Savior: What the Bible Says about the Cross

by Magrey Devega

The cross is the central symbol of the Christian faith. But what exactly did Jesus do to save us from our sins? Why was the cross necessary, and what does it mean for us today?

In What the Bible Says About the Cross , Magrey deVega faithfully describes the need for reconciliation between humankind and a holy God through Jesus’ death on the cross. The Bible uses many images to understand the meaning of Jesus' death and resurrection, and deVega guides us through these images to achieve a richer understanding of the Christian faith. By exploring the mystery of salvation through the cross, we can deepen our love for God and others and strengthen our commitment to follow Jesus

Components for this six-session study will include a book, leader guide, and a DVD with videos featuring deVega presenting each chapter's main ideas and themes. The leader guide will include instructions for showing and discussing these videos as an option for the group leader.

144 pages, Paperback

Published December 15, 2020

Reviews

[Joe Henry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t particularly want to read this book. It was suggested for a book group of which I am a member. I expected it to be the same explanations I have heard all my 8+ decades about the crucifixion of Jesus, “the cross,” and, to a lesser extent, the resurrection. I didn’t expect anything fresh. Ho-hum.

The book is organized into an Introduction (6 pages) and six chapters (124 pages) plus Notes (4 pages):
1. Substitution: Jesus Takes Your Place
2. Ransom: Jesus Sets You Free
3. Moral Example: Jesus Shows You How to Live
4. Reconciliation: Jesus Restores Your Relationship
5. Cleansing: Jesus Makes You Clean
6. Christus Victor: Jesus Gives You the Victory

It is not a heavy, strictly academic work; it is readable enough. In part, it is pastoral and gentle in tone. In fact, a comment by one of the group participants, himself a retired pastor, was that the author seemed like someone he would like to have for a pastor.

My take on it is that the author writes with unchallenged, unexplored assumptions:
1. We are made in image of God—that is, that God is like us humans.
2. God loves us humans, but/and there is judgment.
3. Jesus’s crucifixion was "a work,” as if Jesus were “on a mission from God.”

He begins with listing questions he gets as a pastor from 4th & 5th graders, questions, questions members of our “mature” group acknowledge still having:
• Why do innocent people suffer?
• Where do we go when we die?
• How can we explain the Trinity?
• How do we pray, and how do we know it’s doing any good?
• How do I know if I truly believe?
• Why did Jesus have to die to forgive our sins? Couldn’t God just forgive us?
• How exactly did the blood of Jesus save us?
• Did God plan the death of Jesus?

DeVega affirms the importance of what we “believe” because it is key to shaping our behavior. At the same time, in a nod to “faith seeking understanding,” he notes that sometimes we need to practice that belief until we are able to believe it. He doesn’t seem to wrestle with that too much.

The author himself puts it this way:
• This book focuses on one of the most common areas of the Christian faith in which we experience such growth spurts, the one that is most central to our beliefs: the work of Jesus on the cross.”
• The cross, after all, is the central symbol of the Christian faith. But what does it mean?
o What exactly did Jesus do to save us from our sins?
o Why was the cross necessary, and what does it mean to us today?
o What is it about the way Jesus died that offers salvation for us?
o Why did Jesus do what he did, and what does that mean for us?
• The Bible uses many different metaphors [reviewed by this book] to describe what happened on the cross and how it brings us salvation.

He concludes his Introduction with what I think of as a benediction upon the reader:
• May you be enriched by the rich tapestry of perspectives and images regarding Christ’s work on the cross.
• May your understanding of the cross be deepened, your behavior shaped by the Holy Spirit, and your commitment to Christ be strengthened.
• May you be inspired by God’s love for you, revealed in Jesus Christ. (p. xiv)

He spends no time considering what we mean by believing in or truth, but the reading of the book together did provide the opportunity to “talk amongst ourselves” about such things. We did have some lively, good discussion and sharing as well as some days that seemed to be a struggle.

[Jordan Thurman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I will preface this review with stating books that dive deep into more theological principles are really not my cup of tea. This was a book I read for my small group.

The aim of this book from my understanding is to explore different theories of the cross and Jesus’ resurrection. Although, I am not sure that was clarified in the book for me as much as it was in my small group.

