Transcript: Understanding the Offense of the Cross: A Biblical Perspective

Music Music Once the Son of God, our Messiah, who is Jesus Christ, came into the world and began to set his kingdom up in the hearts of men and women, there a great cause of offense and stumbling occurred in the souls of many who should have received him. It was foretold of the Messiah that he would be a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense by the prophets in the Old Testament. And these people were the ones who had poured over the scriptures and knew in time this long-awaited prophecy was destined to happen. Read with me, please, in the book of Isaiah 8, verse 13. Isaiah 8, 13. The Lord of hosts regard him as holy and honor his holy name by regarding him as your only hope of safety. And let him be your fear and let him be your dread, lest you offend him by your fear of man and distrust for him. Verse 14. And he shall be a sanctuary, a sacred and indestructible asylum to those who reverently fear him and trust him. But he shall be a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many among them shall stumble thereupon, and they shall fall and be broken and be snared and taken. Bind up the testimony, seal the law and the teaching among my disciples. And in the New Testament, in the book of Romans 9.33, affirms what was written in the scriptures by the prophets as Apostle Paul declares as it is written, Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone that will make men stumble, a rock that will make them fall. But he who believes in him who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on him shall not be put to shame nor disappointed in his expectations. Well, Christ's very own people rejected him, and still they reject him today. They might profess the desire for their great deliverer, yet when he came into the world, they overlooked him and stumbled at his teachings, his death, and humiliation. Jesus came into the world in poverty in every way, so that we may become rich in him and inherit eternal life through his death, burial, and resurrection, which provides freedom for us by our repentance and the forgiveness of our sins. Jesus actually annulled the covenant of death and the agreement we had with Satan the devil when we accepted him as our Lord and Savior. In Isaiah 28, verse 16, Isaiah 28, 16, the word declares, therefore, thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am laying in Zion for a foundation, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone of sure foundation. He who believes, trusts in and relies on and adheres to that stone will not be ashamed or give away or hasten away in sudden panic. Verse 17 I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plummet and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies and waters will overwhelm the hiding place, the shelter. Verse 18 And your covenant with death shall be annulled and your agreement with Sheol, the place of the dead, shall not stand. When the overwhelming scourge passes through, then you will be trodden down by it. How unfortunate it is today that many reject Jesus' teaching which His heavenly Father had given Him to bring to the earth and declare to all that he was indeed God's answer and atonement for our sin and salvation. Salvation by the cross, by our crucified one, was and is still a stumbling block and offense to many. In the book of Matthew 11, I would like us to look at the account of where John the Baptist, who was in prison at the time, showed some kind of doubt and possible stumbling over Jesus' ministry. Jesus speaks the words to John's disciples saying in verse 6, Blessed is he who takes no offense at me and finds no fault for stumbling in or through me and is not hindered from seeing the truth. Look with me. Let's read this account in Matthew 11, verse 1. Starting in verse 1. When Jesus had finished his charge to his twelve disciples, he left there to teach and preach in their cities. Now when John in prison heard about the activities of Christ, he sent a message by his disciples. Verse 3 And he asked him, Are you the one who was to come? Or should we keep on expecting a different one? And Jesus replied to them, Go and report to John what you hear and see. The blind receive their sight in the lame walk. Lepers are cleansed by healing, and the deaf hear. And the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news. The gospel preached to them. Verse 6, and blessed is he who takes no offense at me, and finds no cause for stumbling in or through me, and is not hindered from seeing the truth. Hallelujah. Now verse 7, then as these men went on their way, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John. What did you go out in the wilderness, the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? What did you go out to see then? A man clothed in soft garments? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in the houses of kings. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, in the one out of the common, more eminent, more remarkable and superior, To a prophet. This is one of whom it was written. Behold I send my messenger ahead of you. Who shall make ready your way before you. Verse 11. Truly I tell you among those born of women. There has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist. Yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time. The kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault. and violent men seize it by force as a precious prize and a share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion. For all the prophets in the law prophesied up until John. Verse 14. And if you are willing to receive and accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come before the kingdom. He who has ears to hear, let him be listening and let him consider and perceive and comprehend by hearing verse 6 Jesus says blessed is he who takes no offense at me and finds no cause for stumbling in or through me and is not hindered from seeing the truth we could also say in paraphrasing this verse Jesus is saying happy is he or she who will not stumble or take offense at my truth. The Jews had a preconceived idea of their Messiah, and when the long-awaited Christ came to them, they rejected his humble appearance, his simple doctrine and message of truth, and therefore lost the benefit of salvation through him. The messianic kingly priest, according to their senses, did not represent their ideal of a wealthy ruler who would bring justice to the nations. Jesus said, And blessed is he who takes no offense at me and finds no cause for stumbling in or through me and is not hindered from seeing the truth. The king of the ages, the all ruler of the universe, and the ancient of days stood before them in simple robes, in humility, void of pride and pomp in this world. By means of his gracious words, he instructed and cautioned against all these, that is, pride and pomp and hypocrisy. And furthermore, Jesus declared, he who will not humble himself and become poor, become lowly, nameless, and of no account and vile in his own eyes cannot enter into the kingdom of God. It is the spiritually poor who enter into the kingdom of heaven. And the word poor is defined as meaning humble, void of pride. It means having meekness. Meekness is not weakness, dear ones. Meekness is having a lowliness of heart and the gentleness of our Christ. the humble and the meek ones of the Lord hear the word of God and trust in it and live it meekness is an attitude of humility towards God and gentleness towards men springing from a recognition that God is in control although weakness and meekness may look similar they are not the same weakness is due to negative circumstances such as lack of strength or lack of courage. But meekness is due to a person's conscious choice. It is strength and courage under control coupled with kindness. The scripture declares, In her shall the afflicted take refuge. In Christ's wisdom only is the place where the church of the living God will find her strength, her protection, her courage and direction. Now the words spoken by our beloved Jesus to John the Baptist's disciples in verse 6 of Matthew 11 again says, Blessed is he who takes no offense at me and finds no cause for stumbling in or through me and is not hindered from seeing the truth And these words were words of reassurance to the unique exceptional and matchless prophet John the Baptist who was at this time chained in a dark dungeon, probably with very little food or water. John, by sending his disciples to ask Jesus, saying, Are you the one who was to come, or should we keep on expecting a different one? This was showing that he was apparently having doubts about the one he had proclaimed as the Lamb of God in the Gospel of John 1.29. Look with me, please. John 1.29 The next day John saw Jesus coming to him and said, Look, there is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. This is he of whom I spoke. After me comes a man who has priority over me, who ranks above me, because he was before me and existed before I did. Verse 31, I did not know him and recognize him myself, but it is in order that he should be made manifest and be revealed to Israel, be brought out where we can see him, that I came baptizing in with water. John gave further evidence, saying, I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and it dwelt upon him never to depart. And I did not know him or recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize him with water said to me, Upon him whom you shall see the Spirit descend and remain, that one is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. Verse 34. And I have seen that happen. I actually did see it. And my testimony is this, that this is the Son of God. Again, the next day, John was standing with his two disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked along, and he said, Look, there is the Lamb of God. And the two disciples heard him say this, and they followed him. Jesus' kind and gracious response contained only encouragement for John, not a rebuke when he declared, Blessed is he who takes no offense at me and finds no cause for stumbling in or through me and is not hindered from seeing the truth. In fact, Jesus went on to praise John's ministry and validate it on the basis of the Old Testament prophecy. And we must remember also that John the Baptist was the last of the Old Testament prophets. In verse 7, after John's disciples left and were on their way back to take the message from Jesus to John, we see where Jesus is affirming John's ministry. In verse 7, Then Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John. What did you go out in the wilderness of the desert to see? A reed swaying by the wind? What did you go out to see? and a man clothed in soft garments. And behold, those who come wearing soft garments are in the houses of kings. And so we read this. Went out to see a prophet. And he says, yes, I tell you one out of the common, more eminent, more remarkable, and superior to a prophet, this is the one whom it was written. Behold, I send my messenger ahead of you to make ready your way before you. So we see that it was after Jesus commended and praised John Then he went on to reprove and scold the fickle crowd for their inconsistent and in the moment