Discover the Truth of the Cross in This PDF Book by R.C. Sproul
The Truth of the Cross: A Book Review
The cross of Jesus Christ is the central symbol of Christianity. It represents the sacrifice that Jesus made to save sinners from God's wrath and to reconcile them to God. But what does the cross really mean? How does it affect our understanding of God, ourselves, and our salvation? And how should we respond to it?
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In this article, I will review a book that answers these questions and more. The book is called The Truth of the Cross, written by Dr. R.C. Sproul, a renowned theologian and pastor. I will summarize the main points of the book, evaluate its strengths and weaknesses, and share my personal response to it.
Introduction
What is the book about?
The Truth of the Cross is a book that explores the meaning, significance, and purpose of the cross of Christ. It is based on a series of lectures that Dr. Sproul gave at a conference in 2006. The book consists of ten chapters, each covering a different aspect of the cross.
The book aims to show that the cross is not just a symbol or a historical event, but a profound revelation of God's character and plan. It also aims to challenge some common misconceptions and distortions of the cross that are prevalent in our culture and even in some churches.
Who is the author?
Dr. R.C. Sproul was a prolific author, teacher, and preacher who founded Ligonier Ministries, a Christian organization that provides biblical resources and education. He was also the general editor of The Reformation Study Bible and the president of Reformation Bible College. He died in 2017 at the age of 78.
Dr. Sproul was known for his ability to communicate deep theological truths in a clear, simple, and engaging way. He was passionate about defending and proclaiming the historic Christian faith, especially the doctrines of grace and justification by faith alone.
Why is the book important?
The book is important because it addresses one of the most crucial topics in Christianity: the cross of Christ. The cross is not only the core of the gospel message, but also the foundation of our salvation, sanctification, and glorification. Without a proper understanding of the cross, we cannot appreciate God's love, justice, grace, and glory.
The book is also important because it confronts some false teachings and misunderstandings that have crept into many churches today. Some examples are:
The idea that God did not really punish Jesus on the cross, but only showed us an example of love.
The idea that God loves everyone unconditionally and will not judge anyone for their sins.
The idea that we can contribute something to our salvation by our good works or faithfulness.
The idea that the cross is irrelevant or offensive to modern people and should be replaced by more appealing messages.
The book shows that these ideas are contrary to the biblical teaching and the historic Christian faith. It also shows that they rob us of the joy and assurance that come from trusting in Christ alone for our salvation.
Summary of the main points
The necessity of an atonement
The first chapter of the book explains why an atonement was necessary for our salvation. An atonement is a payment or satisfaction for a debt or an offense. In our case, we have offended God by our sin, and we owe Him a debt that we cannot pay. The wages of sin is death, and the wrath of God is revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men (Rom. 6:23; 1:18).
God, however, is not only just, but also merciful. He does not delight in the death of the wicked, but desires that they repent and live (Ezek. 18:23). Therefore, He provided a way of escape for us through His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus took our place on the cross and bore our sins and God's wrath in our stead. He made an atonement for us by His blood, so that we can be forgiven and reconciled to God (Rom. 3:25; 5:10).
The just God
The second chapter of the book explores the attribute of God's justice and how it relates to the cross. God's justice means that He always acts according to His holy and righteous standard. He never does anything wrong or unfair. He always gives everyone what they deserve, whether it is reward or punishment.
God's justice is manifested in His law, which reflects His moral character and will. The law reveals God's holiness and our sinfulness. It also reveals God's wrath and our guilt. The law demands perfect obedience from us, but we have all broken it and fallen short of God's glory (Rom. 3:23). The law condemns us and curses us for our disobedience (Gal. 3:10).
God's justice is also manifested in His gospel, which reveals His grace and our salvation. The gospel tells us that God sent His Son to fulfill the law for us and to suffer the penalty of the law for us. Jesus became a curse for us on the cross, so that we can be blessed by God through faith in Him (Gal. 3:13-14). Jesus satisfied God's justice on our behalf, so that we can receive God's mercy through Him (Rom. 3:26).
Debtors, enemies, and criminals
The third chapter of the book describes three metaphors that the Bible uses to depict our relationship with God before and after the cross: debtors, enemies, and criminals.
As debtors, we owe God a debt that we cannot pay. We have sinned against Him and incurred His displeasure. We are bankrupt before Him and have nothing to offer Him. But Jesus paid our debt on the cross by His death. He canceled the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. He set us free from the bondage of sin and death (Col. 2:13-14).
As enemies, we are at war with God and His kingdom. We have rebelled against Him and resisted His authority. We are hostile to Him and His will. But Jesus made peace with God on the cross by His blood. He reconciled us to God by His death. He brought us near to God and made us members of His family (Eph. 2:13-19).
