From the Writings of Dr. John Stott, Reflections on Good Friday

To be an enemy of the cross is to set ourselves against its purposes. Self-righteousness (instead of looking to the cross for justification), Self Indulgence (instead of taking up the cross to follow Christ), Self-advertisement (instead of preaching Christ crucified) and Self-glorification (instead of glorying in the cross) – these are the distortions which make us “enemies”of Christ’s Cross. 

Three Lessons I've learned from the cross:
First, that my sin is foul beyond words. If there were no way for our sins to be cleansed and forgiven but that the Son of God should die for them, then our sins must be sinful indeed.
Secondly, I learn that God’s love is great beyond all understanding. He could have abandoned us to our just fate and left us to perish in our sins. But he did not. He loved us, and he pursued us even to the desolate agony of the cross. 
Thirdly, I learn that salvation is a free gift. I do not deserve it. I cannot earn it. I do not need to attempt to procure it by my own merit or effort. Jesus Christ on the cross had done everything that is necessary for us to be forgiven. He has borne our sin and curse. 

What, then, must we do? Nothing! Nothing but fall on our knees in penitence and faith, and stretch out an open, empty hand to receive salvation as a gift that is entirely free.

May our hearts be stirred as we understand more fully that "Christ who knew no sin became sin for us, that the righteousness of God may be inputed onto our lives. We live and Die, He Died that We may Live