Luther’s Theology of the Cross

As Luther explains it, there is no other true locus of the knowledge of God than the cross of Christ. And yet, in the cross of Christ God is both at the same time revealed, and paradoxically hidden from view just as he is revealed. Like Moses, the cross only grants a view of God from the rear – a posteriora. God in his revelation is also, strangely, hidden. He is deus absconditus just as he is deus revelatus. This distinction means that 'the holy, unapproachable majesty of God remains even in God's self-disclosure' (Lohse).

McGrath outlines five features of the theology of the cross (theologia crucis):

1. It is a theology of revelation, not speculation. It is not based on the created order as we perceive it. Theologians ought to concern themselves with what God has revealed of himself, and not rely on preconceived understandings of God, which are ultimately idolatrous.
   
2. This revelation is indirect and concealed, even as it is revealed. Sound paradoxical? What Luther is trying to help us to see is that if we expect a direct revelation of the face of God, we will miss the way in which he has revealed himself, unexpectedly and shockingly, in the passion and cross of Christ. Faith is required to see that in the humility and shame of the cross is God's great power and glory.
   
3. God is not found in intelligent reflection on the nature of our moral being or the order of creation. True theology can only be found in Christ crucified. The cross shatters human reason's pride.
   
4. Knowledge of the God who is hidden in his revelation is by faith only.
   Only faith can see the cross as revelation of God. This is what Jesus taught his disciples, who sought a theology of glory – see, for example, Philip in John 14:8. This theology of glory bypasses the cross!
   
5. God makes himself known through suffering – primarily of course that suffering which is Christ's. But also, suffering and temptation are the way in which God acts to bring human beings to himself. In fact, he needs to humiliate us before we may be justified. 'God assaults man in order to break him down and thus to justify him' (McGrath). Both law and gospel are necessary to each other. This breaking down – the experience of Anfechtung - is a work that alien to God in order that the work that belongs most to his nature.
   

The theology of the cross can be regarded both as the substantive and the methodological principle in Luther's theology – and its impact is felt on all his theological work.

It meant for example a radical recasting of the nature of theological language. To simply somewhat - throughout the middle ages, it was held that 'the righteousness of God' was analogous to 'justice', as we understand it and encounter it in the world. The justice of God was to be understood after the pattern of, or in continuity with, the justice of man. But under the account Luther gives of the theologia crucis, this is no longer possible. For him, all theological talk must be related to the word of the cross. 'The cross is the test of everything' – crux probat omnia. It means that human theological intuitions are always suspect. The cross breaks down our preconceptions regarding everything about God – and, if we see with the eyes of faith, rebuilds them.

And that is the heart of justification. The individual finds himself under the judgement of God, with nowhere to turn, exposed terribly to his wrath. The only place to flee for safety from God's wrath – is to God! And there he finds the mercy that lies hidden under the terrible wrath. Christ the crucified one, who suffered on our behalf, became sin for us in order that his righteousness might become our righteousness.

Faith is really the only means by which the true significance of the cross can be perceived – faith alone. Faith is hearing the word of promise; and it is also the special bond that unites the believer with Christ – which means that the great exchange of Christ's righteousness for our wickedness is far more than a merely externalised transaction.

For Luther, then, the Christian life is lived in the middle of a tension between faith and experience. Our experience only serves to contradict our faith. This was something Luther expounded when he thought that he might be martyred. Where was God in this? Luther used the word Anfechtung – 'temptation', or 'assault' – to describe this experience. The devil, the world and death are allied in a war against man. But of course, it is a work of God too, to reduce man to utter reliance on him and him alone. The only way to grow in the Christian life is to return to the foot of the cross and start all over again.