Theology of the Cross vs. Theologies of Glory: What is the Difference?

Writing to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul wrote, "I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." What did he mean by this?

Christ Crucified on the Cross Tells Us What We Need to Know About God and His Saving Work.

For Paul, Christ crucified was not simply to be a part of the message. It was the whole and only message for the Church of Christ. Echoing Paul, Luther proclaimed early in his career as a reformer that “the cross is our theology.” Our christian lives are held in tension between the now and the 'not-yet.' Only in Glory shall we experience what it is like to be free from all the effects of sin and evil and not a day before.

What has plagued the Church through the ages has been attractive yet false promises that if believers will just please God more in certain prescribed ways, he will grant experiences of glory right now. Luther called these false 'Theologies of Glory.'

Join Dr. Steven A. Hein–Director of the Concordia Institute for Christian Studies and author of the 1517 Publishing book, The Christian Life: Cross or Glory?–as he explores these competing theologies and how they apply to the Christian life.