The Grievousness of Sin

         Anselm of Canterbury, an 11th century theologian, published a landmark book titled Cur Deus Homo (literally: Why God Became Man).  In it he presents his view for the necessity of the substitutionary atonement of Christ.  He argues that God had to become man in the person of Christ and had to die on the cross in order to atone for man’s sin.  The weight of his argument rest on the seriousness of sin and the justice of God’s character.  The book is presented as a conversation between Anselm and his friend, Boso.  At first Boso seems unclear as to why Jesus had to die on the cross to pay for sins.  Thus, at the beginning of chapter 21, Anselm asks this very important question: “Have you not yet considered of what a grievous weight sin is?”  Anselm’s point is essentially this--if we fail to understand the magnitude of Christ’s death on the cross, it is because we fail to understand the magnitude of sin in the eyes of God. ​

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