“The ground is level at the foot of the cross.” The quote has been attributed to a famous denominational preacher. A search for its origin revealed several sermons and articles, including strong words against it.
What does the metaphor communicate? The statement does not speak to the terrain of Calvary’s hill. Instead, it communicates equal access of some kind. Calvinist authors responded very negatively to this interpretation. The Calvinist believes humans do not have equal access to salvation, but that God has reserved it for the elect. Some Calvinists even say something along the lines of “Not one drop of Jesus’ blood was wasted.” In other words, he died only for those whom God chose beforehand. If he died for anyone who ultimately will perish in hell, then God somehow failed or “wasted his blood.” This short article cannot address all of the problems with the Calvinist system of belief, but remember Jesus’ own words on this point, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32; v. 33 indicates that Jesus refers to his death here).
However the original speaker may have intended the statement, another application presents itself. Simply put, every human being approaches the cross with the same need. Regardless of our prior religious experiences, race, gender, education, wealth, class, or status, we bring nothing to Calvary’s hill that could take the place of Jesus’ sacrifice. We bring nothing that could add to or take away from what Jesus has done for us.
The human response to God’s gospel plan – faith (John 3:16), repentance (Luke 13:3), confession (Romans 10:9, 10), and immersion (Acts 2:38) – is not a series of meritorious works by which a person earns salvation. Rather, it is the divinely given process all human beings must follow in order to receive that which God alone can supply.
When we recognize “the ground is level at the foot of the cross,” all grounds for boasting will disappear. Paul told the divided Galatians, “far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (6:14). We approach the cross on level ground, with the same basic need, knowing the answer to that need is equally available to all. Praise God!
Clay Leonard