What The Cross really means: Redemption Through Christ’s Cross

The Cross in the Old Testament

The symbolic foundations of the cross are rooted in Israel’s covenantal practices, particularly the sacrificial system outlined in Leviticus 16.

In the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:15-16, 20-22), the high priest entered the Most Holy Place with blood to atone for the people’s sins, a ritual that prefigured Christ’s singular, once-for-all sacrifice. A second goat, the ‘scapegoat,’ bore the community’s sins into the wilderness, symbolizing the removal of guilt through substitution. These acts underscored the necessity of death for atonement, a concept central to understanding the cross’s redemptive role.

The Old Testament’s sacrificial framework taught that sin required a substitute, a truth fulfilled in Jesus’ crucifixion. This continuity between Israel’s rituals and the cross highlights how God’s plan of redemption was both revealed and progressively unveiled through covenantal symbols.

The Cross and Jesus' Fulfillment

Jesus’ crucifixion transforms the cross from a symbol of substitutionary sacrifice into the ultimate act of redemptive fulfillment, as revealed in Galatians 3:13.

In this verse, Paul declares that Christ ‘redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us,’ redefining the cross as both a sacrificial atonement and a liberation from legalistic condemnation. By bearing the curse associated with the law’s demands, Jesus absorbs the penalty of sin while simultaneously dismantling its power over humanity. This reinterprets the cross as a divine intervention that reconciles law and grace, death and life, rather than as a transactional exchange. The theological shift here is significant. The cross becomes the place where God’s justice and mercy converge, fulfilling the Old Testament’s sacrificial typology with a permanent, personal redemption.

The New Testament’s theological shift positions the cross as the means by which sin’s curse is annulled, not transferred. Unlike the temporary atonement of Levitical sacrifices, Jesus’ death on the cross effects a definitive liberation. His identification with humanity’s curse breaks its hold rather than managing its effects.

This dual role of sacrifice and liberation - rooted in Galatians 3:13 - sets the foundation for understanding the cross as the heart of Christian hope. It underscores that redemption is about restoration, not substitution, as the cross becomes the instrument through which God renews His covenantal relationship with humanity. This reorientation paves the way for exploring the cross’s broader symbolic resonance in the New Testament’s narrative of freedom and new creation.

What the Cross Means for Us Today

The cross shapes contemporary Christian life by calling believers to embody grace and reconciliation in tangible ways.

Jesus’ command to ‘take up your cross’ (Mark 8:34) - ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me’ - challenges followers to daily align their lives with the cross’s message of self-sacrificial love. This act of discipleship reflects the grace received through Christ’s sacrifice, urging believers to extend forgiveness and seek reconciliation in relationships. The cross thus becomes both a symbol of God’s unmerited favor and a summons to active, humble service. Embracing this dual reality transforms Christian identity, grounding practical living in the tension between the cross’s gift and the cross’s demand.

Going Deeper

To deepen your understanding of the cross’s theological significance, consider exploring how Paul’s letters contrast the world’s reliance on human wisdom with the transformative power of Christ’s crucifixion.

In 1 Corinthians 1:17-25, Paul argues that the message of the cross appears foolish to those who prioritize human achievement, yet it reveals God’s wisdom that surpasses human understanding. Additionally, the cross’s adoption as a central Christian symbol in the 4th century, particularly during Constantine’s reign, reflects its growing role in shaping early Christian identity and practice.