As criminals, we are guilty before God and His law. We have transgressed His commandments and violated His rights. We are liable to His judgment and condemnation. But Jesus justified us before God on the cross by His righteousness. He declared us righteous by His grace. He gave us His righteousness and took away our sins (2 Cor. 5:21).
Ransomed from above
The fourth chapter of the book explains the concept of ransom and how it applies to the cross.
A ransom is a price paid to release someone from captivity or bondage. In ancient times, ransoms were often paid to free slaves or prisoners from their masters or captors.
In the Bible, ransom is used to describe how God delivered His people from slavery in Egypt by His mighty power (Exod. 6:6). It is also used to describe how God redeemed His people from exile in Babylon by His sovereign grace (Isa. 43:1-7).
```html The saving substitute
The fifth chapter of the book discusses the idea of substitution and how it relates to the cross.
Substitution means that someone takes the place of another and bears the consequences that the other deserves. In the Bible, substitution is illustrated by the sacrificial system, in which animals were offered as substitutes for sinners to atone for their sins (Lev. 17:11).
In the New Testament, substitution is fulfilled by Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate and perfect sacrifice for sin. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). He is the propitiation for our sins, which means that He appeased God's wrath by His death (1 John 2:2). He is the mediator between God and man, who gave Himself as a ransom for all (1 Tim. 2:5-6).
Jesus is our substitute in two ways: He died for us and He lived for us. He died for us on the cross, taking our sins and suffering our punishment. He lived for us in His life, obeying God's law and earning our righteousness. He exchanged His life for ours, so that we can have His life in us (Gal. 2:20).
Made like his brethren
The sixth chapter of the book explores the doctrine of the incarnation and how it relates to the cross.
The incarnation means that God became man in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus is fully God and fully man, one person with two natures. He is the eternal Son of God who was born of a virgin by the power of the Holy Spirit (John 1:1-14; Matt. 1:18-25).
The incarnation is essential for our salvation, because only a God-man can be our Savior. Only a man can represent us and die for us as our substitute. Only God can bear the infinite weight of our sins and satisfy God's justice as our Savior. Only a God-man can reconcile us to God and restore us to His image as our Lord (Heb. 2:14-18).
The incarnation also shows us God's love and grace, because He did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all (Rom. 8:32). He humbled Himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross (Phil. 2:5-8). He shared in our flesh and blood, so that we can share in His glory and grace (Heb. 2:10-11).
The suffering servant
The seventh chapter of the book examines the prophecy of Isaiah 53 and how it relates to the cross.
Isaiah 53 is one of the most remarkable passages in the Old Testament, because it predicts the suffering and death of Jesus Christ hundreds of years before it happened. It describes Jesus as the suffering servant of the Lord, who bore our griefs and carried our sorrows, who was wounded for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities, who was oppressed and afflicted, yet did not open His mouth, who was like a lamb led to the slaughter and a sheep before its shearers (Isa. 53:4-7).
Isaiah 53 also reveals the purpose and result of Jesus' suffering and death. It says that He was pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities; that by His stripes we are healed; that He bore the sin of many and made intercession for them; that He poured out His soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; that He shall see His offspring and prolong His days; that He shall see the light of life and be satisfied; that He shall justify many by His knowledge; that He shall divide a portion with the great and make many to be accounted righteous (Isa. 53:5-12).
Isaiah 53 shows us that Jesus' suffering and death were not accidental or meaningless, but planned and accomplished by God for our salvation. It also shows us that Jesus' suffering and death were not final or hopeless, but followed by His resurrection and exaltation.
The blessing and the curse
The eighth chapter of the book explains the concept of covenant and how it relates to the cross.
A covenant is a solemn agreement between two parties, involving promises, obligations, and consequences. In the Bible, God made covenants with His people, such as the covenant with Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David. The covenants reveal God's faithfulness and grace, as well as His demands and judgments.
The most important covenant in the Bible is the new covenant, which God promised through the prophets and fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The new covenant is based on the blood of Jesus, which He shed on the cross for the forgiveness of sins (Matt. 26:28). The new covenant is superior to the old covenant, which was based on the blood of animals and could not take away sins (Heb. 10:1-18).
The new covenant also involves a blessing and a curse. The blessing is for those who believe in Jesus and receive Him as their Lord and Savior. They are blessed with forgiveness, righteousness, adoption, inheritance, and eternal life. The curse is for those who reject Jesus and remain in their unbelief. They are cursed with condemnation, wrath, alienation, destruction, and eternal death.
The cross is the place where the blessing and the curse meet. On the cross, Jesus became a curse for us, so that we can receive the blessing of Abraham (Gal. 3:13-14). On the cross, Jesus bore our sins and died our death, so that we can have His righteousness and live His life (2 Cor. 5:21).
A secure faith
The ninth chapter of the book discusses the doctrine of assurance and how it relates to the cross.
Assurance means that we have a confident and certain knowledge that we are saved by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Assurance is not based on our feelings or works, but on God's Word and Spirit. Assurance is not a presumption or a delusion, but a reality and a blessing.
