Scriptures: Galatians 6:14, 5:24, 1 Corinthians 1:23, Acts 2:23, 1 John 4:10, Romans 5:8, 6:23, Ezekiel 18:20, 1 John 4:9, 2 Corinthians 5:15, 1 Thessalonians 5:10, John 12:31

The Cross is the central moment in all of creation and history. Two thousand years ago the cross was nothing to find glory in. It was grossly offensive, cruel, evil. Today we often treat the cross as nothing in a "crossness Christianity" that favors man's self esteem over boasting in Jesus and the cross. The Bible clearly tells us man's problem is not ignorance, or poverty, or environment. Our problem is sin, and the only answer is salvation in the Person of Jesus Christ and His atoning death on the cross. Dr. Merritt speaks plainly and proudly of the power and great authority found in the cross--in which, as the Apostle Paul said, we should find glory and not in ourselves.

"There are only two options: Either everyone has to die in their sins, or someone has to die for the sins of everyone. That is where the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ comes in. When Jesus Christ died on the cross, He not only died to pay for our sins, He died to fulfill the law of God. Romans 6:23 says, 'the wages of sin is death.' I owed a debt I could not pay, He paid a debt He did not owe. Now you talk about a bargain! Because of His death I have life. Because He took my sin, I can take His righteousness. Because He died for my sin, I can now die to my sin and live with Him forever all because of the cross." --Dr. Merritt

Keywords: China, cathedral, wall, Sir John Bowring, ship, sailing, cross, Paul, boast, forbid, Dr. Harry Rimmer, self-esteem, Jews, Greeks, Romans, Peter, declaration, redemption, demonstration, measure, crucifixion, glory, salvation