The Offense of the Gospel

Psalms 119:165

Let me just go ahead and say right from the beginning that the Gospel is an offense. There have been and will be many

people who are offended by the Gospel. The reason why is that “Men love darkness rather than light.” In other words some people love their sins and will not turn from it.

The Gospel has a standard of morality that is contrary to the standards of the world. And when the Gospel is proclaimed many become offended by it because they just simply don’t want to turn from their sins. So they try to water it down, silence it, or intimidate those who embrace it and are not offended by it.

There are standards that are Biblical in the proportion and then there are certain convictions that some hold to that are personal and we must understand this. The Holy Spirit guides our conscience on Biblical mandates and also personal things that may not necessarily be expected of others depending upon the temperance of each individual. This we have to respect and make sure that we are not and do not offended a person on that basis.

But when it comes to being loyal to God, honoring Him, the pure worship of Him, respect for parents, marriage, respect for life, honesty, and contentment with what we have, these things are Biblical in their proportions and are in no way to be compromised. To hold the conviction that marriage is between a man and a woman, that God made male and female, that life is sacred and abortion is murder, that a person’s property is sacred and to covet any of that property is wrong, may be offensive in our day and considered politically incorrect. People who uphold these immoral values do not love the law of God and are greatly offended by it.

”But great peace have they who love thy law, nothing shall offend them.” There are many things that have convicted me and still does convict me today when it comes to the Bible. But I have also come to love it more and more because the more I love it, the more peace I have and the more convicted I become about its truths. And if I have these convictions, then the more certain I am of the hope of the return of Jesus, the resurrection, and everlasting life.

I close with this scripture from the Psalms. “I have seen an end of all perfection: But thy commandment is exceeding broad. Psalm‬ ‭119:96‬ What the Psalmist is saying here is that there there is perfect freedom and no limits to when we live our lives according to God’s standard. The world says that God’s law limits or holds back a person from being free. Through Jesus‘ death on the cross and our taking up our cross to follow Him, it is then that we have life and life more abundantly because “He that the son sets free is free indeed.” John 8:36 Let us strive to do as Jesus told His disciples ”If you continue in my word, then you are my disciples indeed and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31,32

Pastor Robby