Cross Purposes: Discovering the Great Love of God for You

D. James Kennedy and Jerry Newcombe
Multnomah Publishers (2007)
ISBN 1590529693
Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views (2/07)

The Christian Gospel isn’t fair.  If it was fair, Christ would not have suffered and died on the cross.  “Because of my sin, justice demands that I experience the wrath of God.  Instead, because of grace, God has taken all my slimy iniquity and placed it on His own Son.”  We cannot earn grace it is freely offered.  “Grace involves a great sacrifice, even the sacrifice of one’s own life for another.” 

Kennedy explains the three R’s of incarnation.  Jesus came to reconcile us to God.  The requirements to live in the presence of God are “no sin and perfect obedience.”  We are not capable of that; it is only through Jesus Christ that “we may stand faultless in the presence of God.”  The second R is resurrection.  Christ died on the cross only to be resurrected again.  “Jesus defeated death.”  The third R is regeneration.  We are born again.  “There is a second birth, a spiritual birth that comes when we place our trust in Christ, when we invite Him to come into our heart and change our lives.”

“If you know in your head ‘God loves you,’ but you don’t feel it in the heart.  Then look to the cross.  See Jesus Christ dying and suffering for you.  Then see Him risen from the dead and ascended to heaven and seated at the right hand of His Father.”

This book arrived during the days first days of Lent.  What could be more timely?  From the moment I began to read the devotions I was hooked.  “Cross Purposes” puts in simple terms the love Jesus has for each of us.  He loved/loves us so much he was willing to die a horrible death in our place. But it doesn’t stop there.  He is the risen Christ.  He conquered death!  D. James  Kennedy is an extremely talented author.  I highly recommend “Cross Purposes” to everyone.
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Reviewed by A.J. Cooper for Reader Views (3/07)

"Cross Purposes" is a study of the crucifixion of Jesus and what that means for all of us. Examples are taken from the Old and New Testament. At the beginning of each chapter there is a scripture and the end there is a prayer or meditation.

This book would probably be a good accompaniment to a Bible study group or class. To me it read more as a textbook. The introduction suggested using the book as a personal or business devotional. The suggestion to use this book in a corporate setting seemed rather odd to me and I feel it would probably only work in a church setting and not in corporate
America.

This book is an interpretation by two men that includes examples from the Old and New Testament. The information appears reasonable but certainly is open for further interpretation and discussion. This may be the focus of the book--further discussion, not really sure. “Cross Purposes,” at times, seemed more of a task to read and not something I could pick up and read for the pure enjoyment of reading and learning something new. The comparisons between the Bible and current-day life sparked some interest for me but not enough to keep my full attention.

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