The heart of everything that is important lies within the pages of this book. No book of the Bible spells it out more clearly. From the judgment, the character of God, the function of the Holy Spirit, the nature of God's kingdom, to the truth about the Father - - this book is one of the greatest highlights in all of scripture!

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"Controversy surrounding William P. Young's "The Shack" has drawn attention to a major theological debate that many readers of the popular novel may not be aware of. The debate concerns how Christians understand the significance of Christ's death on the cross. Questions are being raised about one of the traditional concepts of the atonement. The controversy came to light in a popular forum recently, when Baptist pastor Kendall Adams interviewed Young on radio station KAYP in Iowa. Adams pressed Young on why he had God assert in the book: "I don't punish sin. Sin is its own punishment."

Adams replied that Young was denying "penal substitutionary atonement" -- that Jesus paid the penalty for human sins on the cross -- which Adams stated was "the heart of the gospel." Young agreed that he did not fully accept the penal substitutionary view of the atonement. In the interview, Young defended his position by stating that there is 'a huge debate that's going on in theology right now within the evangelical community' concerning the doctrine of the atonement."

You can read the article in its entirety here. The article then goes on to describe 3 models of the atonement: Christus Victor, Penal Substitution, and Moral Influence. Everyone agrees that moral influence is a part of the atonement - if you are not morally influenced by the death of Christ then there is a real problem! I think that it's a good thing that people are discussing this today. We need to continually strive for greater light on this all important subject. The cross should be the pinnacle moment in universal history where we discover that God is good, that God can be trusted, that God even forgives people who would torture him to death, and that God would lay down his own life to save others. Some views of the cross, however, paint an entirely different picture.

 

It will forever be remembered as both the greatest and worst day in universal history. The cross is the clearest revelation of God's character, but also it is the clearest revelation of "the other side": sin, Satan, and humanity. Everything of real consequence comes into perfect focus at the cross.

Our study of the 4 gospels concludes with a focus on the Cross. Why did Jesus have to die? How is the death of Jesus involved in our salvation? Was the Father persuaded to forgive at the Cross? Was our legal standing changed at the Cross? Was the wrath of God poured out on Jesus at the Cross? Many, many questions that are all tremendously important. The Cross is to be the "science of the ages" which would suggest that there is a tremendously deep meaning that we have not yet fully understood. One thing is clear: our understanding of the death of Jesus is critically important to our picture of who God is and "eternal life is to know God." (John 17:3)

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Through the years I’ve sat through and participated in dozens of plays that retell the story of Jesus’ birth. Last year, both of our boys were shepherds. Some churches even bring in real camels and donkeys! If you attend the Christmas program held at the Crystal Cathedral you will even see angels flying from the ceiling announcing to the shepherds the great good news. And, I’ve heard countless sermons that movingly tell the story of Joseph and Mary searching for a room. Everywhere you look these days there are manger scenes, angels, and shepherds. In fact, it seems that this year I’ve heard more “religious” Christmas songs played by secular radio stations than ever before. While checking out of “Target” a few days ago I listened to the words blasted out for the entire store of Christians, non-Christians and atheists alike: “Hark the Herald Angels Sing, glory to the new born King…”

Despite the arguments of some that the message of Jesus’ birth is being lost in a secular and materialistic society, it seems to me that we are bombarded with it! But yet I can’t help but wonder...for those of us who call ourselves Christians, what is the real message of Christmas?

It seems to me that the Christmas story should be the most radical, unique, and distinguishing message that Christians have to tell. I hesitate to even spell it out in just a few words here because it seems to me that most Christians would say, “Duh! Of course we understand that that is what Christmas is all about.” At the same time, however, it seems to me that we really don’t “get it.” Looking back, I know that for most of my life I had not understood the real significance of what it is we are actually celebrating.

“And now I give you a new commandment: love one another.” (John 13:34 – GN)


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This Bible study was our second trip through the incredible book of John. Most of our discussion focused on the death of Jesus. What is the message of the Cross? Why was the Cross absolutely necessary?