Feb
15
2010
Why the Cross Matters
Is it possible to talk too much about the cross?
I ask this question only because some preachers and writers and teachers seem to talk about the cross a lot. Some do so almost continually. We can understand why they might carry on in this way because we know the primacy and weight of Calvary. But there are still times this thought crosses many of our minds: “Great, so I understand the cross is important. But can’t we move on to the next topic?”
We say this sort of thing when we feel our faith is about more than Jesus. And in one sense, we can say this is true. Our faith is about God’s glory, and our joy, and loving others, and meeting the needs of the oppressed, and being made holy, and sojourning through life, and laying up treasures in heaven, and all sorts of other things. In this way, we are saying the expression of our faith is about many things.
But in another sense, the entirety of our faith is about Jesus. God’s grand, redemptive story begins with a foretelling of the coming Seed. His chosen servants foreshadow His mission. His prophets herald His arrival. As history progresses onward, we begin to see the entirety of God’s revelation to humanity as pointing towards the advent of the Messiah. This is perhaps why Paul says, “All the promises of God find their Yes in Him” (2 Cor 1:20). In this second kind of way, we are saying the purpose of our faith is about one thing: Jesus.
So when we find the purpose of our faith is about Jesus, we have to ask ourselves the question: why is this so? What is it about the person of Jesus, the mission of Jesus, the work of Jesus, which makes Him the reason for our faith? And this is what leads us to the cross.
Here’s why the cross matters: It is at the cross that we see God most clearly. If history were the vastness of space, the cross would be its brightest star. We see the fullness of God’s being most clearly at the cross. We see the fullness of His active purposes most clearly at the cross.
At the cross…
…We see God’s sovereignty—reigning with absolute control over humanity’s greatest sin.
…We see God’s purpose—making known the mystery of His will prepared before time.
…We see God’s plan—to unite all things, on heaven and on earth, in Him.
…We see God’s judgment—requiring recompense for guilt.
…We see God’s holiness—demanding the perfect sacrifice.
…We see God’s power—crushing the Son of God according to the purpose of His will.
…We see God’s wrath—punishing the wretchedness of sin.
…We see God’s sorrow—wailing as only a forsaken son can.
…We see God’s mystery—the Son, as God, separated from the Father, committing His Spirit to God.
…We see God’s compassion—pleading to the Father to forgive the ignorant.
…We see God’s gift—His one and only Son, bruised and broken on our behalf.
…We see God’s mercy—making unrighteous sinners righteous.
…We see God’s love—Christ dying for sinners.
…We see God’s rescue operation—delivering us from the domain of darkness to the kingdom of His Son.
…We see God’s proposal—pledging Himself to His bride forever.
…We see God’s revelation—the Word of God speaking His last so He might speak on behalf of many.
…We see God’s victory—disarming His enemies, putting them to shame, and triumphing over them.
…We see God’s glory—the name of the Father being magnified for the sake of all peoples.
But seeing God most clearly is not an end to itself. If it were, then the point of all history would be our own clarity of sight. But that is not history’s purpose. Everything exists for Jesus, so that in everything He might be preeminent. We study the Scriptures to know more of God. We look forward with great hope to the day we will see Him face to face. But in the here and now, we know God most fully when we look upon the person and work of Jesus on the cross.
It is only when we behold the Son of God most clearly that we can magnify Him most fully, acknowledging His preeminence in all things, which reflects more brightly the reality of His glory. This is why one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, because on that day, all will see Him as He is, either toward our greatest joy or our greatest sorrow.
So if you preach and teach about the cross, remember that we, as your people, need the lens of your preaching to continually focus our hearts on the crucified Son of God. And if we hear or read about the cross and wonder what is next, that we’re ready to move beyond it, let us remember that the cross matters for our yesterday, and our today, and our tomorrow.
And let us always hold the best of our hearts, the fullness of our hearts, for the One whose scars will testify for eternity to the glory and horror of that day that made possible the one day we will enjoy with Him forever.
17 Comments
There is so much good stuff in this article, where do I even begin? Let’s hope many in the blogosphere take this post and share it with the body of Christ. Fabulous insight and extremely encouraging! Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Thank you for this article, I really enjoyed it. Jesus and the cross shall NEVER be put on the backburner of all things we “talk” about. Lord, letus always see the glory of the cross.
Thanks.
It’s never talked about too much. Your post is excellent and full of wisdom. I benefitted much from reading this.
I hope you will continue to shout this from the mountaintops.
I guess all of us christians have our own unique insights, fed by the Holy Spirit, which we need to communicate.
