Titus 3:4-7
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
The following comes from Tim Keller’s All of Life is Repentance. It’s 2 pages and very encouraging. Read all of it here.
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The following comes from Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis (p. 228):
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You must picture me alone in that room in Magdalen, night after night, feeling, whenever my mind lifted even for a second from my work, the steady, unrelenting approach of Him whom I so earnestly desired not to meet. That which I greatly feared had at last come upon me. In the Trinity Term of 1929, I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England. I did not then see what is now the most shining and obvious thing; the Divine humility which will accept a convert even on such terms. The Prodigal Son at least walked home on his own feet. But who can duly adore that Love which will open the high gates to a prodigal who is brought in kicking, struggling, resentful, and darting his eyes in every direction for a chance of escape? The words compelle intrare, compel them to come in, have been so abused by wicked men that we shudder at them; but, properly understood, they plumb the depth of the Divine mercy. The hardness of God is kinder than the softness of men, and His compulsion is our liberation.
The following comes from C. S. Lewis’s Surprised by Joy (p181):
“Up till now each visitation of Joy had left the common world momentarily a desert – “The first touch of the earth went nigh to kill.” Even when real clouds or trees had been the material of the vision, they had been so only by reminding me of another world; and I did not like the return to ours. But now I saw the bright shadow coming out of the book into the real world and resting there, transforming all common things and yet itself unchanged. Or, more accurately, I saw the common things drawn into the bright shadow. Unde hoc mihi? In the depth of my disgraces, in the then invincible ignorance of my intellect, all this was given me without asking, even without consent. That night my imagination was, in a certain sense, baptized; the rest of me, not unnaturally, took longer. I had not the faintest notion what I had let myself in for by buying Phantastes.”
The following quote comes from Of First Importance:
“It will always give a Christian the greatest calm, quiet, ease, and peace, to think of the perfect righteousness of Christ. How often are the saints of God downcast and sad! I do not think they ought to be. I do not think they would if they could always see their perfection in Christ.
There are some who are always talking about corruption, and the depravity of the heart, and the innate evil of the soul. This is quite true, but why not go a little further, and remember that we are perfect in Christ Jesus. It is no wonder that those who are dwelling upon their own corruption should wear such downcast looks; but surely if we call to mind that Christ is made unto us righteousness, we shall be of good cheer. What though distresses afflict me, though Satan assault me, though there may be many things to be experienced before I get to heaven, those are done for me in the covenant of divine grace; there is nothing wanting in my Lord, Christ hath done it all.”
- Charles Spurgeon, Morning & Evening, January 31
The following comes from McKay Caston’s blog:
The gospel is news, declaration and invitation; not instruction.
As Tim Keller says, “I am more sinful than I could dare to admit, but at the same time, because of my substitute Jesus, I am more forgiven, loved and accepted than I could ever dare to dream.”
The gospel is not religion. Religion says that I am blessed because of my work and sacrifice for God. The gospel says that I am blessed because of Jesus’ work and sacrifice for me. Yes, I am saved by works, but not myworks. I am saved by his works… the works of Jesus.
Jesus received the justice for my sin so that I could receive the mercy of God.
The gospel tells me that I am reconciled to God not because of what I do for God, but because of what God has done for me in Jesus.
Reconciliation with God is not something that I achieve. It is something that I receive (through faith alone). Seriously. I receive it like a beggar must accept a gift, with no hope of repayment.
It is a beggar thief being told he is now a beloved son
The following quote comes from Jonathan Edwards’ famous sermon, “A Divine and Supernatural Light.” I came across this in Redeemer Presbyterian’s Prayer Bible Study.The following comes from McKay Caston’s Blog. I love this blog. Check it out.
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You couldn’t help it, could you? This is gonna be juicy, right? Could be. Okay, let’s get to it. What is my biggest sin? Of course, most of us probably think of the Top 10 list in Exodus. “Thou Shall Not…” But we’ve all broken every one of those. No surprise there. So what is my biggest sin? Here goes: Not believing that I have been fully forgiven, totally accepted, and am dearly loved by the Father. Sorry to disappoint you, but when I DON’T believe this, I get religious and become a Pharisee of sorts, who were the biggest sinners in Jesus’ day (because of their prideful, “I can do it if you just show me the rule” hearts). To look upon the work of Jesus on the cross as my judicial substitute and to NOT believe that I am fully forgiven, totally accepted, and am dearly loved is to cheapen the gospel. To think that I can add anything of my own merit is to severely diminish God’s glorious grace. It is an insult to the blood of Jesus. “So Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.”
The following quote comes from Walter Marshall’s book, The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification. Marshall was a 17th century pastor. This book was first published in 1692 and this edition arrived in 2005. Per the introduction, Dr. John Murray, late professor of systematic theology at Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia, said this was the most important book on sanctification that had ever been written. I recommend this book to anyone who is wrestling with how sanctification and justification work together.
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Remember the basic difference between the law and the gospel. It is not that the law requires perfect obedience, and the gospel just requires sincere obedience. Rather, the difference is this: the law requires doing, and the gospel requires not doing. The gospel requires believing for life and salvation. The “terms of the deal” are totally different. They are not just different in degree: ”The law requires 100% obedience for your salvation whereas the gospel only requires 51% obedience for your salvation.” No! The terms are different in their very nature! The law requires 100% doing. The gospel requires 100% not doing! The gospel requires believing!
