Theology of the Cross

Transcription

1 Theology of the Cross

2 Rate Your Obedience to God On a scale of 1 to 10, honestly rate your obedience to God. You will not be asked to share your answer.

3 Reflect on God s Love Is your sense of God s love for you related to how you re doing with obedience?

4 Reflect on God s Love But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

5 Reflect on God s Love Nothing you DO can make God love you MORE.

6 Reflect on God s Love Nothing you DO can make God love you MORE. Nothing you DO can make God love you LESS. This is GOOD NEWS!

7 The Promise of God s Love For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38 39 (ESV)

8 Clarifications I m not a universalist. I hold to the ecumenical (church-wide) orthodox (conforming to established doctrine) that states, We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by our works. So, why ask this question?

9 Clarifications So, why ask this question? Because Christian spirituality often blurs the line between justification and sanctification, which can bring a yolk of slavery or entrap you in lies. So, let s know that Truth that will set us free.

10 Augustinian Spirituality An Augustinian model of Christian spirituality is influenced by Aristotle s practicing of the virtues. So, like our sense of obedience, when we look at ourselves, we always fall short. Most of us feel guilty about our obedience, selfishness, etc. Bishop Augustine of Hippo (Africa) AD

11 Augustinian Spirituality An Augustinian model of Christian spirituality is influenced by Aristotle s practicing of the virtues. So, like our sense of obedience, we always seen to fall short. Most of us feel guilty about our prayer life.

12 Theology of the Cross In contrast to the theology of glory

13 Justification Sanctification Theology of the Cross Sanctified: Growing to be Justified: made righteous in the sight of God. ( Righteous-ized or pardoned) God s work! Grace alone! like Christ. We cooperate with the Holy Sprit s work in our lives. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)

14 A little grammar: Theology of the Cross Subject Verb Direct object God saved me. God forgave my sins. Theology of the Glory Subject Verb Direct object I chose to follow Jesus. I asked Jesus (into my heart).

15 Theology of the Cross Subject Verb Direct object God saved me. God forgave my sins. Theology of the Glory Subject Verb Direct object I chose to follow Jesus. I asked Jesus (into my heart).

16 The Theology of the Cross Faith doesn t say I believe, but Christ died for me! Faith believes the promise, because God does not lie. Paraphrase from Philip Cary, Luther Law and Gospel

17 The Theology of the Cross Life is one big lesson in learning to trust God. * ~Beth Elness-Hanson * In order to be faithful Christ-like servants for the Mission of God by the power of the Holy Spirit.

18 Christ, the Power and Wisdom of God For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart. Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God s weakness is stronger than human strength. 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

19 The Theology of the Cross According to Luther, the theology of the cross preaches what seems foolish to the world (1 Cor. 1:18). In particular, the theology of the cross preaches that: (1) humans can in no way earn righteousness, (2) humans cannot add to or increase the righteousness of the cross, and (3) any righteousness given to humanity comes from outside of us (extra nos).

20 The Theology of Glory In contrast, in Luther's view, the theology of glory preaches that: (1) humans have the ability to do the good that lies within them, (2) humans cannot be saved (justified) without participating in or cooperating with the righteousness given by God.

21 The Theology of Glory Religions of glory have as their first and foremost goal the encouragement of good human performance Luther on the Theology of the Cross by Robert Kolb, (447) or

22 The Theology of Glory A religion dependent on human willing and human works is on the prowl for the hidden God and will inevitably reshape God in our own image. People draw up job descriptions for God and become angry or disappointed with him when he does not prove himself equal to their task. Winter/LQ_16-4_04_Kolb.pdf (448, 450)

23 The Theology of the Cross The delicate thing about [the theology of the cross] is that it attacks the best we have to offer, not the worst. On Being a Theologian of the Cross by Gerhard O. Forde (447) or

24 The Theology of the Cross Therefore the theology of the cross is an offensive theology... [because] it attacks what we usually consider the best in our religion, human performance of pious deeds. (447)

25 The Theology of Glory Many Christians think that the goal of their faith is being righteous. Paraphrase from Philip Cary, Luther Law and Gospel

26 The Theology of Glory Many Christians think that the goal of their faith is being righteous. How short sighted! It would be like marrying someone for their money. Paraphrase from Philip Cary, Luther Law and Gospel

27 So, what is the role of works? The Bible actually has a lot to say about our behavior. For example, the Apostle Paul says in Galatians 6:9-10 that we should do good. (Walking in the Spirit empowers us to do good!) The important issue is to remember that God doesn t need our good works (nothing we do can make us righteous in God s eyes), but the broken and hurting world does!

28 So, what is the role of works? The nature of mature faith is doing good works (as the fruit of the Spirit). Just as the nature of lightning is to seek the ground, the nature of faith is such that God s love flows in us to overflowing to others in order to make a difference (be a blessing) to the world.

29 So, what is the role of works? Just don t be deluded or fooled into thinking that your good deeds make you a good Christian. We are all forgiven sinners! We trust that our sins were forgiven by Jesus death and resurrection 2000 years ago. So, because we are all sinners, we are NOT defined by our sin!

30 The Theology of the Cross Only at the foot of the cross can true human identity be discovered. There, realizing whose I am, I realize who I am. ~Robert Kolb, 452

31 Look for the theology of the cross and the theology of glory > Hope for Today > You Can Live Your Best Life Now 7 ChristianFaithCenter.org > About CFC > (scroll down to) Christian Faith Mission and Values Statement Centre%20Basics (search what we believe) Core Values

32 CHAMPIONS CENTRE BASICS THE CHURCH WE SEE IS EXCITING, GROWING AND FULL OF LIFE. Is equipping people to live successful Christian lives. Is a place where people from all walks of life have an inspiring love and commitment to each other. Is so relevant and clear that lives are forever changed and people are transformed into champions. Is attractive, confident and committed a place of excellence in both attitude and effort. Is a life giving church. Is a TEAM church. Is a church we give our lives for. (accessed 12/3/2014)

33 Case study: Champions Centre The Church We See... Is so relevant and clear that lives are forever changed and people are transformed into champions. Is attractive, confident and committed a place of excellence in both attitude and effort. Is a church we give our lives for.

34 Case study: Champions Centre "Equipping People to live Successful Christian Lives Excellence - We value excellence in life and ministry as the only attitude that honors God.

35 The Theology of the Cross And on the cross Christ destroyed our sin as the factor that determines our identity. We are not defined by sin! (445)

36 The Theology of the Cross What a tremendous relief it should be... to discover that we don't need to prove ourselves to God. - Desmond Tutu

37 The Theology of the Cross By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 1 John 3:19 20 (ESV)

38 Who am I? By Casting Crowns

39 Theology of the cross in a contemporary (Western) context.