Tag: Salvation

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

Do People Bark? – John Starke (Gospel Coalition)
Christians base the dignity of a “person” on the imago Dei. Created in the image of God, humans have been given status and dignity above all other creatures in this world. We’ve been given the ability to make sense of the world and make something of it.

A Friend of Sinners and No Friend of Sin – Kevin DeYoung
The gospel–if we are talking about the true gospel–works through repentance and relationships. We need both. Jesus had relationships with sinners and tax collectors. And through those relationships what did he call them to do? He didn’t say call them to self-expression, or invite them to despise religious people, or summon them to eat, drink, and be merry (in our language: eat, drink, and be tolerant). He called them to repentance. One commentator says, “Jesus neither condoned sin, left people in their sin, nor communicated any disdain for sinners.”

The Loving Intolerance of God – Melissa Kruger (Gospel Coalition)
The cross demonstrates God’s character in all its complexity. It shows his love, kindness, and mercy united with his justice, holiness, and wrath. It perfectly demonstrates a God who surpasses understanding. The Lord is giving us a glimpse into the immensity of his love for us. The love of God is not a tolerant love. It is much better. It is a redemptive love.

What Makes A Full Atonement Full? – Mike Wittmer (Gospel Coalition)
The cross isn’t an act of love without penal substitution, because love is only love if it does something. If the cross isn’t necessary for God to forgive us, then what would be the point? If the cross is merely God expressing his solidarity with sinners, then why didn’t he simply use his outdoor voice and say, “Attention, people of Earth! I love you and I’m on your side!” The Father was silent when his Son begged for any other way, which proves that God believes the cross was necessary to defeat sin, death, and Satan.

Light Eternal, Shine in My Heart – Alcuin of York, 735-804 A.D. (via Trevin Wax)
Give me, O Lord, I ask You, firm faith, unwavering hope, perfect charity…

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day celebrating our great God and Savior!

Clarity in Salvation

On By BrianIn Book of Acts

In Acts 15, some people were saying that circumcision was necessary for salvation. So Paul and Barnabas went to Jerusalem to pursue clarity on this matter. The apostles and elders met to consider the matter. From the evidence of Scripture and the Holy Spirit’s working, they came to the conclusion that salvation was by grace alone through faith alone.

While we may not think circumcision is necessary for salvation today, we must continue to pursue clarity in salvation. Salvation remains by grace alone through faith alone. We must be crystal clear on this. We are not saved by good works or living a good life. We are not saved by going to church or praying or giving money. We are saved by grace through faith. Confusion on this matter can be eternally fatal. So we must come back again and again to this central truth: Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone.

Preach the Gospel to Yourself

On By BrianIn Miscellaneous1 Comment

How can we grow up in Jesus?  Part of the answer is that we need to preach the gospel to ourselves.  We need to constantly remind ourselves of what God has done for us, of the many blessings of salvation that should change the way we live.  In Romans 12:1 we read, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God….”  These words mark a huge transition in the book.  Everything before these words deals with God’s mercy in giving us a great salvation.  Everything after these words deals with how we should live in response.  It is because of the gospel that we should now live differently.  And so we need to preach the gospel to ourselves.  Let me take just two elements of the gospel to illustrate this point.

Remember the cross so you don’t want to sin.  Part of the God’s mercy is that he became a man and took the judgment we deserved for our sins upon himself on the cross.  Consider all that our Savior endured because of our sins.  The whipping.  The beatings.  The mockings.  The crown of thorns pressed into his head.  The nails piercing his hands and feet.  The agony hanging on the cross.  As we consider what he endured to pay for our sin, how could we have any desire to sin?  When the temptation to sin looks so alluring, place the picture of Jesus hanging on the cross next to the temptation, and the temptation will lose much of its tempting power.  As we consider the cross, it motivates us to live for him.  We remember the cross so we don’t want to sin.

Consider your new life that means you don’t have to sin.  In Romans 6, Paul talks about the reality that we have died to sin and been raised to a new life in Christ.  We are no longer slaves to sin.  And so he tells us in verse 11 to “consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.”  He has already established that we have a new life.  In verse 11 he wants us to consider this reality.  To think about it.  To remember it.  He wants us to preach the gospel to ourselves.  We have a new life.  God has enabled us to say no to sin.  We don’t have to sin anymore.  Too often we hear people say (and we might say ourselves) after sinning, “Well, I just couldn’t help it.”  But if we are true Christians, we have been given a new life.  We can help it.  In the face of temptation, remind yourself that you are no longer a slave to sin, and you don’t want to act like a slave anymore.  You can say no.  We consider our new life to remind us that we don’t have to sin.

Remember the cross so you don’t want to sin.  Consider your new life that means you don’t have to sin.  Preach the gospel to yourself.

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

Calvin on the Good News in Christ – John Clavin (via Justin Taylor)
But by the knowledge of the gospel we are made children of God, brothers of Jesus Christ, fellow townsmen with the saints, citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, heirs of God with Jesus Christ, by whom the poor are made rich, the weak strong, the fools wise, the sinners justified, the desolate comforted, the doubting sure, and slaves free.  The gospel is the Word of life.

Twelve Propositions on Sanctification – J. C. Ryle (via Tim Challies)
Ryle defines sanctification as “an inward spiritual work which the Lord Jesus Christ works in a man by the Holy Ghost, when He calls him to be a true believer.”

100 Quotes From You On Sanctification – Desiring God
Charles Spurgeon: “If he gives you the grace to make you believe, he will give you the grace to live a holy life afterward.”

