cross

The discussion between Graham and Peter about the centrality or otherwise of the cross starting here was running out of space, so I will make this contribution a separate post. Peter’s view is that the cross must be central to our theology; Graham’s response is that in practice this leads to a downplaying of discipleship and ethics. It seems to me that this rather highlights the problem that we typically define ourselves with reference to some part of the New Testament material and with too little regard for the narrative whole and its connection with history.

John Stott’s recent retirement from public ministry was preceded about a year ago by the publishing of a special edition of what must be one of his finest contributions to popular theology - ‘The Cross of Christ’. The book highlights the centrality of the cross to the historic Christian faith, a theological explanation of the death of Jesus in the gospels and the New Testament, the need for an atonement in God’s forgiveness of sinful people, the biblical basis for such concepts as satisfaction for sin, and the self-substitution of God in the atonement.