1. The Power of the Cross
Categorized topics
- 1. The Power of the Cross
- 2. The Atonement and Forgiveness of Sin
- 3. The Crucifixion: A Sacrifice for Humanity
- 4. The Resurrection and Victory Over Death
- 5. Grace and Redemption Through the Cross
- 6. Living in Light of the Cross
The Power of the Cross
- 1. How can a method of execution, like the cross, be considered a symbol of power and hope?
- 2. Why is the cross venerated when it was a tool of humiliation and suffering?
- 3. How does the cross reflect victory when Jesus appeared defeated and powerless on it?
- 4. Why is the power of the cross still relevant today if Christ’s crucifixion happened 2,000 years ago?
- 5. Can’t morality and salvation exist without the concept of a crucifixion?
- 6. Why does Orthodox theology emphasize the cross as central to spiritual life and prayer?
The Atonement and Forgiveness of Sin
- 7. Why would an all-loving God require a blood sacrifice to forgive sins?
- 8. Couldn’t God simply forgive humanity without the need for Jesus’ death?
- 9. How does the Orthodox understanding of atonement differ from penal substitutionary atonement?
- 10. Why is Jesus’ death necessary for forgiveness when God is portrayed as merciful in the Old Testament?
- 11. How does the cross reconcile God’s justice with His mercy?
- 12. If forgiveness is conditional on faith in Jesus, what happens to those who have never heard of Him?
The Crucifixion: A Sacrifice for Humanity
- 13. How does Jesus’ crucifixion serve as a sacrifice for all humanity?
- 14. Why would God’s plan for salvation involve such immense suffering and public humiliation?
- 15. How does the Orthodox Church view the crucifixion as the ultimate act of love?
- 16. Why was the crucifixion necessary if God could have redeemed humanity in another way?
- 17. How does the crucifixion address the problem of evil and humanity’s alienation from God?
The Resurrection and Victory Over Death
- 18. If the resurrection symbolizes victory over death, why does physical death still exist?
- 19. Could the resurrection accounts have been fabricated by the disciples?
- 20. How does the resurrection validate the significance of the crucifixion?
- 21. Why does Orthodox theology link the cross and resurrection as inseparable in the story of salvation?
- 22. How does the resurrection provide evidence for Jesus’ divinity beyond the crucifixion?
Grace and Redemption Through the Cross
- 23. How does the cross provide grace and redemption for humanity?
- 24. Why is grace viewed as a free gift if it requires faith and repentance to receive?
- 25. Can non-Christians experience redemption without believing in the power of the cross?
- 26. How does the Orthodox Church view the cross as transformative for the believer’s spiritual journey?
- 27. Why is the cross central to redemption if salvation could be seen as a broader process of transformation?
Living in Light of the Cross
- 28. How does the cross influence Christian ethics and daily living?
- 29. Why do Christians see the cross as a call to self-denial and sacrifice?
- 30. How can suffering and trials in life be linked to the concept of carrying one’s cross?
- 31. How does the Orthodox understanding of carrying one’s cross differ from a purely symbolic interpretation?
- 32. Why does the cross inspire hope and resilience in the face of modern challenges?