Cross: The Pulpit of God's Love

by Iain H. Murray

The atonement is the centre of the Christian faith and of the work of the gospel ministry. The purpose of gospel preaching is to make known what God has done in the cross of Jesus Christ. The evangel is the preaching of the cross (1 Cor. 1: 18). If this was apostolic Christianity then we must examine ourselves as to whether our emphasis corresponds with it. Is the cross central to the message we preach in our evangelism? But how are we to preach the cross? Does our preaching resemble that of the NT apostles? Does it match the passionate freeness with which the churchs greatest evangelists preached the cross to needy sinners? In this booklet, Iain Murray helps us to think through the message of the cross, to appreciate Gods love and justice in the death of Christ, and to grasp the truth afresh that by Christ crucified the love of God and his willingness to save is to be made known to all people.

Genres: Theology

40 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2008

About the author

Iain Hamish Murray is a British pastor and author. He was educated in the Isle of Man and at the University of Durham before entering ministry in 1955. He served as assistant to Martyn Lloyd-Jones at Westminster Chapel (1956–59) and subsequently at Grove Chapel, London (1961–69) and St. Giles Presbyterian Church, Sydney, Australia, (1981–84). In 1957 he and Jack Cullum founded the Reformed publishing house, the Banner of Truth Trust, of which he continues to serve as a trustee.

Reviews

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just read this booklet this morning; it is nicely written and generally correct. I would disagree with the author with respect to defending the free offer on an irrationalist basis, and I think he is ultra-charitable to Arminians. However, his stress on the need for Calvinists to be evangelistic and to have a concern for souls is most welcome.

[Eli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though written by a 5-point Calvinist, and thus some of his perspectives are not perfect, Murray makes it clear that Christ died for all and that the offer of salvation is free for all mankind. This is a short but excellent summary of the key issues regarding the cross. The cross reveals both the justice and the love of God, and the love of God is the emphatic revelation. Highly recommended. A must read for all who believe in limited-atonement. It will challenge your point of view.

[Mark A Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

In another one of his booklets, Murray turns his attention to the cross of Christ, discussing the scope and nature of the atonement and the love of God it expresses. He argues that God’s love for the elect is, by its nature, different than His general love for mankind—yet the atonement is sufficient enough to completely save anyone who is saved by grace through faith. Murray provides a well-crafted, though brief, examination of these issues. 

[Wade · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a decent book on the theology of the cross, but it spends the majority of it’s time talking about the distinction between the general and the special (or particular) love of God as exhibited on the cross and becomes too much of a theology debate about God’s electoral purposes on the cross.