Like me, I think we don’t talk enough about the wrath of God against sin, and I feel that Romans chapters 1-3 is not talked about enough. In it God gives final answer to all supposed “atheists” and agnostics. He tells us ahead of time what the charge and Judgement is against all unbelievers, and why things are the way they are. From these early chapters of Romans we already know the end of the trial, so to speak. I can’t understand why this whole first section of Romans is not shouted from the mountaintops. There are so many answers here to the questions mankind asks. I always wonder why enqirers about God and Christianity aren’t sent to Romans first, rather than one of the Gospels (John being the most popular in this regard). Romans 1-3 answers the beginners questions better than any other part of the bible. I think only after reading this can one start to understand the Gospel of John.
…and that’s my area of envisioned need, just like shouting from the mountaintops about the Cross is your area of envisioned need.
Isnt it awesome?
I love how the Holy Spirit keeps the church educated & wise by all of us in our unique envisioned needs. We all have fruits to share.
Ryan,
It is awesome. The Body needs one another, not just for fellowship and support, but to hear truth. Thank God that He speaks through His Spirit to many varied vessels.
ct
[...] Chris Tomlinson… Coming to Parachute 20-11… on… Why the Cross Matters 18 February 2010 No Comment http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2010/02/15/why-the-cross-matters/ [...]
[...] Stirring Thoughts on the Cross Jump to Comments I read this post this morning and was so stirred up that I thought I would just re-post it here. Read the original here. [...]
[...] Gospel Coalition: Why the Cross Matters by Chris [...]
I was a bit concerned that my preaching six messages in a row on the Cross in order to lead us up to Easter might be too much, but not after reading this. Thank you for the encouragement. I’ve linked to this post in my own blog and hope many will come by and read this.
[...] Is it possible to talk too much about the cross? Chris Tomlinson weighs in, here. Beautiful answer–you will worship at the foot of the cross! [...]
Thank you, Chris! I was searching for some insights to share with our group of Sunday School teachers as we start a new semester of service for Him and your article provided just what was needed to this group. May God bless you and all of those who are encouraged by His Word through your life. I just wanted you to know that God is using your unique gifts to bless Christians around the world. My church is in Brazil.
Thank you for the encouragement, Renata. Your note reminds me we serve a global God. I hope your group is encouraged to find great satisfaction in Jesus as they reflect on all that was accomplished for us on the cross.
[...] Why the Cross Matters [...]
[...] Tomlinson has offered a wonderful meditation on the Cross of Christ, and I’d encourage you to read the whole post here. [...]
[...] as an example of how to interpret and apply Scripture in the 21st century.Is it possible to talk about the Cross too much?.Conservatives signed a new ’statement of faith’ this week. Soul-searching much?The [...]
Thanks much for this article. The call to gospel-centeredness is something that I’ve been hearing, and have come to embrace, first from the White Horse Inn, then Issues, Etc., and now the Gospel Coalition. I have a question: how do we defend preaching and teaching the cross always in light of passages like Hebrews 6:1-2: “Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.” Because I suspect many Christians see this passage (and Hebrews 5:12-14 before it [milk/solid food]), and think, “okay, now I know the gospel, what’s next?”
Daniel,
Very thoughtful question. When I first read Hebrews 6:1, I got stuck on the “elementary doctrine of Christ” part. Was the writer saying the “doctrine of Christ” is elementary? What is the doctrine of Christ anyway?
My next thought was close to what you suppose many Christians may think. Aren’t we supposed to move on to meat? Aren’t we supposed to go on to maturity? Isn’t our understanding of salvation by Christ’s work on the cross the foundation of our faith–but we’re supposed to build a house of obedience and fruit on top of it?
I think part of the answer appears in how the writer goes on to define the “elementary” parts of the doctrine of Christ; namely: repentance from dead works, faith, washings, laying on of hands, resurrection, and eternal judgment. These are not the gospel.
Another part of the answer may be found in 5:11. The writer has just argued that Jesus is greater than Moses and that He is now our Great High Priest. And he details that Jesus, in being made perfect, became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him (v. 9) through what he suffered (v. 8). And coming back to v. 11, the writer says, “About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain…” This is the gospel–that Jesus, our Great High Priest, the perfect Son of God, suffered on the cross for our sins, rose from the dead, and became the source of salvation for all who believe.
So I would say that we have much to say about this glorious gospel of Jesus and His work on the cross, and it is hard to explain and understand, so as the Lord permits (6:3), we will go on to maturity as we grow in grace and knowledge of Him.
Thank you for the encouragement of your thoughts and questions. I hope this has been of some help, and please let me or the group know if you have other thoughts. I also found one of John Piper’s sermons on this passage to be an encouragement (http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/ScriptureIndex/26/970_Let_Us_Press_On_to_Maturity/), so you might as well. Grace to you…
ct
[...] July 14, 2010 by Michael The following comes from The Gospel Coalition blog posted February 15, 2010 by Chris Tomlinson. You can find the online source here. [...]