When talking about the cross, it is normal and appropriate to talk about the love of God. The following two verses are common for describing God's love in view of the cross -
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (NKJV)
Rom. 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (NKJV)
In John 3:16 it is important to remember that the Greek word οὕτως, translated "so" in English does not refer to how much God loved those He saved, but "in this manner" refering to how he demonstrated His love for those he saved. This is important because the emphasis is on how God loved not who He loved. The cross is a demonstration of the greatness of God's love, not the greatness of those He loved!
The who He loved is "us" in Rom. 5:8, referring to church/believers who are the target audience of the letter and the cross (for OT saved also). In John 3:16 we find the same reality in the phrase "whoever believes in Him" πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων in the Greek and literally means "all the ones believing". So God's love is part of His magnificent character and is on display in the death of Jesus on the cross for all those who He would have an eternal relationship with.
However, is the Cross first and foremost about God's love or is there another and maybe even more primary demonstration of God's character seen in the sacrifice of Jesus?
Consider the place of God's righteousness in the work of Jesus/cross in the passage below -
Rom. 3:21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (NKJV)
As we see in verse 25, Jesus' being set forth as a "propitiation" or as some translate "atoning sacrifice" is to demonstrate God's righteousness! Now we know God is also demonstrating the quality of His love at the cross, but what are we to see as primary or the main thing and how does it affect evangelism and church life?
I think many would agree that there has been a tendency to minimize God and elevate man when talking about the cross. I know people will say - "you know you are a sinner right" and "God is holy and won't dwell with sin", but don't we then quickly move to how much God wants a relationship with us and how easy it is to have? Of course I realize many today skip over even the most shallow discussion of sin and God's holiness preferring to speak only of how much God loves/wants you (what they say the cross is about) and how easy it is to have Him!
Perish the thought!
The cross must first and foremost be presented as a demonstration of God's character. At the cross we see God's righteousness and how His righteousness dictated the only way of salvation for those He loved - "that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus" (Rom. 3:26b)! To make the cross look like an act of loving desperation, because God can't be truly happy without us or at least as many of us as He can get, is a very man focused emphasis.
Presenting the cross as all about God's character first and then how we can benefit from that character for our salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ Jesus alone is proper as it highlights His value not ours.
The cross is about His righteousness (He is just and must punish sin) and it is His righteousness that made the cross necessary to save His people - who of course he loves perfectly!
"Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."
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