changeable remarks about John and himself. And we can see that in verse 16 when he says, But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like little children sitting in the marketplace who call to their playmates. we piped to you playing wedding and you did not dance and we wailed dirges playing funeral and you did not mourn and beat your breast and weep aloud verse 18 for John came neither eating nor drinking with others and they say he has a demon and the son of man came eating and drinking with others and they say behold a glutton and a wine drinker and a friend of tax collectors and especially wicked sinners yet wisdom is justified and vindicated by what she does, her deeds, and by her children. The inconsistency of the crowd shows the folly of the human heart and the evil of always trying to please everyone. It also shows the offense they had taken at the truth as Jesus spoke what the Father had commanded him to speak. Christ's compliment and praise of John shows his compassion towards our human frailties due to adverse circumstances such as John was passing through as he was in the dark and dank dungeon with very little food or water. Jesus shows us his compassion and grace when intellectual reason takes over and spawns doubt and fear and distrust even in the greatest of men and women. And since their hearts are set on him, Christ intervenes and rescues them from the mouth of the enemy and restores them back into fellowship with himself so that Satan will not become successful in coming between Jesus and his beloved. Jesus understands our weaknesses, and they do not have to necessarily affect our relationship with him. And another good example of Christ's compassion for human frailty is when he left his disciples at a certain place in the garden while he went a little ways away to pray. And when he came back, he found them sleeping and he said in Matthew 26, 41, All of you must keep awake, give strict attention, be cautious and active, and watch and pray that you may not come into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. and still reviewing Jesus' words in Matthew 11, 6 Blessed is he who takes no offense at me and finds no cause for stumbling or offense in or through me and is not hindered from seeing the truth. The word stumbling block most likely in its summation might say Happy is he to whom I shall not prove or test or try a stumbling block. This means happy is he who shall not take offense at my poverty and lowliness of life so as to reject me and my doctrine or gospel. Happy is the one who can despite my poverty and mysterious ways see the evidence by what I have done that I am the Messiah and follow me. I believe we could rightly assume that John the Baptist desired that Jesus would publicly proclaim himself as the Christ instead of remaining obscure and silent. But Jesus replied that he gave sufficient evidence by the works that he had brought forth in the way of miracles and healings and deliverances of oppressions and bondage due to evil spirits so that people might determine and discover and embrace that he indeed was the Messiah in spite of his humble manner of life. Remember in scripture, we are told that in Jesus' appearance, there was nothing outwardly in beauty or handsomeness that we should desire him. That is found in Isaiah 53.2. And the word says, For the servant of God grew up before him like a tender plant and like a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness, royal kingly pomp, that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. The precise rendering of this scripture says, that the king of glory stood before them in bodily form and their eyes gazed upon him but in his outward appearance there was nothing to attract or delight their senses. And again Jesus replied that he had given sufficient evidence by his works that if one would choose they could see that he indeed was the Messiah and embrace him as the Christ instead of taking offense and stumbling at his humble appearance and lowly manner of life. Indeed, what folly it is that many today are still taking offense and stumbling over the one whom God the Father ordained to be the only one who can save them from their sin and the grave of death. in the most glorious one is all beauty and wisdom and eternal life to those who do not stumble and take offense with this truth called the gospel of peace the offense of the cross of Jesus Christ is a message of atonement that offends men and women's pride the message of atonement is an act by which God restores a relationship of harmony and unity between himself and humankind through his son's death, burial and resurrection. Atonement means at-one-ment. Through God's atoning grace and forgiveness, we are reinstated to a relationship of at-one-ment with God in spite of our sin. The offense of the cross is a simple teaching that offends man's wisdom, his carnal reason, and artificial tastes which say, if it sounds good, tastes good, looks good, smells good, it's good. Jesus' coming, though, caused offense and was a stumbling block for many. His coming was to be the remedy for man's ruin. But instead, and unfortunately, man, even today, is fantasized and imagined that he can save himself. This certainly shows us that the highest form of holiness offends man's love for his own sin. And we can see this offense of the cross is shown in the actual persecution of believers, but most often by slandering believers and jeering at them and calling them old-fashioned, foolish, weak-minded, gloomy and conceited folks. Offense of the cross is also shown by the great and horrendous persecution of Christian believers who are tortured