The Gospel of Offense

Kierkegaard called the Gospel the “Gospel of Offense.” If the Gospel that is preached does not offend someone somewhere then it is not the Gospel. The Gospel is good news. But to know the good news we must first know the bad news. There is no good news of salvation for sinners by God’s free grace unless there is first the bad news that all men have fallen short of God’s standards and sit in a position of judgment. The Gospel is offensive simply because it insists that there are no good people and that all people have fallen short. Once we accept the bad news, only then, can we accept the glorious news of God’s free grace imputed though faith alone.