CHRIST CRUCIFIED:
Understanding the atonement
By Donald Macleod
IVP. 272 pages. £16.99
ISBN 978 1 783 591 015
A magnificent subject. The heart of what we preach. A superb book. A must-read.
Donald Macleod unfolds for us the great saving work of Christ in two major sections: the way of the cross, and the word of the cross.
The Gospel narratives
The first deals with the Gospel narratives of the crucifixion of Jesus. Though so very familiar to Christian readers, Professor Macleod tells us ‘the old, old story’ in such a way as you cannot help but be moved at the self-sacrificing love of the God-man. A section on the life of ‘the man of sorrows’, then moves to the gospel ‘slow-motion’ accounts of ‘the third to the ninth hour’ of Jesus’ suffering on the cross, before reflecting on ‘the divine paradox’ of the crucified Son, and the love of the Father.
The second, and much longer section of the book, looks at seven overlapping ways in which the cross-work of Christ has been explained by the Scriptures, and understood by believers down through the centuries. He examines substitution, expiation, propitiation, reconciliation, satisfaction, redemption and victory, as well as stopping off on the way to expose the shortcomings of other ways of explaining the facts of Golgotha.
Answering objections
He is a master at pithily summarising and countering objections to the great, central, evangelical truths which the New Testament uses to explain the cross to us. He has a great turn of phrase, and there are some brilliant one-liners. He deftly touches on thorny cultural taboos of our day, and demonstrates how the cross speaks to them.
But his work is not so much an exposé of what is false; it is so much more a positive, heart-warming, God-centred, Christ-exalting, Spirit-filled explanation of how God saves sinners by the cross of his beloved Son. It will lead you to more deeply trust and adore the Lamb who is now on the throne.
Compulsory reading
This should be compulsory reading for preachers and teachers of the gospel, and for any Christian who wants to deepen their awareness of what Christ achieved by his death on the cross. This book will open your mind and heart to the greatness of our salvation, and the costliness of it all. No wonder the Apostle Peter talked about ‘the precious blood of Christ’. No wonder the saints fall down in worship. Highly commended.
