Living the Cross Centered Life by C.J. Mahaney

Well, over the weekend I read Mahaney's Living the Cross Centered Life. It was a refreshing and enriching read. I won't post a detailed review of it, but I will give you some quotes and main points.

Basically, the work of Christ on the cross is something we should never move away from. The cross does not function merely to get one into heaven, but it serves as an anchor that sustains the entire Christian life. The realities that flow from the cross are the foundation for every Christian act henceforth. This book reflects on the gravity of sin, the fierceness of God's wrath, the justice of God, the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ, the love of God, and reconciliation that occurs as Christians are justified by the imputed righteousness of Christ. From there, Christians are to no longer fear the condemnation of God. They are to live a life of joy knowing that God has welcomed them into fellowship by the work of His Son. As moods come and go, the work of Christ remains the same. As those who have been purchased by His blood, we are to always remember from where we have been rescued and never depart from the mercy and grace God has shown us in making us His own.

Quotes:

"Never be content with your current grasp of the gospel. The gospel is life-permeating, world-altering, universe-changing truth. It has more facets than any diamond. We will never exhaust it's depths" (142).

"How easily we fall into the trap of assuming that we remain justified only so long as there are grounds in our character for justification" (111). (Quote from Sinclair Ferguson)

"Nothing in all creation is more steeped in the miraculous than the fact of your forgiveness and mine" (95)

"A cross-centered life is made up of cross-centered days" (132).

This book is short and sweet, but dense and challenging. It would do anyone good to grab a copy and soak it in. Praise the Lord for sending us the Christ.

Peace.
Comments? Thoughts? Questions?