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Scandalous by D.A. Carson Review

As Christians we all know about the Cross of Christ. We're all 'super familiar' with it and hence we lose the wonder of it. Do we really know the significance of the Cross of Christ?

I know for me I used to lose the wonder of the Cross. But then I started to see just how central Christ is in absolutely everything and I realised that without the Cross Christianity is nothing. When you see the weight and seriousness of your sin in the light of God's grace, you're simply in awe, astounded that He would go to that length for you, and for His chosen people. 

I think it was Martin Luther that said, "You need to preach the Gospel to yourself daily". There is so much truth in this, echoing Matthews Gospel, where Jesus says, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it" (Matthew 16:24-28). We must indeed remind ourselves of the Gospel of Christ daily, of what God has done for us in Christ by the Spirit. It's astounding what happens when you do this through the Word of God and prayer. It changes everything.

Now let's talk briefly about the whole point of this post! D.A. Carson is Research Professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in the States. I had heard a few sermons from him before since he is the President of The Gospel Coalition, but I hadn't read any of his work before. So I was keen to read something by him, and I thought what better than a book on the Cross of Christ, since it is so central in our faith. So I got it and read it.

I didn't really know what to expect, but I started reading it with a desire to enjoy his work. So I read it and was simply blown away by how faithful it was and how it presented the ironies of the Cross in such an accessible way. He writes at length, expertly exegeting key Gospel passages from all over the Bible, not just the New Testament (since Christ is pointed to by the whole of the OT). He presents the Cross and things which I hadn't considered before in a very well written, Biblically faithful fashion. 

There isn't a lot else to say, except go and read it! God will use it and His Word (primarily His Word) to show you how glorious the person and work of Christ is! Be thankful that you are redeemed, and rejoice in the truth despite the changing circumstances of life! 

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