Luther's Theology of the Cross
"For Christ too was damned and forsaken more than all the saints, nor was his suffering easy, as some imagine. But he really and truly offered himself to God the Father for us unto eternal damnation. And his human nature was in no other condition than that of a human being eternally damned to hell. On account of his love for God, God immediately raised him from death and hell and so devoured hell. It is necessary that all his saints imitate this, some less, some more; the more perfect they are in love, the more meekly and easily they can do this. But Christ did this in the harshest way of all."
- Martin Luther [D. Martin Luthers Werke. Kritische Gesamtausgabe (56:392)]
posted by T.B. Vick | 8:15 AM
2 Comments:
I find this quote very moving. And I think it's even true to say that Christ alone has entered into hell; Christ alone has experienced the true reality of hell. Hell is, by definition, the rejection of God's Servant and Israel's Messiah at the cross.
Just as God alone can truly be said to live, so God alone has truly tasted death and hell in the crucifixion of Jesus. If we live, or if we die, can it be anything other than a participation in this primal life or this primal death? And what would it mean to participate in this death, since it too has been swallowed up in life?
Ben says: "Just as God alone can truly be said to live, so God alone has truly tasted death and hell in the crucifixion of Jesus. If we live, or if we die, can it be anything other than a participation in this primal life or this primal death? And what would it mean to participate in this death, since it too has been swallowed up in life?"
Yes! Very good thoughts. I think this moves us to a greater appreciation of what Christ did on the cross.
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