What is the atonement? Why was the blood of Christ necessary to offer us forgiveness from God? These are the questions at the heart of this book, a collection of sermons that each investigates the atoning work of Christ. As with most compilations, some parts are more helpful than others, but the sum total of this book provides a decent depth of material on a matter that both remains under attack and deserves our full attention. 

Propitiation within the Christian scheme is not human beings turning aside the wrath of God. Stunningly, it is God Himself appeasing His wrath. [38]

When we speak of being delivered from the bondage of sin by Christ, our love for Christ rejoices on the basis of what He’s done. The way to learn what is really at the heart of the religious experience of the Christian church is to look, not at the theology books, but at the hymnbooks. Look at the hymns that speak of our Lord Jesus Christ as the Redeemer—and of His work of redemption—if you want to learn the heart of the Christian’s experience. [86]

For those of you who know Him by grace alone, remember that you were bought with a price. Remember that He also commands us not to play the harlot. Do not flirt with the values of our culture, whatever they may be. You belong to Him! [99] 

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Written by preachers for preachers, this instructive work details the value of proclaiming God’s Word -- as it is written -- without ceding to the temptation to modernize or minimize what it says. It also addresses what makes preaching effective and what must be avoided. As with any compilation, some chapters are more helpful than others, but the whole volume remains a benefit to those called to preach (or to those wondering what biblical preaching entails).

People today do not like the words of the Bible because they do not like the Bible’s God. They say, “If only God would say something; if only God would speak to me.” But God has spoken. They do not accept it because they do not like Him. [20]

Faith is more than an intellectual assent to certain things. Faith has several elements. It has content or knowledge. It has the warming of the heart. It has a volitional element or commitment. All are important, but at the beginning is the matter of content. People have to know Him on whom they are to call, because no one can call on Christ for salvation who does not understand who He is and what He has done. [22]

If you keep close to God, you will keep from sin. But if you sin persistently, you will fall away from God. Then you will rename the sin. You will not talk about pride, the great sin; you will call it “self-esteem,” “self-worth,” or what is “due to me.” You will not talk about gluttony and materialism; you will talk about “the good life.” You will not talk about disobedience; you will talk about “shortcomings.” You will not talk about the Ten Commandments and your violation of them; you will talk about “mistakes.” It is only when you draw close to God that these things will become increasingly sinful in your sight. Only then will they work together to make you a preacher committed to calling men and women to repentance and faith in Christ before the judgment comes. [32]  

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In a series of seven sermons, Boice and Ryken delved into the trial of Jesus, borrowing legal language to walk through the events leading up to Christ’s death. Although it is a brief, introductory-level approach, it remains helpful in that it reviews often overlooked aspects of the way Jesus was tried and discusses their importance. On a more somber note, these sermons are among the last Boice preached before his death from liver cancer in 2000.

Jesus is just full of surprises. Put him to death, and he comes back to life. Conspire against him, seeking his death, and he will conspire against you, dying for your sins and then rising again to give you eternal life. Put Jesus on trial—if you dare! Try to decide if he measures up to your standards and you will discover that all the while he has been investigating you. Perhaps even now Jesus is plotting to bring you into a whole new relationship with him. [31]

Few things have done more damage to the cause of Christ than misguided attempts to advance his kingdom with the sword. To be sure, the church is engaged in warfare; yet all the weapons in its arsenal are spiritual: truth, righteousness, peace, faith, prayer, “and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17). [51]

God will judge us on the basis of our decision about Jesus Christ. Thus the trial of Jesus has a way of putting us on trial. We are forced to reach a verdict on Jesus; and God, in turn, judges us on the basis of that verdict. [82] 

When Jesus died, everything to which the Old Testament sacrifices pointed was fulfilled. There is no need for any further sacrifice for sin. God has accepted the sacrifice of his Son as the full payment for sin. The death penalty has been fully executed, and now the way to God is open for all who would put their trust in Jesus. God showed this dramatically by tearing the veil from top to bottom. [109]

Because of Christ’s saving work, it is now possible for those who believe on him to approach God directly. The people of God could not do this before Christ’s death. They needed to approach God indirectly, asking a priest to intercede for them. But now the way is open for everybody. [112]

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In another volume of the Today’s Issues series of booklets, Boice tackles the identity of evangelicals, pointing to the definitive belief: justification is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Although brief in nature, Boice’s work is able to give some helpful insight into the distinguishing features of an evangelical church. Sadly, the format limits the depth of information, which tends to be sporadic at times. A serviceable primer on evangelicalism, but little else.

