Christ's supreme achievement on the cross is that He placed the wrath of God, which would burn against us were we not covered by the sacrifice of Christ. So if somebody argues against placation or the idea of Christ satisfying the wrath of God, be alert, because the gospel is at stake. This is about the essence of salvation — that as people who are covered by the atonement, we are redeemed from the supreme danger to which any person is exposed. It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of a holy God Who's wrathful. But there is no wrath for those whose sins have been paid. That is what salvation is all about. [The Truth of the Cross.]
This is the great truth not only of Easter, but of Christmas and the Advent — which is why so many of the great Christmas hymns culminate in exulting in the cross. Consider, for example,
- "O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel…"
- "Come, Thou long-expected Jesus, born to set Thy people free…born Thy people to deliver…"
- "…with mocking scorn and with crown of scorn, they bore Thee to Calvary…"
- "Born that man no more may die, born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth…"
- "[He] hath made heaven and earth of naught, and with His blood, mankind hath bought…"
The message of Christmas is not simply the Advent, but that the Advent has culminated in the cross and resurrection. "O come, let us adore Him."
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