Fast 40: Practicing the Ancient Spiritual Discipline of LentSample

There are apparently five solas in classical Protestant theology that, according to some, capture the essence of Reformation doctrine. But perhaps one of the only solas found explicitly in Scripture is Sola Crucis—the Cross Alone.

That was at least the essence of Paul's doctrine. To him, the thing he found as the source and summit of all human glory, all theology, all wisdom, all power, all life, and all beauty was the Cross of Christ.

Think of that paradox. Dwell on that mystery. Paul thought the most beautiful thing was the ugliest thing. He thought the most life-giving thing was the most death-dealing thing. He thought the most powerful thing was the most pathetic thing.

For Paul, the cross-shafts truly represented the cross-purposes of God and the world. He said, "The world is crucified to me," which J. B. Phillips translated this way: "The world is a DEAD THING to me."

Is the world a dead thing to you? Or does it still fascinate you? Does it still mesmerize and hypnotize you? The world was crucified to Paul, and he paradoxically added, "and I unto the world."

Paul didn't only see the world as dead; he saw himself as dead. He recognized how the Cross kills two birds with one stone, how it destroys two spiritual enemies in one blow: the world and the flesh.

In the Cross of Christ, we learn the greatest paradox at the heart of our faith: that by dying, we live.