Tag: crucifixion

  • Couldn’t God just forgive us? Why was the cross necessary?

    A person might look at the crucifixion, look at what the Lord did on the cross, and wonder “Why was that the only way? Why was that necessary? Couldn’t God simply forgive us?” No. This is an idea I’ve heard from Tim Keller before, and it’s an important idea on having a theology of forgiveness.…

  • The American Gospel and the meaning of Easter

    Originally posted April 6, 2012 Statistically, we know that the vast majority of Americans believe in some form of a higher power. There are relatively few who are atheists. Since people do believe that there is something, and since it’s so easy to think of the majority of Americans as Christians, many simply attach themselves…

  • Jesus: cross-examined

    Originally published September 21, 2016 We see symbols everyday. Symbols of peace, strength, royalty, and victory. Within Christianity, there is no greater symbol than the cross, something so obvious that we take it for granted. Something so pervasive, so associated with Christianity that we might not even question it. But why is the cross the symbol?…

  • Murders, mobs, dictators and the gospel

    (originally posted March 7, 2016) In the gospel of Matthew, when Jesus was before the ruling Jewish council, he made a reference to his divine status. To the ruling council, this was taken as blasphemy. Within Rome, they didn’t have the authority to execute Jesus for his action, so they took him to Pontius Pilate, who…

  • The American Gospel and the meaning of Easter

    Originally posted April 6, 2012 Statistically, we know that the vast majority of Americans believe in some form of a higher power. There are relatively few who are atheists. Since people do believe that there is something, and since it’s so easy to think of the majority of Americans as Christians, many simply attach themselves…