Note 20 at Gal. 5:11: Paul's use of the word "yet" is in reference to the fact that at one time, Paul himself proclaimed the same legalistic doctrines as these Judaizers (see note 2 at Gal. 1:1, p. 1052) who he is rebuking (see note 1 at Acts 9:1, p. 619). When Paul preached performance as the basis of relationship with God, he was the one doing the persecution (Acts 7:58-8:4). When he converted and embraced grace, Paul became the persecuted (Acts 9:23-25). It's always this way. Those who preach what you must do persecute those who preach what Jesus has already done for us.

Note 21 at Gal. 5:11: The thing that makes true Christianity offensive is the message that you can't save yourself. This is taken as an insult to those who are pleased with their own holiness. They can't put faith in Jesus alone. That would take away from what they have accomplished and they would lose their advantage over those who are less holy.

The message of the cross is that Jesus paid it all because we couldn't pay anything at all. Our holiness could not atone for even the smallest of our sins (Isa. 64:6). We needed a savior other than ourselves. Therefore, those who are pleased with themselves are not pleased with the message of the cross. All persecution is rooted in self love (see note 2 at Acts 4:17, p. 590).