Atonement

"God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ ..." (Gal. 6:14). So wrote the apostle Paul in about the year AD 48 - some fifteen years or so after the Jewish and the Roman authorities in Jerusalem had conspired together and, with the support of a murderous crowd, succeeded in putting Jesus of Nazareth to death by crucifixion.  
  
Paul boasted in the cross not only because God vindicated Jesus by raising him from the dead, demonstrating his defeat of death, but because he understood that Jesus had died for him ("the Son of God ... loved me and gave himself for me", Gal. 2:20) and that his death was powerful in its effects. For by dying in our place, Jesus "gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age" (Gal. 1:4), and "redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us" (Gal. 3:13).  
  
It is through this merciful act of substitution that the Lord Jesus Christ bore the penalty for our sins and so achieved 'atonement' (at+one+ment = reconciliation) between God and believing sinners. Not surprisingly, Christians have been singing about his wondrous cross ever since.  
  
The collection of songs contained on this CD seek to honour the risen Lord who died for us, celebrate his love and victory, proclaim the meaning of his sacrifice, and teach us how to live lives of gratitude in view of his grace. Our prayer is that they will be a blessing to all who hear and sing them, and that they will help us boast all the more in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.  
  
Produced by Andy Mak. Executive Producer Rob Smith.Read less