and unmercifully beaten and thrown into prison for their testimony of Jesus. One such story is told of a little 12 boy who believed and lived the scripture that declares love your enemies and do good to them The story goes as follows. The boy, only 12 years old, swallowed his fear as he stood before the communist officer. Captain, you are the man who put my parents in prison, he said. Today is my mother's birthday And I always buy her a flower for her birthday Since my mother taught me to love my enemies And to reward evil with good I have brought the flower instead For the mother of your children Please take it home to your wife tonight And tell her about my love And the love of Christ Captain Marco Who had watched unmoved as Christians had been unmercifully beaten and tortured, was stunned at the act of love of this boy. His tears fell as he slowly walked around the desk and grabbed the boy in a fatherly embrace. Marcos' heart was changed by the gift of Christ's love. He could no longer arrest and torture Christians, and he himself was soon arrested. only months after the boy's visit to his office Marco slumped in a filthy prison cell surrounded by some of the same Christians he had previously arrested and tortured he tearfully told his cellmates of the young boy and the simple gift of a flower and he considered it an honor to share a cell with those he had previously hunted and attacked a simple gift of love broke through the darkness of the offense of the truth and freed a prisoner of Satan and made him a prisoner of Jesus Christ. Apostle Paul said in 2 Timothy 1.8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord nor of me his prisoner but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God. Verse 9 Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. Unfortunately, offense of the cross is also evidenced by those who omit to teach and preach the message of the cross. Many today preach a Christless and bloodless gospel. Many mix the truth of Christ with error and heresy. and many openly deny the deity of Jesus Christ who died on the cross by saying that there are other ways to heaven other than through Christ the Messiah. For sure, dear Christian, there are many ways of showing that the cross offends us in one respect or another. Apostle Paul in Galatians 5.11 says to his flock, But brethren, if I still preach circumcision, as some accuse me of doing, as necessary to salvation, why am I still suffering persecution? In that case, the cross has ceased to be a stumbling block and is made meaningless, done away with. Paul shows us that we must not accommodate the message of the cross to men's likings and tastes, but we must raise human likings and tastes to love the message of the cross. This many times brings offense and stumbling to the hearers of the message. People in Paul's congregation were offended at the fact that the Gentiles were not circumcised and were stumbling over the message that Paul was bringing them regarding this subject. What is it that we must understand by the message of the cross? it is not the wood or the tree that we must apprehend and comprehend but the very one who was nailed to the tree and there upon that tree he was hung and died a brutal death to bring the message of salvation by his atonement for our sins this message of the cross was to be a right standard of principles of showing the difference between right and wrong behavior and it was to be an influence and message showing that we must live within and according to the new covenant agreement with a hatred towards sin, a weaning away from the world and devotedness and allegiance to our beloved Savior Jesus Christ. And the question here at this point in the message today is how can we avoid being included amongst those who carry offense and stumble over the message of the cross. Let's look and see what Jesus tells us in Mark's Gospel, in Mark 4, 21. Mark 4, 21. Jesus said to them, Is the lamp brought in to be put under a peck measure or under a bed or not to be put upon a lampstand? Things are hidden temporarily only as means to revelation. For there is nothing hidden except to be revealed, nor is anything temporarily kept secret except in order that it may be made known. Verse 23. If any man has ears to hear, let him be listening, and let him perceive and comprehend. Verse 24. And he said to them, Be careful what you are hearing. the measure of thought and study you give to the truth you hear will be the measure of virtue and knowledge that comes back to you and more besides will be given to you who hear. For to him who has will be given more and from him who has nothing even what he has will be taken away by force. Jesus is warning in verse 24 that you must hear with eating. That means to pay attention. This is saying you must pay attention to what you hear in the message of the cross or the gospel of our Lord. You must take heed to what you hear and endeavor to retain or to hold fast to the truth when you hear it. By remembering it and practicing it and what it instructs you to do. And this is your lifeline, your connection to your dear Savior Jesus Christ. and this is saying that you must eat it on the spot and do not delay by saying oh I will get around to it tomorrow you must have the deepest desire in your heart to take every word as you hear it with a longing within and silent prayer that says oh Lord bless your truth to my ears and help me to retain it as you water my dry and thirsty and hungry soul. And what a blessing you shall have, dear one, as you hear the truth of the gospel with a longing and craving, as you listen to a sermon that is being preached, or as you read