Lucid Theology

Richard Phillips (author of the recent book, Jesus the Evangelist) posted this recently on the Reformation21 blog:

If we are fascinated or excited about anything more than the fact that the Son of God voluntarily suffered in our place, bearing the guilt our sins deserved, then we are in big trouble. I get the impression that many today — both in the broadly evangelical world and in the Reformed world — are rather bored with the cross of Christ and the justification of sinners through faith alone. But there is no greater mystery and no more glorious theme than this. Do we get bored hearing the “same old gospel?” If so, our ministries and our lives are heading for big trouble. In my opinion, there would be no more powerful influence in our lives and our churches than for us sincerely to exclaim with Paul: May I never boast except in the cross of Christ Jesus my Lord.

These are very wise and convicting words by a man who like me understands how easy it is for one to lose sight of the cross. I remember growing up as a young boy always wanting to buy some new toy. My grandma would buy it for me, I would play with it for a few weeks, then I would jump to the next “big” thing. Things haven’t changed much since then. Last year I was able to buy (with my own money) a Dell E1505 Inspiron laptop; after years of a rugged old desktop with dial-up internet, I was able to zoom on the internet and do all my assignments in half the time with half the stress. I remember being so passionate about my new laptop—taking it everywhere. It didn’t take long for me to get over it.

But when it comes to the cross—the cornerstone of our faith—why do we lose the passion? I’d venture to say that we lose the passion for the cross because we lose sight of the cross. When we stop looking at Calvary where our Savior laid down His life for us, that is where we begin looking at ourselves and our wants and our plans and our good deeds. We lose passion because we get bored with the gospel. But may it never be! The great reformer Martin Luther once said that he felt as though Christ had died yesterday. Every day of our lives we should feel as though Christ had only died but yesterday.

The way is the by the cross. How are we saved? By the cross. How are we sustained? By the cross. Everything in our Christian lives flows out of the work of Christ on the cross. It is there where we have been justified and delivered from our sin.

Are you bored with the cross?

John MacArthur, in preaching on the subject of the cross, gave this final exhortation in one of his sermons:

I would encourage you to look in your own heart this morning; do you glory in the flesh? Do you think that in your own strength, on your own merit, by your own credentials and religious efforts and activities and ethics and morality you’re going to enter God’s kingdom and His eternal heaven? Are you outside the gate negotiating your own price or have you come realizing God has established the way in Jesus Christ? And kneeling at the foot of the cross do you confess your sin and embrace the savior? It’s your choice. Empowered by the Spirit of God may you make the right choice.