The world’s theology is easy to define. It is the view that human beings are basically good, that no one is really lost, and that belief in Jesus Christ is not necessary for anyone’s salvation, though it may be helpful for some people. [10]

Unfortunately, it is possible to believe that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice, as many if not all evangelicals claims to do, and yet neglect it and effectually repudiate it because we think that it does not really work today and that other things need to be brought in to accomplish what the Bible cannot do. [20]

Paul’s approach to sanctification is to teach doctrine. That is, to live as Christians, we must know what God has done to and for us in making us Christians. We must know what has happened, and the only way we can know what has happened is to know the Bible. Then, because we know it, we are to go on with God, acting on the basis of what has been done. [23]

God has given us all the guidance we need in the Bible. So if there is something we want or think we need that is not in the Bible—what job shall I take? Where shall I live? Whom shall I marry?—after having prayed for God’s providential guidance, we are free to do whatever seems best to us, knowing that God, who cares for us always, will certainly keep us on His path. It does not matter what specific action we take as long as we are obeying God and trying to live a godly life. That does not mean God does not have a plan for our lives in all these areas. He does. He has a detailed plan for all things…but it does mean that we do not have to know this plan in advance and, indeed, cannot. What we can know and need to know is what God has told us in the Bible. [24]

Christ and His cross are no longer the focus of our thinking, and because they are not, evangelicalism has become a movement shaped largely by the surrounding popular culture and by sentiment. [32] 

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Through a series of Easter Sunday sermons delivered throughout his ministry, Boice addresses the empty tomb and what it means—for Christ and those who follow Him. In sermonic style, Boice examines both the evidences for the resurrection and the implications of the resurrection for the first disciples and for believers today. A good reminder of the sole importance the resurrection of Christ has, not only in Christian faith, but it the scope of human history.

I do not know why some people think that it is meritorious to express doubt in matters of religion. They think that it is somehow vain or impolite to be certain and that it is humble and therefore desirable to say, “I do not know…I hope so…I would like to believe…I think…” Nothing could be more faulty. The humble person is the one who bows before God’s revelation and accepts it because of who God is. It is the proud man who thinks he knows enough about anything to doubt God. [24]

What was Mary Magdalene looking for? She was looking for a dead body. What God had given her was the living Lord. [103]

The purpose of religion is to seek out and know God. If religion fails to help people find and know God, it fails as religion, whatever else it may or may not accomplish. That is precisely what the religions of Paul’s day and the religions of our day are guilty of. They talk big, but they do not assist the worshipper to know God. [142]

When we talk about the Christian faith we are not talking primarily about a philosophy, though Christianity has philosophical overtones. We are not talking about a system of morality, though Christianity has moral implications. We are talking about truth—something that has occurred in history and that makes all the difference in the world. [151]

While in one sense denial might satisfy us if we are not now facing death—at least to the extent that we are not thinking about it—it hardly satisfies anybody who is face to face with that reality. A false optimism does no good. [165] 

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Culled from sermons preached around Christmas during the first twenty years of his ministry, this reprint from Boice provides useful insight into the way Scripture presents the birth of Christ. Boice looks at some lesser-known figures of the Christmas story and also adeptly fits the birth of Christ into context with His later death and resurrection. While not very in-depth, it remains a solid look at one of the single most important events in human history. 

If the story were a fable or even an event that merely happened 2,000 years ago (or even 100 years ago) and then ended, it would have no hold upon us. What does it really matter that somebody died long ago in a far-off land? I have my problems. You have your problems. So what? But if the One who came then still comes, if He comes to the individual through His Spirit to bring the results of the salvation He accomplished 2,000 years ago to where you and I stand and act now, then this story lives and enables us to live also. [25]

The virgin birth tells us that there was never a moment in the human life of Jesus Christ, going back to the very moment of His conception, when Jesus was not God. He was always God. He was the God-man from the beginning. [77]

Do not be disheartened by what are apparently your own small efforts to spread the gospel or by your own weak beginnings in the Christian life. God is not finished with you yet. His gospel has not yet run its course. He has told us that we will be like Jesus one day. He has promised that His Word will not return to Him void. Take heart! You cannot see the end of these things from the beginning. [90]

There are many paths, but there is only one that will take you to God…Do not insult God by trying to invent another way; do not frustrate yourself by trying to do so. There is no other way. Other ‘ways to God’ will end only in disappointment and ruin. [143]

Anyone can understand Christmas by just three propositions: (1) I am a sinner; (2) as a sinner I need a Savior; (3) Jesus is that Savior. [169] 

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