Solus Christus – In Christ Alone
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. – John 14:6 (ESV)
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. – Acts 4:12 (ESV)
Questions for Reflection
What is the only way to come to God, the only way to be saved?
Are you looking to Christ alone?
In what ways are you tempted to look to yourself?
Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:
Can I Sing ‘Amazing Grace’ If I Was Saved at Six? – John Piper (DG)
There are six reasons that Christians like me can feel the greatness of our sinfulness, and the wonder of grace, even if we have no recollection of ever being an unbeliever….
Envision the End of Your Sin – Garrett Kell (TGC)
Gracious Lord, we need help. Make us sober-minded. Keep us vigilant. Help us see the end of our sin.
Reflections on the 50th Anniversary of My Diving Accident – Joni Eareckson Tada (TGC)
Grace softens the edges of past pains, helping to highlight the eternal. What you are left with is peace that’s profound, joy that’s unshakable, faith that’s ironclad.
7 Reasons God Commands Us To Sing To Him – Mark Altrogge (TBC)
Our God is so great, and so good and so glorious, he’s worthy of all of our praise. And one of the easiest ways to praise him is by singing. Let’s “sing the glory of his name!”
Hope you have a great Lord’s Day with your local church singing praises to our gracious and glorious God!
Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:
You May Not Love What You Think – James K.A. Smith (DG)
How am I curating my heart? What liturgies and rituals am I giving myself over to? What cultural practices am I allowing to shape my heart habits, perhaps without realizing it? What am I learning to love without realizing it?
The Problem of Nice and the Promise of New – Michael Lawrence (Crossway)
No churches ever explicitly teach the religion of nice. In fact, they typically teach the exact opposite. But those same churches are filled with people who believe that God will accept them based on how good they’ve been. I’ve heard it on too many living rooms couches and nursing home beds. Not perfect—no one ever says that—but good enough.
Are You Content To Carry the Pins? – Tim Challies
God called some Levites to carry the ark, and some to carry the pins, the tent pegs. But whether they carried the most holy or the most common items, their responsibility was to answer God’s call and to faithfully and joyfully carry out their task. We can learn from them.
Spiritual Growth Comes From Community – Jen Oshman
My encouragement to young moms, or busy students, or stressed businessmen and women is this: put yourself in a role that will require you to show up at your local church week after week. Rather than sidelining activities that will feed your spiritual growth, put yourself at the very center of them. With both gratitude and humility I see clearly that I owe my spiritual growth over the last two decades to the accountability and community of the local church.
Hope you have a great Lord’s Day growing with your local church.
Open our eyes that we might see
Our hearts to really know
Your great blessings so vast and free
That from Christ ever flow
To know our glor’ous God above
Our hope in this dark night
His wonderful amazing love
The power of His might
To know these wonders of Your grace
And in them ever live
And offering unceasing praise
Our thanks to You we give
(To the tune of “O God Our Help In Ages Past”)
Here are some good posts on doctrine:
Doctrine Matters: Eternal Life Depends Upon It – Kevin DeYoung
Christianity is much more than getting your doctrine right. But it is not less.
Take a Quiz on Christ – Tim Challies
How well do you know what the Bible teaches us about Jesus?
Your Highest Privilege – Tim Challies
Of all the privileges that are ours through the gospel, which is the greatest? According to many theologians, there is no privilege higher than adoption.
We have a rich inheritance
Dwelling with God in His presence
From sin and death a great release
A kingdom of great joy and peace
Predestined by the Father’s will
In union with our Savior still
And sealed by the Holy Spirit
Given as our sure deposit
So now believe and enter in
Proclaim salvation from our sin
Cling to your hope in life’s distress
Our Triune God forever bless
(To the tune of the Doxology)
The whole work of God in redemption is to undo the tragic effects of that foul revolt, and to bring us back again into right and eternal relationship with Himself. This requires that our sins be disposed of satisfactorily, that a full reconciliation be effected and the way opened for us to return again into conscious communion with God and to live again in the Presence as before.
– A. W. Tozer in The Pursuit of God
In Christ we have great redemption
Freed from our just condemnation
He died to pay for all my sin
My trespasses all forgiven
Behold the riches of his grace
His salvation with faith embrace
Leave all your sin and guilt behind
Your heart in praise to God inclined
(To the tune of the Doxology)
We are a singing people because the gospel of the Lord Jesus compels us to sing…. God’s love for us inspires our response of love for Him and calls forth songs of joy from our lips.
Brian J. Mikul 