Boldly Declaring an Offensive Gospel

We live in a time that has witnessed subtle yet fundamental changes to the gospel. The contemporary church has altered the gospel to make it less offensive and supposedly more attractive to the lost. But if the gospel is altered it is stripped of its power to save. Our task today is not to make the message more palatable, but to boldly declare the gospel that we have been given. We can identify five aspects of the gospel message which are offensive to the lost world in which we live and work.

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1. The offense of the cross.  1 Corinthians 1:17-25

2. The offense of the resurrection.  Acts 17:16-18,  31-32

3. The offense of the conviction/guilt the gospel brings.   Acts 2:32-33, 36-37

4. The offense of the gospel's exclusiveness.  Acts 4:10-12

5. The offense of the gospel's requirement of repentance.  Acts 17:3;  Mark 1:15; Acts 26:20

What should we do?

1. Be faithful to declare the gospel which was delivered to us.  1 Timothy 1:11,  1 Corinthians 15:3

2. Commit yourself to no changes and no embellishments and no avoidance of the offensive parts of the gospel.  1 Corinthians 15:21;  2:4,5

3. Do not be ashamed of the gospel.  Romans 1:16

4. Determine to please only God, not man.  Galatians 1:7-10