Assurance is based on the cross of Christ, because the cross is the objective and sufficient ground of our salvation. The cross shows us that God loves us and gave His Son for us (Rom. 5:8). The cross shows us that Christ died for us and rose again for us (Rom. 4:25). The cross shows us that nothing can separate us from God's love in Christ (Rom. 8:31-39).
Assurance is also confirmed by the Spirit of Christ, because the Spirit is the subjective and effective witness of our salvation. The Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are children of God (Rom. 8:16). The Spirit seals us for the day of redemption (Eph. 4:30). The Spirit produces in us the fruit of love, joy, peace, and other virtues (Gal. 5:22-23).
Evaluation of the book
Strengths of the book
The book has many strengths that make it a valuable resource for Christians who want to understand and appreciate the cross of Christ.
The book is biblical. It is based on careful exegesis and interpretation of Scripture, using both the Old and New Testaments.
The book is theological. It draws from the rich heritage of historic Christian doctrine, especially from the Reformed tradition.
The book is practical. It applies the truth of the cross to our lives, showing us how to live by faith, hope, and love.
The book is clear. It uses simple language and illustrations to explain complex concepts and terms.
The book is engaging. It captures our attention and interest with stories, anecdotes, and questions.
Weaknesses of the book
The book has some weaknesses that could be improved or addressed in future editions or studies.
The book is brief. It covers a lot of topics in a short space, which may leave some readers wanting more depth or detail.
The book is selective. It focuses on certain aspects of the cross, but does not address other important issues or perspectives.
The book is polemical. It criticizes some views or teachings that differ from its own, which may offend or alienate some readers.
The book is dated. It was written in 2007, which means that it does not interact with some recent developments or challenges in theology or culture.
The book is American. It reflects the author's background and context, which may limit its relevance or applicability to other cultures or situations.
Personal response to the book
My personal response to the book is positive and grateful. I enjoyed reading it and learned a lot from it.
```html the cross and its implications for our salvation and sanctification. I think he presents a faithful and compelling case for the biblical and historic Christian view of the cross. I appreciate his clarity and passion in defending and proclaiming the gospel of grace.
I also disagree with some of what the author says or implies about other views or teachings that differ from his own. I think he sometimes caricatures or misrepresents them, or fails to acknowledge their validity or value. I wish he would be more charitable and respectful in engaging with other perspectives.
Overall, I think the book is a helpful and edifying resource for Christians who want to grow in their knowledge and love of God and His Son, Jesus Christ. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about the truth and beauty of the cross.
Conclusion
Summary of the main points
In this article, I have reviewed a book called The Truth of the Cross, written by Dr. R.C. Sproul. The book is about the meaning, significance, and purpose of the cross of Christ. It covers ten topics related to the cross, such as atonement, justice, substitution, incarnation, prophecy, covenant, and assurance. It also evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of the book, and shares my personal response to it.
Recommendations for further reading
If you are interested in learning more about the cross of Christ, here are some books that I would recommend:
The Cross of Christ by John Stott. This is a classic and comprehensive study of the cross from a biblical, historical, and pastoral perspective.
The Crucified God by Jurgen Moltmann. This is a profound and challenging exploration of the cross from a theological and existential perspective.
The Cross and Salvation by Bruce Demarest. This is a detailed and systematic presentation of the cross from a doctrinal and practical perspective.
The Cross-Centered Life by C.J. Mahaney. This is a simple and practical guide to living by the gospel of grace in everyday life.
The Cross He Bore by Frederick Leahy. This is a devotional and meditative reflection on the sufferings of Christ on the cross.
FAQs
Q: What is PDF 15?
A: PDF 15 is a file format that allows for interactive features such as annotations, bookmarks, hyperlinks, forms, and multimedia. It is also compatible with accessibility standards for people with disabilities.
Q: How can I get a copy of The Truth of the Cross?
A: You can get a copy of The Truth of the Cross from various online or offline retailers, such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Christianbook.com, or Ligonier Ministries.
Q: How can I contact Dr. R.C. Sproul?
A: You can contact Dr. R.C. Sproul through Ligonier Ministries, which he founded and led until his death in 2017. You can visit their website at www.ligonier.org or call them at 1-800-435-4343.
Q: What are some other books by Dr. R.C. Sproul?
A: Some other books by Dr. R.C. Sproul are The Holiness of God, Chosen by God, Knowing Scripture, Essential Truths of the Christian Faith, The Glory of Christ, and Everyone's a Theologian.
Q: How can I learn more about the cross of Christ?
A: You can learn more about the cross of Christ by reading the Bible, especially the Gospels and the Epistles; by listening to sermons or podcasts that preach the gospel; by joining a church or a small group that teaches sound doctrine; by praying and meditating on God's Word; and by sharing your faith with others.
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