Rev. David Holwick
First Baptist Church (Bible Study)
Ledgewood, New Jersey
January 28, 1988
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I. The importance of the Cross:
A. The universal symbol for the Christian Church.
B. The foundation of Christian salvation.
C. The litmus test for orthodox faith.
II. The attitude of Jesus to the Cross.
A. It was a voluntary decision on his part.
B. He knew it was for the sins of the human race.
1) Indicated by his words at the Last Supper.
2) Indicated by his words at Gethsemane.
3) Indicated by his cry from the cross of being forsaken.
C. He knew it was in obedience to his loving Father.
III. What happened, theologically, on the cross?
A. Jesus presented a great example for us to follow.
1) Jesus hung there as the ultimate example of love. (John 15:13)
2) Jesus identified with, and represented, the tragedy of the human
B. Jesus suffered for the sins of the world.
1) Suffering as identification with our weakness. (Liberal)
2) Suffering as atonement for our sin.
Jesus made "satisfaction" for our spiritual debt. (Conservative)
IV. Point of contention: The problem of sin and forgiveness.
A. Liberal position -
1) There is no need for forgiveness, because sin is an archaic
concept. (Modern philosophy, Hinduism, etc.)
2) There is a need for forgiveness, but in Jesus it has been applied
automatically and universally.
B. Conservative position -
1) Forgiveness is needed, must be personally appropriated, and is
only available through Jesus Christ.
What follows outlines some main points of the conservative position.
V. All humans have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
A. No one was satisfied. (Modern liberal view)
1) Satisfaction is a barbaric concept and unworthy of the gospel of
B. Satan was satisfied.
1) The ransom sayings - we are prisoners of the Devil, Jesus buys us
2) The early church fathers say Jesus as a divine fishhook to trap
a) God is not a deceiver.
b) Satan is not on an equal footing with God.
C. The Law of God was satisfied.
1) Sin is the same thing as lawlessness. (1 John 3:4)
2) Divine laws cannot be changed. (Compare the dilemma of King
3) Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law. (Gal. 3:10,13)
a) Is God the prisoner of His own Law?
b) Better - the Law is only a reflection of God's character.
D. God's honor and justice was satisfied.
1) Anselm argued that sin is composed of not submitting totally to
2) A person's doing good can never cover over the sin, because our
3) Only God can make the satisfaction for our sin.
E. God satisfied himself.
1) God must be consistent with Himself: He never lies, is unfaithful,
2) God must satisfy himself, but He is not selfish in it as humans are.
3) The key is to be found in the holy love of God.
a) This love creates a paradox:
1> God is not indulgent, so He cannot compromise with our sin.
2> Neither is He vindictive, wanting to crush us.
b) This love/punishment tension in God (see Hosea 11:8-9) requires
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