by Gardiner Spring
in ePub, .mobi & .pdf formats
The story of the cross is related in the Holy Scriptures. They uniformly teach us to look upon Christ's death in a light totally different from that of any other person. They never mention it without emphasis, nor without admiration. When the great Ruler of the world was pleased to accomplish his purposes of mercy toward sinful man, he saw fit to do it in a way that expressed the mysterious fullness of his own eternal nature. God is one in nature, and in three persons. A fundamental article of the Christian religion is, that one of these three Divine persons became incarnate. "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." "Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given—and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace."
"When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." His birth was humble, away from home, and in a manger; but it was announced by angelic voices, "Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy,…for unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a SAVIOR, who is Christ the Lord!" Behold the wonder!—the immortal Deity clothed with the nature of mortal man—the Everlasting One born in time—the God Omnipotent enveloped in the confines of infancy, and lying in a manger! This was the beginning of the Savior's sorrows. Had he any sense of loftiness to be subdued, any honest pride of character to be wounded, any inbred sentiments of virtuous exaltation to be mortified, it would be in the prospect of such mysterious humiliation as this. No pomp of earth was there; no show of worldly magnificence; no regal splendor; though there slept on that pallet of straw One who "on his robe and thigh was written this Title—king of Kings and Lord of Lords." Judah's crown and scepter might have belonged to his honored parents; and he should of right have been born in the palace of David. But this was ill fitting one who came to pour contempt upon the pride of man; whose "kingdom is not of this world," and who, before he assumed this low attire, foresaw that he should put it off only on the cross.
-----
Table of Contents
1. The Narrative of the Cross
2. The Truth of the Cross
3. The Cross an Effective Propitiation for Sin
4. The Cross the Only Propitiation
5. The Actual Purpose of the Cross
6. The Cross Accessible
7. The Cross a Completed Justification
8. Faith in the Cross
9. The Inquiring Sinner Directed to the Cross
10. A Stumbling-block Removed
11. The Greatness of Sin No Obstacle to Salvation by the Cross
12. The Holiness of the Cross
13. The Religion of the Cross, in Distinction from Religions That Are False and Spurious
14. The Cross the Test of Character
15. The Cross the Preservation from Final Apostasy
16. Full Assurance of Hope at the Cross
17. The World Crucified by the Cross
18. All Things Tributary to the Cross
19. The Cross the Admiration of the Universe
20. The Triumphs of the Cross
21. The Sinner's Excuses Refuted by the Cross
22. The Cross Rejected, the Great Sin
23. Conclusion