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Very few people are getting saved, and many of them fall away later. But the fact is that some people are getting saved, and their lives are actually being transformed, becoming more purposeful, peaceful and joyful. So, why are these others getting offended with Jesus? The apostle Paul points out that there are basically two reasons for this. One is intellectual and the other is experiential. "For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness" (1Co.1:22,23).

For many people, their claim is that the Gospel of Jesus does not make sense or explain everything. For example, one common question is, "If God is almighty and loving as you say, why is there so much evil and injustice in this world?" It is not that there are no answers to such questions or that only the dumb ones will believe in God. There are highly intellectual, knowledgeable and capable Christians all around. But these people with questions are not looking in the right direction.

For others it is about their personal experiences. They are disappointed with God because He did not answer their prayers in the way they expected. They want God to prove Himself to them by doing the miracles they want. When people brought up this demand to Jesus, His answer was that He Himself would be the miracle they could look at and believe (Jn.2:18,19).

If anyone reads the Bible and notes the teachings and the miracles there, they are enough to help them to believe. A comparative study of the various world-views that different people have demonstrates that the Christian view of life, God and the future is more comprehensive, cohesive, reasonable and fitting in with the facts than all others. So it is not that intellectuals do not have enough explanations for them to believe. The life of Jesus that fulfilled many detailed prophecies given hundreds of years earlier, that even His enemies could find no fault with, and His final death and resurrection are more than enough for us to take note of and conclude that He was who He claimed He was.

So, where does all the stumbling come from? The reason that is hidden deep inside the human mind is that people do not want to admit that they are sinners who have no hope apart from God. Even those people who imagine that they can qualify for God's acceptance if only they tried a little more will have to finally come to the conclusion that they need God's mercy. As long as people are unwilling to go to God in humility admitting their need of Him, they cannot find explanations for their questions or experience all that God offers.

Sad to say, the preaching of the Gospel is being done in such a way that it should not offend anyone! The whole offer of the Gospel to save us from our sins is camouflaged, and the advertisement is for how God can enrich their earthly life, help them to fulfil their dreams and avoid all trouble.

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