The notion which the phrase ‘penal substitution’ expresses is that Jesus Christ our Lord, moved by a love that was determined to do everything necessary to save us, endured and exhausted the destructive divine judgment for which we were otherwise inescapably destined, and so won us forgiveness, adoption and glory. To affirm penal substitution is to say that believers are in debt to Christ specifically for this, and that this is the mainspring of all their joy, peace and praise both now and for eternity. --JI Packer, from article The Logic of Penal Substitution



“The cross is the blazing fire at which the flame of our love is kindled, but we have to get near enough for its sparks to fall on us.” --John Stott


“The cross is God’s way of standing worldly power and authority on its head… God’s way of putting us & the world to rights … The cross challenges and subverts all the human systems which claim to put the world to rights but in fact only succeed in bringing a different set of humans out on top.” –Tom Wright

“Only those who are aware of God’s wrath are amazed at God’s grace.” --C.J. Mahaney

Rec’d Resources… To look into “the cup of God’s wrath” further:
Christ Our Mediator, C.J. Mahaney (96 pages) The Cross of Christ, John Stott (380 pages)

Help for Parents! Dr. R.C. Sproul's newest story, The Prince's Poison Cup, is the story of a little girl, Ella, who is sick and must take yucky medicine to make her well. Ella wonders why something that will make her get well has to taste so bad. She puts the question to Grandpa who tells her the story of atonement and the terrible price that Jesus had to pay for our redemption by being willing to drink that awful cup. Great Christmas present!