Some 'Cross Centered' Principles

• "We never move on from the cross, only into a more prolonged understanding of the cross." - David Prior
• "The message of the cross is the Christian's hope, confidence, and assurance."
• "The Spirit does not take his pupils beyond the cross, but even more deeper into it." - J.Knox Chamberlain

In Mahaney's writings, he encourages to always remember the cross, never move on from it. 'The cross is still at the center." "The gospel isn't one class among many that you'll attend during your life as a Christian - the gospel is the whole building that all classes take place in!" It is our foundation in Christian life, we can never truly move on from it, if we do our whole structure of life would collapse. "This book talks so much about what it takes to keep the gospel central." In his book, He attacks 3 world views that draw our hearts away from keeping the gospel central, they are:

1. "Legalism, which means basing our relationship with God our own performance."
2. "Condemnation, which means being more focused on our sin than on God's grace."
3. "Subjectivism, which means basing our view of God on our changing feelings and emotions."

We have to know and preach the gospel to ourselves to move past these world views, and keep it central. Ways we can get better at this is: memorize, pray, sing, reviews its changing effect, and study the gospel.

"Every day of our Christian experience," writes Jerry Bridges, "should be a day of relating to God on the basis of His grace alone. We are not only saved by grace, but we also live by grace every day."
May the truth that saved you always be the dearest truth of your life. As Martin Luther reportedly said, "I feel as if Jesus had died only yesterday." May the reality of Christ's death for you be that near your heart.
Never move on from it.
Jesus died for your sins. May your every day be live by His grace alone. May you know the joy and peace of the cross centered life.