“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God… For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” [1 Corinthians 1:18, 21]
Never must, never can, the offence of the cross cease. The children of the bondwoman will always hate the doctrine of the cross. The pride of the human heart, the self-righteousness of corrupt, unhumbled nature, will always revolt at it. And, while the thing itself is the wisdom of GOD, the wonder of angels, and the everlasting joy of the redeemed, both in heaven and earth; to them that perish it appears foolishness, and they perish in their foolishness, And to all such, the word of GOD speaks: Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish! for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you! Acts 13:41. Reader! what a distinguishing mercy it is to be made wise unto salvation, through the faith which is in CHRIST JESUS? And we may see, and indeed we do see every day, under every ordinance where CHRIST is faithfully and fully preached, in the glories of his Person, and the compleatness of his finished salvation, as the whole of JEHOVAH’S purpose of grace, for the recovery of his Church and people, and where those who have been taught to feel and know the plague of their own heart; CHRIST becomes the all in all, and their whole souls are melted into holy joy, adoration, love, and praise; we behold no less, the wise in their own eyes, and the prudent in their own conceit, turning with the most bitter looks of hatred against the doctrine of the cross, and rejecting the counsel of GOD against their own souls. CHRIST becomes a stumbling block and a rock of offence, as much now, as to the Jews of old. So the LORD declared by his servants the Prophets it should be; and the LORD be praised, that he hath not left himself without witness: Isaiah 29:14 and Isaiah 33:18. Precious JESUS, I would say, how sweet thy words to my soul, Blessed is he whomsoever shall not be offended in me! Matthew 11:6.