the word of God for yourself, to know that you know that God Almighty will fulfill your hunger and water the righteousness that you seek in him as you follow after him. Jesus will not disappoint you if you are crying out for his mercy believing and praying for his mercy he will answer you as you are persistent you who may be listening to this message today and you are broken hearted by your sin and you are seeking Jesus Christ's mercy you do not have to look any farther just fall upon your knees confess your sins before your Savior and ask for his forgiveness and surely he will forgive you. But remember, you must not go back to that sin again. Scripture declares that people who do this are like a dog that goes back to its own vomit or like a pig that goes back to its own wallow. Do not take offense at what Christ tells you to do in his gospel but practice it and surely you shall not backslide again. Jesus said to the woman who was caught in the act of adultery Woman, go your way and do not sin again. And after Jesus healed the man who was crippled for 40 years he said to him, go your way and stop sinning or something greater will happen to you. see the work of ministry is to preach the gospel in simple terms so that all can understand it Jesus did not appeal to anyone's vanity by giving intellectual dissertations nor did he water down the message his father sent him to deliver nor did Jesus have to put his gospel in comedic form so as to appeal to anyone's funny bone so that they might be more inclined to hear the truth of the cross and the reason that he came. I'm not saying that occasionally a preacher should not say something to make people laugh or smile because many times it is the only way a truth can be driven deep into the heart. Whether the truth of the cross brings sinners by way of laughing or crying, it does not matter. As long as they are brought to Christ who died for them and longs to have them and call them his own. And another thing in regards to how we can avoid having offense over the message of the cross is to be aware that when you hear the truth, that you hear it with obedient ears. And this is saying that when you hear it, you have made a conscientious election of your heart to obey it by practicing it. It is useless for you to hear it unless you elect to practice it, dear one. and this can be like someone who is in debt they go to a financial consultant who lays out a plan for them to get out of debt and the individual never applies the principles that the consultant gave him the individual continues complaining that his problem is greater than ever and so it is for people who sit in church each Sunday and go to a weekly Bible study and say that they would never miss a time where they could go to church. They listened to the word being preached and taught, but they have not obeyed the gospel. They have not at all obeyed the gospel. Paul wrote about this in his epistle to the Romans, in Romans 10, verse 16. But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our report? so then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God Dear ones this is still true today and just as real as in Paul day Sad to say there are many who remain only hearers of the word and do not become doers of the word. Their faith has never taken flight. So it is these kinds of people who stumble and fall and find offense at the truth. They become critical of others, and especially their pastors, because they did not listen or heed the truth with obedient ears. Jesus said in Mark's Gospel of Mark 4.21, He said to them, Do you bring a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don't you put it in a stand? we read this before but we're just reading it again so that you can catch the fullness of this for whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open if anyone has ears to hear let him hear consider carefully what you hear he continued with the measure you use it it will be measured to you and even more whoever has will be given more whoever does not have Even what he has will be taken from him. So with the measure you use, Jesus says it shall be measured to you. And this is saying that the hearers of the gospel of truth will get measure for measure, and the measure shall be your own measure. So, for example, those who have no interest in the word of God will, of course, find it quite uninteresting. Just like that. It won't be interesting to them. So this kind of individual who comes to church and listens to the gospel of our Lord will not receive even the smallest tidbit of life or peace or joy because they were not sincere in growing in the truth but found it uninteresting because of other passions. There will be nothing that strikes this kind of person because he listens with deaf ears. They have not been opened up because of disinterest in their Savior. People like this can read the Bible, but only as a blind man might. He gains nothing because he cannot see. Spiritual eyes and ears can only be opened up by the Master who sees the hunger and desire for the truth. And there can be no true seeing or hearing without true interest and desire. People can go on listening, but never hear. They can go on seeing, but shall never perceive, so says the Word. If you have no desire to be saved, no longing to escape from the guilt of your sin, no desire for heaven no love for God then the most boring place for you to be is in a service where Jesus Christ is preached and taught you will only get it measured back to you what you have measured out and the last thing I would like to point out to you in avoiding the pitfalls of falling into offense of the cross is do not be