Revcort's Ramblings

Scripture Focus

“But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!” – Galatians 5:11–12 (ESV)

Devotional Thought

Paul’s words here are sharp, but they expose a deep spiritual reality: the Gospel is offensive. Why? Because it tells the truth about us. It tells us that we are not good people who simply need a little polishing up. We are not righteous souls who can earn God’s favor with rituals, rules, or moral effort. Instead, the cross declares that we are desperate sinners—already condemned apart from Christ—and that nothing we do can save us.

Humans naturally resist this message. World religions and philosophies often thrive because they let people keep control. They give lists of what you must do to be saved, turning salvation into a matter of personal performance. That appeals to our pride—we want to feel like we earned it. But Christianity stands apart because it proclaims not what we do, but what Christ has done. At the cross, Jesus bore our sin and gave us His righteousness. Grace strips us of boasting, leaving us to say, “All glory to God for His mercy and grace.”

The great danger here comes when we try to remove the offense of the cross in the name of not upsetting human sensibilities. The ultimate effect of removing the offense is to rob the messags of the cross, the Gospel, of its power to change lives. That power is found in leaving humanity in desperate need of God’s intervention and running to the cross, without which we have no hope. The “offense of the cross” is that it humbles us completely. It tells us we cannot save ourselves, no matter how hard we try. Yet the beauty is this: when we stop striving for control and rest in Christ’s finished work, we find the freedom, joy, and assurance that no religious checklist can give.

Reflection Questions

1. Why do you think people often prefer rules or religion to grace?

2. Are there ways you find yourself still trying to “earn” God’s favor rather than resting in Christ’s finished work?

3. How can you gently but boldly share the offense—and the hope—of the cross with others?

Closing Prayer

Father, thank You that salvation is not something I must earn, but a gift of grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Forgive me for the times I cling to my own efforts and pride. Help me to rest in Your finished work and to proclaim the cross clearly, even when it offends. May all glory go to You for Your mercy and grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.