Series: Who Told You That? and the Lies We Believe Week 8: The Lie—The Cross is Not about Wrath
Genesis 3:14-15.
The lie: “The cross is not about wrath.”
If the cross is not about wrath… then the cross is not about salvation.
THE STRAW MAN: “GOD REQUIRES CHILD SACRIFICE”
The lie begins by redefining wrath as cruelty & redefining justice as abuse.
THE REAL ISSUE: A GROWING DISCOMFORT WITH A HOLY GOD.
A God without wrath is a God without holiness. A God without holiness is a God without justice. A God without justice is a God without love. And a God without love is a God who cannot save.
If the devil can get us to stop thinking about wrath, he can get us to stop thinking about sin. If he can get us to stop thinking about sin, he can get us to stop thinking about salvation.
A bloodless cross is a powerless cross.
THE BIBLE TEACHES GOD’S WRATH—CLEARLY AND CONSISTENTLY
OT: Exodus 15:7; 2 Chronicles 36:16; Psalm 90:11
NT: Ephesians 2:3; Romans 6:23; Romans 1:32; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; Luke 22:42.
To deny wrath is to deny Scripture.
THE BIBLE TEACHES PROPITIATION—CLEARLY AND CONSISTENTLY.
Romans 3:25; 1 John 4:10; Hebrews 2:17; Isaiah 53:5–6.
THE CROSS IS NOT DIVINE ABUSE—BECAUSE JESUS WENT WILLINGLY
John 10:18. Hebrews 12:2.
The cross was not divine abuse. The cross was divine love.
THE CROSS IS NOT LESS ABOUT WRATH—IT IS MORE ABOUT LOVE.
Wrath is not the opposite of love. Wrath is the expression of love against evil.
THE CROSS IS NOT JUST ABOUT VICTORY—IT IS ABOUT PUNISHMENT.
THE CROSS MUST BE PERSONAL—OR IT IS NOTHING
If the cross is not about wrath, then:
- Christ did not take your punishment
- Christ did not bear your guilt
- Christ did not satisfy justice
- Christ did not remove condemnation
- Christ did not reconcile you to God
And if Christ did not take your wrath… then you must.
A cross without wrath is a cross without salvation.
THE CROSS IS ABOUT WRATH—AND THAT IS GOOD NEWS
The blood of Jesus is our only hope. And the devil hates it.
