Cross Purposes: Discovering the Great Love of God for You

In CROSS PURPOSES, D. James Kennedy and Jerry Newcombe present a thoughtful, well-organized primer on understanding the "cross" of Christ. Christians at all different points in their journey as believers will find morsels of hope and thought-pondering truths to further stabilize and strengthen their faith travel. The authors offer six basic premises by which they develop into brief, concise devotionals. Readers will discover new depths to the oft-discussed topics of God's purpose, God's love, God's sacrifice, the Supremacy of the Cross, the Glory of the Cross, and the Cost of the Cross. Each essay opens with a scripture verse that sets the tone for the authors' skillfully laid-out exposition. Whether citing well-known historical figures or events, or pulling directly from biblical stories and principles, each chapter provides a weighty measure of God-focused directives that punctuate the eternal take-away of the formerly cited scripture. Inserted throughout the narrative are interesting, not-commonplace facts and quotes that weigh in on the particular topic by famous authors, historians and church leaders such as Augustine, John Calvin, Cicero, Dante, T.S. Eliot, Justin Martyr, D.L. Moody, Charles Spurgeon, Isaac Watts and John Wesley, among countless others. In the closing, a one-sentence prayer cements the various components as a whole in a satisfactory way. During the course of these devotional readings, believers will be simultaneously encouraged and challenged to better understand what it is they believe and why. A few of the topics discussed entail lessons on recognizing that life as a Christian is one characterized by spiritual warfare where the existence of Satan as a potent spiritual adversary is real; how to distinguish between "guilt feelings" and true "guilt" and how the Bible defines this elusive, misunderstood term; how the "power" of forgiveness is central to the core of Christian doctrine, where a spirit of thankfulness is to be basic operating material in the heart of all Christ followers; and that every believer surrendered to God must embrace three distinct "crucifixions." Christ gave Himself for man (Galatians 2:20). The world has been crucified to the believer (Galatians 6:14). And every Christian's life will be "crucified with Christ," meaning one must lose his life in order to receive it back. While each part of this text is fully engaging, the momentum builds as the work comes to a conclusion. Somehow, Kennedy and Newcombe successfully convey a sense of urgency and pressing need to present Christ's sacrifice and supremacy as ultimate. This final segment where they revisit the person of Jesus Christ as redeemer and mediator is especially beautiful and poignant. From beginning to end, Christians will appreciate the careful manner in which the cross of Christ is depicted, honored and expressed. Above all, believers will find great comfort and assurance of God's unfathomable love toward those who seek Him. --- Reviewe

Co-authored by D. James Kennedy and Jerry Newcombe, Cross Purposes is divided into 48 bite-sized portions. This devotional will walk you through every agonizing step of the Via Dolorosa. It will spell out the tremendous price Christ freely paid for his Cross, and it will draw you to your knees in gratitude at Christ's triumph over Satan and death. It is laid out very well with the devotions being divided into twelve sections and beginning with His Grace Extended and Calvary's Necessity. Kennedy gives a clear plan of salvation, then assures the new believer that he will never lose it. The authors back up these devotions with a lot of Scripture (KJV, NKJV). They supplement every devotion with quotes from spiritual giants (such as Surgeon and Calvin) and my personal favorite--hymns. Several times Kennedy gives brief word studies in Greek and Hebrew, which I found fascinating because they revealed Scripture in a new light. For the most part, the authors kept on a simple plain--not too wordy scholarly. However, little known adjectives that a large portion of English speakers would have to grab a dictionary to define tended to popped up. Words such as scintillating and coruscating are perfect examples. Being doctrinally correct is a huge issue with me, so when reading a devotional book, I'm always on the look out for anything that might be questionable. As a Baptist, I found that Cross Purposes lined up with my church's statement of faith. There was one sentence that I feel I must point out, however: Jesus Christ, the pure, spotless Son of God, became the greatest sinner who ever lived. Yes, Christ was made sin for us as 2 Corinthians 5:21 states. He took on the sins of the entire world, but he never committed them himself. He was no "sinner." Based on another passage in this book that states ...but the guilt He bore was not His own. It was yours and mine, I believe the authors simply meant to point out that Christ carried more sin than any other. The above sentence certainly could have been worded better and might confuse a new believer. Just a word of caution on that. That aside, I came away from the book with a fresh look at the Cross and what Christ suffered for me. I now have an intense feeling of gratitude for the story of His sacrifice that had dulled with years of repetition. While reading this book, several times I found myself thinking "I'd never thought of that before..." It was refreshing and enlightening, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Cross Purposes was the first of D. James Kennedy's books that I've had the pleasure of reading, but I'm sure it won't be the last. I recommend this book as a gift to an unsaved friend or to a believer whose vision is blurred with complacency. It was excellent.

Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views (2/07) The Christian Gospel isn't fair. If it was fair, Christ would not have suffered and died on the cross. "Because of my sin, justice demands that I experience the wrath of God. Instead, because of grace, God has taken all my slimy iniquity and placed it on His own Son." We cannot earn grace it is freely offered. "Grace involves a great sacrifice, even the sacrifice of one's own life for another." Kennedy explains the three R's of incarnation. Jesus came to reconcile us to God. The requirements to live in the presence of God are "no sin and perfect obedience." We are not capable of that; it is only through Jesus Christ that "we may stand faultless in the presence of God." The second R is resurrection. Christ died on the cross only to be resurrected again. "Jesus defeated death." The third R is regeneration. We are born again. "There is a second birth, a spiritual birth that comes when we place our trust in Christ, when we invite Him to come into our heart and change our lives." "If you know in your head `God loves you,' but you don't feel it in the heart. Then look to the cross. See Jesus Christ dying and suffering for you. Then see Him risen from the dead and ascended to heaven and seated at the right hand of His Father." This book arrived during the days first days of Lent. What could be more timely? From the moment I began to read the devotions I was hooked. "Cross Purposes" puts in simple terms the love Jesus has for each of us. He loved/loves us so much he was willing to die a horrible death in our place. But it doesn't stop there. He is the risen Christ. He conquered death! D. James Kennedy is an extremely talented author. I highly recommend "Cross Purposes" to everyone.