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Amongst monotheistic faiths,
only Christianity presents a transcendent, holy Creator who, for His
own glory, and in demonstration of His own mercy and grace, enters
into His own creation in self-sacrificial love and in that incarnation
provides the perfect means of uniting an alienated creation to
Himself. The incarnation and the cross set the Christian faith
apart from all others and in so doing speaks directly to the ultimate need
of the human heart.
The Cross: Historicity
and Theology seeks to provide an opportunity for the truly serious
minded Christian to enter into the wonder of God's self-sacrificing
love exemplified on Calvary. To proclaim the cross with clarity
requires us to be able to defend its historicity. That element
of the gospel is under attack from many directions. Atheists
deny Jesus' existence; the Jesus Seminar attacks the purpose of the
cross and the resurrection; and a billion Muslims follow the Qur'an in
denying the crucifixion ever took place. One of the most popular
videos in the entire Islamic world is titled "Crucifixion or Crucifiction?"
But just as necessary is the
study of the theology of atonement that is almost non-existent in
modern post-evangelical preaching and teaching. The majority of
atonement theology presented today is shallow, surface-level
traditionalism aimed at creating an emotional response, and little
more. But what do the Scriptures really teach concerning God's
intention in the atoning work of Christ? There are many voices loudly
speaking to this subject, but in The Cross: Historicity and Theology,
we will seek to cut through the confusion and focus upon serious,
sober-minded exegesis of the relevant texts so as to come to a sound and
God-honoring conclusion.
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Dr. James White is the director of Alpha and Omega Ministries, a Christian apologetics
organization based in Phoenix, Arizona. He is a professor, having
taught Greek, Systematic Theology, and various topics in the field of
apologetics. He has authored or contributed to more than twenty books,
including The King James Only Controversy, The Forgotten Trinity, The
Potter's Freedom, and The God Who Justifies. He is an accomplished
debater, having engaged in more than fifty moderated, public debates
with leading proponents of Roman Catholicism, Islam, Jehovah's
Witnesses, and Mormonism. |
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