The cradle and the cross

The deepest feelings need the deepest roots: the profound realities of the deliberate and decisive acts of the Son of God in coming into the world to save.

To grasp this, we must begin at the right starting point: his true divinity, his full equality of being and glory with his Father.

We must go on to consider the first step of his humiliation - his coming into the world as a man. But the incarnation is not itself enough to secure salvation.

We must also follow the further steps: as a man he became obedient to death, even the death of the cross.

We cannot afford to be Christmas Christians - Christians of the cradle alone. True Christianity must embrace the cradle, but also reach the cross. A Christian puts his or her faith in the incarnate Son of God who suffered the death of the cross for our salvation.