ourselves and not flaunt it. This passage warns us to be particularly careful not to offend our believing brethren, but also not to offend anyone . . . our neighbors. “Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification (Rom.15:2). I am pastor of this church and you are members of it. In this small town everyone knows us. We preach and believe the Truth which is hated by most. People are looking for something in us to justify their hatred of the Truth; they are looking for ungodliness in us so they may reject the truth which is after godliness. The gospel of God’s grace teaches and causes His people to live soberly, righteously, and godly IN THIS PRESENT WORLD . . . a people whom Christ redeemed from all iniquity, and purified unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works (Titus 2:12-14);a people who once walked according to the course of this world (Eph.2:2). . . in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banqueting (partying), and abominable idolatries: wherein they (the world, former friends) think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot(ess) living (1 Pet.4:3-4). . . a people without offence till the day of Christ; being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God (Phil.1:10-11). This is what God’s grace and power does to His people and it glorifies God before the eyes of the world (Ezek.36:23).

We no longer live for ourselves but for our Lord (Rom.14:7-8). We are not our own, we are bought with a price; therefire glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s (1 Cor.6:20). We no longer live to please ourselves but to please our Lord and others (2 Tim2:4, 1 Cor.10:33). So, whatever we do, even eating and drinking (1 Cor.10:31), let it be for His glory, the furtherance of His Kingdom . . . that others might see our good works and glorify God (1 Peter 2:12). The Truth is offensive. Let it be the Truth, and only the Truth that offends them, and not our sinful selves.