Pauline Theology presents the reality of the finished work of Christ.  Paul preached Christ crucified, and nothing else.  Paul's self-understanding as a self-righteous pharisee was exploded by the Living Christ himself.  Paul called everything that he had accomplished outside of Jesus "dung."  Paul's greatest desire was to have a deep awareness of Jesus.  We live in a world which blocks spiritual perception of Jesus.  People are preoccupied with the things of this world,  and what little they know of Jesus is snatched away by the enemy.