What do Christians mean when they speak of "the Cross"?

July 5th, 2025
by Cara Erickson

As someone who is curious about Christian concepts or even as a new believer in Christ, sometimes it’s hard to get a straight and simple answer to a question. There are reasons for this (God and His ways are very complex), but it can be hard to know where to start and it can be overwhelming to have to read and research all kinds of things just to get a simple answer. The goal of this series of posts is to provide simple, concise answers and definitions to common questions about Christianity. These posts won’t be long or complicated, they won’t delve into all of the layers and angles that could be addressed in regards to each question; that’s not the intention. The intention is to give a clear and concise answer so that someone who is curious or new to the faith can have a starting point to work from. Think of it as Christianity 101, the very basics you need to know about foundational concepts in Christianity. We hope this will allow you to read the Bible or listen to Christian preaching and have a better understanding of what is being said. You are always welcome to email us with any specific questions you have: info@theywaysgf.com.

What do Christians mean when they speak of "the Cross"? Why do Christians talk about "the Cross" so much?

Christians speak of the cross so much because it is crux of Christianity. The whole Gospel Message (Link to What is the Gospel? article) is what makes us Christian and what gives us purpose in this life, but the central piece of that message is Jesus’ death on the cross. It’s where he exchanged His reward for His goodness for our punishment for our badness. Other words/phrases that are used interchangeably to talk about the cross are atonement, propitiation, God’s sacrifice, or atoning work.

Without the cross, the Gospel isn’t good news. The cross is the whole reason we can celebrate; it’s the ultimate demonstration of God’s love for us. Without the cross, there is no Christianity. So naturally, it gets brought up a lot.

Posted in Concise Christianity
Posted in Concise Christianity, the Cross, importance of the Cross