The awakened heart knows that it is alive through a power not of this age.  This age is characterized by power deeply wedded to the power of darkness.  The new life in Jesus is built upon the love of God and his redeeming Grace.  The cross of Jesus has been trivialized by humanistic theologians who sacrifice the truth of God for selfish advantage.  The cross of Jesus is central to the purpose of God in this age.  The death of Jesus was a profound mystery.  The death of the theanthropos (God-Man) on the Roman gibbet was/is God's answer to the human condition. Paul's grestest desire was to enter into the deep mystery of the crucifixion in a masively existential manner.