People may feel offended by the gospel due to its declaration that salvation is by grace alone, not based on personal effort or merit.
The offense individuals take to the gospel often arises from their deeply ingrained desire to contribute to their own salvation through works. As explained throughout the sermon, many are wired to believe that their actions can gain approval from God, making the notion of grace alone hard to accept. This is reflected in the response to Jesus, who faced skepticism from the religious leaders for claiming to be the Savior, as they saw him as undermining their authority and efforts. The gospel, by proclaiming that salvation is entirely through Christ's merit, strips away the veil of self-righteousness and confronts the prideful heart, often resulting in offense rather than acceptance.
Commentary