The wrecks of time refer to the long dismal catalogue of human frailty and failure, the rise and fall of kingdoms and empires and the general frailty of human-kind. In spite of all the hostility of the world towards God that simple symbol of the cross is something, "that this world cannot get out of its system."
Many people throughout history have died tortuous deaths, often innocently, but the death of Jesus remains unique. Why ? Because in dying upon the cross Christ was facing all the force of evil that this world can possibly muster, and was bearing the unspeakable burden of the sins and evils of all mankind. The Bible puts it briefly and succinctly that "Christ died for me." To some extent the Bible tries to explain the meaning of the cross, but ultimately this event which stands, as it were at the centre of history, is a great mystery.
But I want to look a few of the classical theories or models that have been propounded by great minds over the centuries, and to line each of them with the words of some generally well-known Christian hymn.
First, what is known as THE MORAL INFLUENCE THEORY
On which the Prince of Glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride. |
Such a view of the crucified Christ caused Watts to declare in the last verse:
That were an offering far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all. |
The second view is known as THE SUBSTITUTIONARY THEORY.
The main shortcoming of the Moral Influence Theory, in spite of Watt's famous hymn, is that it places the onus for our salvation mainly upon our own, personal, subjectivist response to the example of God's love seen in the cross. But the Bible clearly teaches that alongside our own human desire to change our sinful lives, there must be some special work in our lives by the power of God himself. In short, we cannot save ourselves from the power and consequences of sin - we must be delivered by the redeeming power of God's love. So this view states that Christ upon the cross, took upon himself the penalty that we should pay to a righteous God for our sins. By his sacrifice the guilt and power of our sins are lifted from our lives. As Augustus Toplady puts it in his great hymn:
Let me hide myself in thee; Let the water and the blood, From Thy riven side which flowed, Be of sin the double cure, Cleanse me from its guilt and power. |
A criticism of this theory by some theologians is that seems to present God as some immoral tyrant punishing the innocent for the sins of the guilty. But the fact is that Jesus' death was unique, for the righteous love that demanded the perfect, sinless sacrifice was the same love that provided that sacrifice on our behalf. This substitutionary theory finds the strongest Biblical support of all the current theories. As Toplady makes clear in the second verse of his famous hymn:
Can fulfil Thy law's demands; Could my zeal no respite know, Could my tears for ever flow, All for sin could not atone; Thou must save and Thou alone. |
And finally we have THE REDEMPTIVE OR CHRISTUS VICTOR THEORY
The Redemptive Theory , as such, goes back to the early days of the Christian Faith and revolves round the notion of hostages being redeemed or released from their captivity by the payment of a ransom price. As sinners we are held captive by Satan, and God offered his Son as a ransom to Satan, only for Satan to discover that he could not hold the perfect Christ. This was originally known as the "Fish-hook Theory" - Christ being the bait upon the hook, which the devil took and was caught and thus having to allow the fish to go free.
However, gradually this view faded mainly because of the morally dubious notion of God winning his victory by a combination of deceit and sheer force. More recently the idea of Christ's victory over Satan (Christus Victor) has been advanced rather than the more cruder notions of redemptive theory. The cross, with the resurrection as proof of God's victory over all the powers of darkness and the breaking of the of the bondage of sin is a more acceptable view Christ's atonement. By faith in Christ we share in this triumph which one day will be manifest throughout creation. Charles Wesley rejoices in this victory with his rousing words:
In glorious strength arrayed, His kingdom over all maintains, And bids the earth be glad, Ye peoples all rejoice In Jesus' mighty love Lift up your heart, lift up your voice To him who rules above. |
But the fact remains that no particular theory can fully express the mighty work of God's love in redeeming mankind, or in making Jesus Christ my personal Saviour or yours. One thing is clear that whilst presenting a grim picture of human sinfulness, the cross is also the supreme expression of God's love and mercy towards us, human beings, as hell-deserving sinners - a love and mercy which not only transform our lives, but also prepares them, not only for time, but also for eternity
As with his peace he graced this place of tears, Or how his heart upon the cross was broken, The crown of pain to three-and-thirty-years. But this I know, he heals the broken-hearted, And stays our sin, and calms our lurking fear, And lifts the burden from the heavy-laden, For yet the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is here. |
Douglas Graham