Cross, centrality of

The death of Jesus Christ on the cross is central to the Christian faith. Through the cross and resurrection of Christ, God achieved the redemption of believers and brought hope to the world.

The gospel as the ``message of the cross''

1 Corinthians 2:2 See also 1 Corinthians 1:17–18, 1 Corinthians 1:23; Galatians 3:1

For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

The cross redeems from the curse of the law

Galatians 3:13 See also Romans 6:14, Romans 7:4; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 2:19–21; Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 2:13–16; Colossians 2:13–14; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 1:18–19

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”

The cross brings reconciliation and justification

Romans 4:25, Romans 5:10 See also Romans 5:8–9; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4; Ephesians 2:16; Colossians 1:20–22

He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised to life for our justification.

For if, when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!

The cross destroys the power of Satan

Colossians 2:13–15 See also John 12:31, John 14:30; Galatians 1:4; Hebrews 2:14–15; 1 Peter 3:21–22

When you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our trespasses, having canceled the debt ascribed to us in the decrees that stood against us. He took it away, nailing it to the cross! And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

The cross as a stumbling-block or offence

1 Corinthians 1:22–24 See also Galatians 5:11, Galatians 6:12

Jews demand signs and Greeks search for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

The cross unites believers with Jesus Christ

Romans 6:4–7 See also Romans 6:2, Romans 8:36; 1 Corinthians 15:30–31; 2 Corinthians 4:10–12, 2 Corinthians 5:14–15; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 2:14–16; Colossians 2:20, Colossians 3:1–3; 2 Timothy 2:11

We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection. We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin. For anyone who has died has been freed from sin.

The cross as a symbol of discipleship

Matthew 16:24 parallels Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23–24Philippians 2:5–8 See also Matthew 10:38; Luke 14:27; John 12:23–25; Romans 8:13; Galatians 5:24, Galatians 6:14; Ephesians 5:25–26; Colossians 3:5; 1 Peter 2:21, 1 Peter 2:24

Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross.