The Cross of Christ

This book is broken up into four main part: "Approaching the Cross," "The Heart of the Cross," "The Achievement of the Cross," and "Living under the Cross." These four sections show why and how Christ's cross is central to the Christian faith. Stott begins the first section by showing prominence of the cross throughout Christian history. He shows that the early church used it as a sign and symbol, and the apostles made it central in their preaching. These things became so because the cross was the passion of Christ. Stott said, "What dominated his mind was not the living but the giving of His life"(32). He also address the enemies of the cross and shows that despite men's hatred of the cross it still remains the center focus of Christianity. Next, Stott tackled the question "Why did Christ die?". The answer he provides is that it was both the wickedness of men and the plan of God. He said, "he did not die; he was killed. . . . He was not killed; he died, giving himself up voluntarily to do his Father's will" (61-2). He looks at the last twenty-four hours of Jesus' life and shows that his mission was the cross. In the second section he shows the need for forgiveness. This involves satisfying God's holiness and justness. The problem is, in Stott's words, "How can he save us and satisfy himself simultaneously? We reply to this point that, in order to satisfy himself, He sacrificed - indeed substituted - himself for us" (132). Stott declares, "...neither Christ alone as man not the Father alone as God could be our substitute. Only God in Christ, God the Father's own and only Son made man, could take our place" (160). Through this substitution men can receive right standing before God. The third section focuses on what Christ's cross did. First, and foremost, it provides salvation for sinners. He focuses on a few key terms: propitiation, redemption, justification, and reconciliation. Second, the revelatory work of the cross. Stott said, "When we look at the cross we see the justice, love, wisdom, and power of God." It is "a demonstration, of God's justice, love, wisdom and power. The cross assures us that this God is the reality within, behind and beyond the universe" (226). Third, it is the way of victory. Christ was victorious. Christians have victory through the blood of Christ that was shed from the cross. The fourth section focuses on the practical implications of the cross to those who believe. Christians have fellowship around the cross (not food). Stott argued that the cross demands both self-denial and self-affirmation. This, according to Stott, leads to self-giving, not self-gratification. Living under the cross also means Christians must love their enemies, after all Christ died on the cross for sinners, his enemies. The cross also teaches about suffering. Christians should expect it and endure it with patience because it should bring maturity and holiness. This book contains a scripture index and a subject index.

"But may it never be that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ," - Galatians 6:14 NASBThe name John Stott is well recognized among Bible students today, and for good reason. He has long been recognized for his gifted teaching, penetrating insight and pastoral warmth. His writings take the profound teachings of Christianity; shine much needed light on them, and in the same fluid motion, they plug the teachings into the lives of their readers. This book is no exception. The Cross of Christ is considered to be Stott's greatest work by more than a few people and I myself would place it in the top five books I've ever read. It's that good. The central theme of this book is to explain why and how the finished work of Christ on the cross is central to the Christian faith. It deals more with how salvation was provided for on the cross and not so much how it becomes effective for salvation in the life of a person. Stott begins by considering some preliminary issues such as the centrality of the cross in our faith. Stott says of Christ, "What dominated his mind was not the living but the giving of His life"(32). Stott rightly suggests that the cause of Christ's death was both the wickedness of men and the plan of God. He was turned over to the priests out of Judas' greed, turned over to Pilate out of the priest's envy, and handed over to the soldiers out of Pilate's cowardice, and the soldiers crucified Him. However, the blame for Christ's death cannot be placed solely on these individuals because He was not only suffering for their sins, but ours too. All this was according to the plan of God also. His love desired out salvation, and the only righteous way to do such a thing was to place our sins on the Savior and to have Him pay our penalty. The chasm is great between ourselves and a holy God. Stott says that "sin is not only the attempt to be God; it is also the refusal to be man, by shuffling off the responsibility for our actions"(101). So in order for God to offer salvation to mankind, He must do so righteously, without contradicting Himself. Man can never repay such a tremendous debt. This is where the Savior enters the picture. In other words, "How can he save us and satisfy himself simultaneously? We reply to this point that, in order to satisfy himself, He sacrificed - indeed substituted - himself for us" (132). Stott declares, "...neither Christ alone as man not the Father alone as God could be our substitute. Only God in Christ, God the Father's own and only Son made man, could take our place" (160). The result of this divine transaction in that man can be pronounced legally righteous, justified, in the sight of God. Stott tells us that it is very important to understand the accomplishments of the cross, "for the better people understand the glory of the divine substitution, the easier it will be for them to trust in the Substitute" (203). After Stott delineates the details involved in the atonemen

With a writing style that appealed to this former skeptic Stott dispeled clouds of confusion surrounding concepts like "salvation" and "redemption". He explained the reality that was behind the Christian jargon and removed false intellectual barriers to understanding the need for the cruxified and risen Christ. One of the 2 or 3 most life-changing books I have ever read.

If you ever want to find out what is at the very heart of the Christian faith Stott argues that the death of Jesus is crucial. Although a serious read which convincingly refutes many of the wrong and inadequate views of the Cross, Stott leaves us with an understanding of the event that is coherrent, powerful and ultimately thrilling. As well as providing understanding, the book explores what it truly means to live 'under the shadow' of the Cross, demonstrating that the very best theology is extremely practical - indeed, life-changing.