The christian life is not lived from one spiritual retreat to another. It is lived on the battlefield of this world, engaged in conflict over the truth. Scripture very clearly says that all who follow Christ will walk in a path of certain trouble, affliction and sorrow. See John 16:33; 2 Timothy 3:12; Acts 14:22. There are none who are honored by God who are not reviled and hated by the world, Matthew 5:10-12.

What is it about the Gospel of Christ that is such an offense? Lost, self-righteous men and women want nothing of the message of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Here are 5 reasons why the Gospel is an offense to such.

The Gospel offends man's pride, because it declares him to be totally depraved and utterly unable to know God through fleshly wisdom (I Corinthians 2:14). This includes all things spiritual!

The Gospel offends man's sense of supremacy and self-determination, because it declares a God who is universally sovereign in all things, particularly in saving whom He will. (Romans 9:15-18).

The Gospel offends man's sense of justice, because it declares salvation to be through the particular death by substitution of the Lord Jesus Christ alone, (Romans 3:24-26). He actually redeemed by His blood everyone for whom He died.

The Gospel offends man's sense of his own self-righteousness, because it declares his works of righteousness to be nothing but dung and filthy rags, Philipplans 3:8; Isaiah 64:6.

The Gospel offends man's sense of reward, because it makes salvation to be entirely the work of God's sovereign grace, Titus 3:5,6.