6/3/19 

Galatians 5:11

¹¹ But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed.

There are a number of explanations of what the offense of the cross is.  I have, for a great number of years, been convinced that it is the absolute singularity of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, John 14:6, Acts 4:12, and other such plain testimonies.

Gospel believers do not doubt the singularity of the way of salvation.  But they do not understand what offense this has always been.

All the heresies, cults, different and pseudo-religions cry mightily and make a great issue of anyone who publicly proclaims salvation in Jesus alone.  We are allowed to say “Justification by faith in Christ”.  We can say Christianity is by faith in Christ. But Christianity as one among many is never to be understood as unique.  A claim to God’s favor may be ever so accurate as long as it claims no uniqueness.  It must never claim to be exclusive.  

And this is exactly Paul’s point.  “If I allow circumcision to be included in this salvation I preach, I will not be persecuted.  But if I do that, the offense of the cross is ceased.  The blood-bought unique deliverance of the Lamb of God is wasted.” 

”May it never be!”