God’s law, in summary, is to love Him and love others – perfectly. We cannot fulfill God’s wise and loving law. Jesus, being God, offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice for our sin because He was sinless. He was both fully God and fully man and that is why He could be an acceptable sacrifice for our sin. At the cross, God’s wrath and judgement was poured out on Himself – instead of on us. Because Jesus fully paid the price for our sin, we will not know God’s wrath. Instead, we will know God’s mercy. At the cross, perfect justice for sin and perfect mercy for us are shown. Galatians 3:10-14, John 3:16
Not only is the cross a symbol of the love, sacrifice and forgiveness of our King – it is also a powerful picture of what it means for us, as children of the King, to live life according to His Kingdom. It is “cross shaped.” It is a life of love and service. It is a life of self emptying, others facing care. It is a life of laying power down to serve others, not trying to gain power to serve ourselves.