Customer Reviews

The Cross Of Christ

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This would be an excellent book to read if you need more background material after going to Mel Gibson's movie the Passion.

It starts with a history of church use of the cross. Then it moves into expository teaching on Bible verses leading up to Jesus' death on the cross. It also references non-Biblical sources like Josephus, Tertullian, Oliver Barclay, William Barclay and several contemporary theologians.

Like other John Stott books it is logically presented with copious references. There are indices by Bible verse and by words in the text. There is also a comprehensive reference list.

John Stott has written a comprehensive work on the central emblem of the Christian faith; The Cross of Christ. He digs deep into the essentials of Christian theology to bring the reader a able book that explains the amazing grace of God in Christ. Although, he uses a few big words, for the most part the 383 pages are comfortable. Stott harvests his facts and examples from the Bible. Beginning with a narrative of Christ's journey to Calvary and the sublime Easter climax, the author draws the reader into the passion of Christ, which is the salvation event for mankind. The need for salvation is presupposed by mankind's collective and individual sinfulness. To describe this, the author interacts with the social science of psychology amongst other disciplines to unpack a deep personal meaning of sin for the modern person.

Hence the necessity for a atoning sacrifice to appease God's justified anger at sin. Jesus offers himself as the humble sacrifice in place of sinful man. This in turn brings about forgiveness, reconciliation (peace with God), justification (declared right before God), redemption (freedom), victory over evil and healing of such things as guilt and shame. Also, Stott interacts well with the issue of God's righteous anger and wonderful love harmoniously demonstrated on the cross of Christ. The author vigorously emphasizes that the above exceptional blessings are accessed only through faith. That is to believe and trust Jesus as the only saviour. Furthermore, Stott makes it very clear to the reader, that the blessings of God are an awesome gift of God and cannot be earned in any way; therefore it is truly amazing grace.

I felt disappointed that the author did not describe the theology of forgiveness in more detail, I consider forgiveness to be pertinent for our times, despite the sad fact that a recent survey in Canada has shown that some people do not consider it as relevant for today's society. This reviewer is very happy with this fine book, for I am entirely predisposed towards this subject. Given that, I am able to recommend this book to Christians and to others, but only if they are interested in learning about the key symbol of Christianity.

Jesus told us to remember His death. It was the crowning achievement of our Savior. Everything about our salvation is rooted in that monumental work. Stott's exposition of the atoning work of Christ is exceptional. He covers each aspect of the Cross's accomplishments. I could not more highly recommend this classic for a Christian believer. It will deepen your understanding, faith, devotion and love of our Savior.

From Satanists to pagans to the non-believing world at large, the cross of Christ is the most despised symbol in probably all creation. What it stands for brings out the snidest comments I have ever heard. And no wonder! Even Paul said that the message of the cross is foolishness to those who perish. Stott does a marvelous job tracking the centrality of the cross and just what it means for the faithful Christian. This is not a skimming kind of book that many non-Christians whose diet consists of 100% fiction will appreciate. It will cause you to think, but as an earlier reviewer hinted, it's the kind of book more people in our churches desperately need to read. If you want milk, as so many Christian bookstores offer, then you will live a superficial Christian life. If you want meat that will help you dig deeper into this relationship you have with God, then I suggest picking up The Cross of Christ and making sure your highlighter is in new condition...you will need it!

"But may it never be that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ," - Galatians 6:14 NASB

The 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 atonement of Christ he does something that few theologians do by discussing what it means to live under the shadow of the cross. He tells us that the greatest singe event, in which God simultaneously shows us His justice and His love, was in the cross. Ultimately, God dealt with the problem of evil at the cross when he provided salvation from it to all those who would trust Him. Now we have unlimited access to God which should mark our lives with joy.

Discipleship logically follows from salvation. Once God saves us, we give up "our supposed right to go on our own way" (279). We realize our position in Christ and we literally mortify the deeds of the flesh that once controlled us. Knowing that we are valuable in the sight of God should cause us to be giving in sacrificial service. Power and pride should now give way to service and humility. Last but not least, Stott deals with Christian suffering. The causes of suffering are varied, but its results should be patient endurance and mature holiness (315,16). Even while our faith is being tried, we can rest easier knowing that God loves us and has promised an ultimate deliverance. Our involvement with evil should not be in its repayment but on letting God deal righteously. The best examples of how we are to react to suffering are the meekness and trust in the sovereignty of God that were displayed in the life of Christ, culminating in His death. In summary, John Stott's The Cross of Christ is a book that teaches the prediction of, the necessity for, the accomplishments gained by and the benefits resulting from Christ's substitutionary death on the cross. I feel like this is a much-needed work at this point in time when much of Christianity is focused on Christian living with our never sufficiently knowing why we live like we do. I am a firm believer that correct behavior can only be consistently lived when our minds are thinking correctly beforehand. Observation tells me that it is virtually impossible to behave correctly without believing correctly. In my opinion, Stott places the importance of Christ's cross exactly where is should be in our list of priorities...right at the top.

The Cross of Christ would have to be one of the finest Christian books written in the past 20 years. It covers one of the most important areas of Christian understanding - the cross itself. Its coverage is excellent, not just resting on what the cross achieves, but helping to think through some of the implications the cross should have on how we live today.
The title of the conclusion ('The pervasive influence of the cross') does some up the powerful message of the book - that the cross of Christ is central and has a powerful impact on the life of a Christian.
Miss this book to your peril! Highly recommended.

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.

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The author presents the very foundation of Christian faith and purpose of life. The material leads the reader through the discovery of the mystery of Christ and what and why he suffered for sinners. Further, believers are given the opportunity to follow Christ in faith and purpose. Finally, the book can be read again and again to good benefit as the Christian grows in understanding as revealed through prayer.

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.