I found these theories to be extremely repetitive and unnecessarily drawn out. Even at the end, the author says each theory has a common theme. I think the idea of each theory really gets drawn out too much in these chapters when there really is a basic principle that didn’t need 20 pages to explain. Basically, these ideas could have been a sermon, not a book. I found this book to try to over complicate things and therefore, it doesn’t seem to me like it would be appropriate for all walks of faith.

[Brooke Bowman · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is so much dividing us in today's world. This book takes different theories about how what Jesus did saves us all and brings them to a single message that we should all be able to agree on. We can't achieve salvation alone. God is calling all of us and wants us no matter what we've done to live a life with him now and for eternity.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book examines six different ways to look at Christ's atonement. Perhaps somewhat paradoxically, after having each of these theories isolated and identified, I found that I ended up with a better comprehensive understanding of the atonement.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

DeVega really lays out the six most popular theologies about Christ's sacrifice in a concise manner. Each view is brief but poignant and he presents no view as being above another. A great read to understand the imagery of the passion.

[Juan M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book with the Leaders guide for Bible Study at any time. The thoroughness of the presentation, the accuracy of the research, and the deep Wesleyan spirituality of the author allowed the Bible Study class to grow with this book. It was significant and life-changing.

[Scott Torrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lenten study on 6 theories about Christ's death on the cross
1) Substitution
2) Ransom
3) Moral example
4) Reconciliation
5) Cleansing
6) Christus Victor.

[Sandy Sopko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great text for Lenten study group!

[Joann]

Online Class group Lenten study. Chapter content made for interesting discussions.

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read for a Bible Stufy

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good Lenten study. I particularly appreciated the pros and cons featured at the end of each chapter. Devega does not tell you what to think but gives you prompts for thinking.

[Doug Lunsford · Rating 5 out of 5]

We used this as a Sunday School Study and it was terrific. I used the video version of the author’s high points of the book. Cool to study and prepare for the lesson.

[Ronnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pros: I usually do not like most United Methodist Bible studies because they are either uninspiring or are too progressive. As a United Methodist pastor, I was pleased with Pastor DeVega's study on the atonement. It's nice to have a UMC Bible study that is challenging. What I appreciated about this study was its emphasis on the atonement which is largely ignored in the church. I appreciated the diverse sections of each chapter such as definitions of sin and salvation, scripture references, church history references, pros and cons, and application.

Cons: What I did not like about the study was that while it was challenging and therefore served to help church members grow, it may be a little too heady for those unfamiliar with various atonement theories. This means that pastors or leaders will need to prepare secondary material to help people grasp the information. This is of course relative to every congregation so it cannot be criticized too much.

I also was somewhat taken aback with chapters four and five. The other chapters discuss particular atonement theories in church history. While reconciliation and cleansing are important aspects of the atonement, I found these two chapters out of alignment with the others.

Finally, while the author belabors to highlight the commonalities and merits of each atonement theory, their differences are not highlighted. The different theories can be harmonized if aspects of each are taken into consideration (which the author largely succeeds at doing). However, when it comes to theories like the Moral Influence Theory of Peter Abelard, who many believe holds to a theory in direct conflict with satisfaction theories of atonement, such cannot be harmonized. In this regard, I also felt that there may have been more emphasis and perhaps bias on atonement theories that stray away from satisfaction theories due to people's aversion for blood and violence. My personal theology holds that truth is objective and thus truth cannot be relegated to our sentiments or distaste for what the Bible teaches. So, alternatives to satisfaction/ penal substitution theories are in my view misguided and a distraction to the gospel.

[Steven Bullmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book I've read on atonement theories! Not only did deVega explain two more theories than I realized existed, he did so in a way that made each of them understandable and relatable. And his illustrations actually illustrated the theory being explored. Thanks to deVega I am seeing that the cross and resurrection have multiple ways of understanding how Christ accomplishes our salvation. It's not "one is right and the others are wrong," but more like each of them is applicable to different life situations and experiences.
DeVega has a creative mind and a writing style that reminds me of Frederick Buechner. He describes things I thought were disconnected and shows how, in fact, by putting them together it sheds light on the human condition. And the he shows how Jesus's salvific activity transforms that human condition.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to better understand their understanding of the atonement, and is willing to open their minds to other ways of understanding what Jesus has done for us.

[Danielle Hetzer · Rating 2 out of 5]

My church used this book in our small groups. I struggled with this book a little on my own but as a group when we were discussing it, it was easier. It is very dry and a little confusing to me.