Stranger and Pilgrim

“The thirst for glory is not ended by satisfying but rather by extinguishing.” Martin Luther

Two theologies exist in this world; amongst a cacophony of voices there are two stories of redemption, two worldviews of life, two overarching paradigms of ontology. These antithetical theologies are locked in mortal combat, they are the Story of Glory and the Story of The Cross.

This blog is dedicated to advancing the theology of the cross; a story that bring humility, a story that brings self-despair, a story that brings hope. The Cross Story is a theology which transforms the beholder and captivates the object of it’s power! It is a story which reaches out and makes you a part of its wonderful work by crucifying you with Christ.

The Glory Story is, for all intents and purposes, the chief arch-nemesis of the Cross. It seeks its own interests, it desires acknowledgment, and boasts of its own ability. Theologians of glory might be heard praising the Cross; but never without crediting themselves for part or all of the difference in their salvation.

By God’s providence, Martin Luther was graced with enabling to articulate these axiomatic antipodes with commanding contrast, brilliant profundity and scriptural humility. In twenty-eight pointed theses, Luther sets forth the fundamental truths most key to striking a death-blow to Romanism and works-righteousness. Instead of defining the theologies themselves, he describes the theologians.

Only eight months after Luther rocked the world with 95 Theses nailed to the Castle Church in Wittenberg, he was back with these 28 more pointed statements, this time they were nailed to the coffin of Catholicism. It is truly amazing how much insight God gave this man in only eight months, how far he was brought in truth, and how God made him free from the entanglements of Rome.

Known collectively as the “Heidelberg Disputation,” and worded in a way that only Luther could word them, these twenty-eight theses are as profound as they are intriguing. If any reader is not thoughtful in reading them, they can hardly be but misunderstood. Over the next few weeks, by the mercies of God, I hope to cover the Heidelberg Disputation in sections, to briefly explain each thesis from scripture, to show the wisdom concealed in these truths, and to exalt the resurrected Christ and the Glory of His cross!

“But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.” 1 Cor. 1:23-29

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“And I will remember My covenant.”—Genesis 9:15.

MARK the form of the promise. God does not say, “And when ye shall look upon the bow, and ye shall remember My covenant, then I will not destroy the earth,” but it is gloriously put, not upon our memory, which is fickle and frail, but upon God’s memory, which is infinite and immutable. “The bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant.” Oh! it is not my remembering God, it is God’s remembering me which is the ground of my safety; it is not my laying hold of His covenant, but His covenant’s laying hold on me. Glory be to God! the whole of the bulwarks of salvation are secured by divine power, and even the minor towers, which we may imagine might have been left to man, are guarded by almighty strength. Even the remembrance of the covenant is not left to our memories, for we might forget, but our Lord cannot forget the saints whom He has graven on the palms of His hands. It is with us as with Israel in Egypt; the blood was upon the lintel and the two side-posts, but the Lord did not say, “When you see the blood I will pass over you,” but “When I see the blood I will pass over you.” My looking to Jesus brings me joy and peace, but it is God’s looking to Jesus which secures my salvation and that of all His elect, since it is impossible for our God to look at Christ, our bleeding Surety, and then to be angry with us for sins already punished in Him. No, it is not left with us even to be saved by remembering the covenant. There is no mixture here—not a single thread of the creature mars the fabric. It is not of man, neither by man, but of the Lord alone. We should remember the covenant, and we shall do it, through divine grace; but the hinge of our safety does not hang there—it is God’s remembering us, not our remembering Him; and hence the covenant is an everlasting covenant.

– C.H. Spurgeon

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