critical when you hear the word preached do not find fault there are many who sit in church and their only aim in going to church is to find fault with people around them and also by what is spoken from the pulpit may I say that if this is one way and source in which you derive your pleasure that you are only hurting yourself it is like taking a knife continues to be a stumbling block today to all those who do not put their faith in him. Do not deceive your own soul over this matter that you were destined to find fault with whatever is wrong and out of order according to your own estimation. This is called a critical spirit and what you measure out, it shall be measured back to you. There is a saying, whatever you are fishing for, you will catch it. But for those who seek the pure and solid truth these are those who come to hear the gospel with eager attention and alertness. They come with the frame of heart and mind that says I'm hungry to know God's truth. I want to be taught this word concerning sin and its remedy. I want to grow in the knowledge and grace of the Holy Spirit's work in my heart and soul. I want to hear and learn of my Savior's atoning sacrifice. I long to know about the life of a Christian, his joys, his trials, his responsibilities. Oh Lord, I just want to know you. Capture my heart and make it your own. Inspire me to love you, God, and to love others the way you love me. Teach me and lead me by your Holy Spirit. you see with a heart like this there is no place for a critical spirit there is no place for offense or stumbling wherever there is a hungry heart you will find there is plenty of food and this kind of individual will find the true benefit of the gospel in apostasy with a gospel called easy believism we have not received a gospel from man but a gospel from the very mouth and heart of God himself. We must continue to receive the truth in the only way in which it was designed and purposed that we would receive offense to those who hear it. We must not change the truth to fit what carnal minds want to hear. Jesus didn't and he is our example. He was crucified for speaking the truth. it is the truth that offends and causes stumbling but it is also the truth that will set men free hallelujah hallelujah it is the truth that will save dear ones and we too must admit that we were once offended by the message of the cross but not share with anyone as apostle Paul declared in Romans 9 33 As it is written, he says, Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone that will make men stumble, a rock that will make them fall. But he who believes in him, who adheres to him, relies on him, shall not be put to shame nor be disappointed in his expectations. Dear one, the love for your Savior will inspire and awaken voluntary self-sacrifice within your heart and soul to surrender your entire life to Him. You will not stumble over what He commands you to do. You too will, with longing in your heart as you grow in Him, desire to see others come to the cross freely without guilt or offense at the simple life and humility of their beautiful Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. though this is a brief word today on a big subject it is our prayer that it will have been instrumental and helpful to show the guilt of those who hate the gospel of grace and truth and serve to remove the offense of the cross that they have been carrying and bring them into the victory of seeing the truth and becoming a vital tool and part in the family of God Our main scripture today has been Matthew 11 verse 6 And blessed is he who takes no offense at me And finds no cause for stumbling in or through me And is not hindered from seeing the truth Maybe you have seen something for yourself in this word today That has been crucial in setting you free from any offense That you have held in the gospel of truth Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. We believe that the Spirit of God has been moving in your hearts while the truth of this word has been going forth. It is good to examine your own place of standing in the Lord. That is your right to the Lord's favor and your right to eternal life. This place at His communion table holds Him in high esteem with a grateful and admiring sense of fulfilling love that has grown out of your understanding and knowledge of who he really is and what he has done for you personally. Hopefully, you have learned by what has been spoken today and what has been aimed with encouragement that is a message of hope to bring sinners back to God through Jesus Christ. He loves them all, everyone. they too are his little ones we must take heed that we do not find offense with them by despising them but we must bring them in where they too will be ones who are blessed and will have no cause for stumbling in the truth that is found in Jesus Christ we have seen in the example of a little 12 year old boy who risked his life by taking the gospel of love to a cruel and mean man who imprisoned his parents and tortured many Christians that God used the words and actions of this young child to set a God-hater free by a simple act of love and with a flower. Jesus taught that those who were God-haters and those who were offended by the message of the cross would recognize true and real believers by their demonstration. of love. God the Father gave his only son to demonstrate his love for the world and Jesus purchased our salvation with his death, burial and resurrection. What dear Christian would you give today that might open someone's heart and lead them from the offense of the cross to their most beautiful and wonderful Savior Jesus Christ. Thank you.