6th July 2025

Every time the Gospel is proclaimed, those who hear the message and receive Christ as Saviour and Lord come to faith by way of the cross. When we think about the cross, there are at least four dimensions to contemplate.  

The breadth of the cross – It stretches around the world. The love of Christ, shown at the cross, is towards everyone: ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.’ (John 3:16-17). God loves us all. His love extends to Africa, Asia, Latin America, Russia, China, and the whole world. It includes you, whoever you are, wherever you are from. God says from the cross, ‘I love you.’

The length of the cross – It has no measure. It extends from eternity to eternity, from everlasting to everlasting. The benefits of the cross were established before time itself: ‘…the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world’ (Revelation.13:8). And as Christ was offered through the eternal Spirit (Hebrews 9:14), the benefits of the cross extend into eternity by offering salvation, forgiveness, and a restored relationship with God forever. It provides eternal life to those who believe, giving access to God’s presence and enabling humanity to experience a lasting union with him. 

The height of the cross – It extends to the heights of God’s throne. Through the cross, God draws all people to himself, as Jesus said, ‘…when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.’ (John 12:32). We are lifted from the dust of our existence and the ash heap of our fallenness to be seated with Christ in the heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6). We will be placed on ‘A glorious throne, exalted from the beginning, [that]  is the place of our sanctuary.’ (Jeremiah 17:12).

The depth of the cross – It reaches the darkest places. We could have sunk to the lowest place, be the worst sinner imaginable: a murderer, a rapist, or a paedophile, but no one can go so low that they are beyond the love of God shown at the cross. Jesus’s sacrifice is sufficient to reach every sin and every sinner. How deep is God’s love? ‘Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!…’ (Romans 11:33). As Horatio Spafford wrote,

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!  ¹

The forgiveness and the mercy of God shown to us at the cross are so profound that it is there, and there alone, we are free to boast.

¹ Hymn: It is well

Local congregation:
Grace Communion West Hampstead 
Sidings Community Centre
150 Brassey Road
West Hampstead
London
NW6 2BA

Meeting time:
Sunday 12.30 pm

Local congregational contact:
Gordon Brown
gordon.brown@gracecom.church

Word of Life contact:  
wordoflife@gracecom.church