But God forbid that l should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and 1 unto the world. Gal. 6:14

The cross constitutes the climax of Christ's work for the salvation of men. Here is God's answer to our sin problem. Thousands of men had been crucified before, but this Man was different. The nature of Christ's death for us is the center of salvation history.

A good many people who wish to shoulder their own sins refuse to come to grips with the problem that our sins are against the God of heaven and that therefore only He can forgive us and save us. I read a story some years ago of a skeptic who entered a cathedral. When he heard the chanting of the Agnus Dei, "Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world," he rushed out exclaiming with an oath, "Suppose it were true." Well, it is true.

We know for sure how the God of heaven feels about us. We know that His love is the source and root of all things good, stronger than hate, mightier than sin, more enduring than hell fire. His love for us is enough for the direst emergency that ever came to man. God's word from the cross is that He refuses to give us up to sin and death. He never despairs of our salvation and recovery. He reveals His one redemptive purpose for our lives, even by the sacrifice of one member of the Godhead; the Son of God staring into the abyss of eternal separation from His Father, refusing to give us up to eternal loss. There is no point in toning down this great truth.

John Newton ran a slave ship between Africa and America. He met Christ and became a minister of the Church of England. Before he died he wrote his own epitaph:

"John Newton, Clerk, once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, appointed to preach the faith he had long labored to destroy."

We are all left with nothing but the marvelous grace and mercy of God.