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day celebrating Jesus and growing in your walk with Him!

Gospel Quotes To Ponder

On By BrianIn PASSION Quotes

Remember what the gospel says about us:
we are more sinful and flawed than we ever dared believe
but we are also more loved and welcomed than we ever dared hope.
– Elyse M. Fitzpatrick and Dennis E. Johnson

So when the devil throws your sins in your face
and declares that you deserve death and hell, tell him this:
“I admit that I deserve death and hell, what of it?
For I know One who suffered and made satisfaction on my behalf.
His name is Jesus Christ, Son of God, and where he is there I shall be also!”
– Martin Luther

I am a great sinner, but Christ is a great Savior.
– John Newton

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

Wow, there are a lot of good posts from around the web for your weekend reading.

First, let’s consider the important matter of salvation.  How do you know you are saved?  At issue here is the danger that many people have a false assurance of salvation.  To help us think through this and examine ourselves, Mike McKinley suggests five things that all Christians have.  He also addresses the important issues of perseverance and preservation.  And then Tim Challies suggests three statements on assurance, and reminds us of where our assurance lies.

Second, Kevin DeYoung addresses our tendency to get excited about minor issue instead of focusing on the core doctrines.

Third, Mark Altrogge reminds us that faith is like a power cord that plugs into God’s power as we pray.  Faith in itself has no power (despite the many songs proclaiming all that faith can do).  The power is found in the object of our faith.  So the strength of our faith is not so much the issue as the strength of the one we place our faith in.  God can use our flimsy faith.

Fourth, here are a couple of good ideas for evangelism.  Tim Chester suggests using meals for evangelism, while Brian Croft suggests asking people about the sermon they heard on Sunday as a way for evangelism. (Don’t knock it until you read the post!)

Fifth, Stephen Altrogge helps us cut the nerve of complaining.

Finally, Kevin DeYoung suggests 10 principles for church singing – Part One and Part Two – that you might consider before going to worship on Sunday.  It will help you think about what you are going to do even if you don’t agree with every point (and I will have to at least disagree with his preference for organs!).

Have a great Lord’s Day worshipping with your church family!

Resurrection Week Reflections

On By BrianIn Holidays

Last week I posted some daily Passion Week reflections.  Below are some reflections for Easter and the following week to help us ponder what Christ’s resurrection means to us:

Sunday – Rejoice: Celebrate His Resurrection

Monday – Received – Embrace the Gospel

Tuesday – Raised: Live Your New Life

Wednesday – Reigns: Submit to Your King

Thursday – Resurrected: Victory Over Death

Friday – Returning – With the Lord

Saturday – Reborn – Hope in Your Inheritance

Sunday – Ransomed: Praise to the Lamb

Web Weekly

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

A few gems from the past few weeks.  First Chris Brauns challenges us to get serious about fighting sin with a great quote from Billy Sunday.  He also challenges us to get serious about preparing to hear God’s Word preached with a quote from Spurgeon.

Meanwhile Justin Taylor quotes Tim Keller on how salvation by grace encourages our outreach.  And Kevin DeYoung gives us some helpful thoughts on assurance of salvation.

Finally, He Is My Delight asks us, “What were we made for?“

Gospel Shaped Death

On By BrianIn Book of Luke

Some say there are only two things certain in life – death and taxes.  I would suggest that there are a few more certain things, but death is certainly certain.  Even though we live in denial, death could come to our door at any time of any day.  We will die.  How should we approach death – apart from the gospel?  And how should the gospel shape our approach to death?

In Luke 23, Luke relates the story of the two criminals on crosses on either side of Jesus.  One criminal joins the mockers, but the second rebukes him – “Do you not fear God?”  Presumably these two criminals dying outside of Jerusalem are Jews with an understanding of who God is from the Old Testament.  They know God is holy and just – he will punish sin.  They know God created us to live in a perfect loving relationship with God, but that we sinned against God bringing death and separation and judgment.  Perhaps they have heard Jesus warn of hell – a place of separation and judgment after death.  Indeed, do you not fear God?  You are about to die and face his judgment.  You have every reason to fear!  Without some good news we are in a heap of trouble.

But the second criminal has noticed something.  This Jesus has done nothing wrong.  The rest of the New Testament confirms his observation – Jesus was without sin.  So if sin brings death, but he is without sin, why is he going to die?  Clearly this is further than the thief is thinking, but Peter gives the answer – Jesus is dying for our sins (I Peter 2:24).  He is taking our sins upon himself, and the death, judgment, and separation that goes with those sins.  Why?  So we can escape God’s judgment and be reconciled to God.  Again, this is more than the criminal understands, but he somehow realizes that salvation is available from this man dying on the middle cross.

And so the criminal does the only sensible thing. He asks Jesus to remember him when he comes into his kingdom.  He looks to Jesus.  He is trusting, believing in this man to save him.  And Jesus tells him that they will be together in paradise that very day.  By looking to Jesus, he has escaped eternal judgment and separation from God.  Instead he has received eternal paradise with Jesus.  No wonder that Paul later says that death is gain.  Why?  Because he will be with Jesus (Philippians 1:21-23).

The gospel utterly turns our approach to death around.  Instead of separation there is relationship.  Instead of judgment there is pardon.  Instead of hell there is paradise.  Instead of fear there is anticipation.

And yet that is only part of the gospel.  For Jesus will not only die and be buried, but he will be raised from the dead.  And because he is raised from the dead, those who look to Jesus will also be raised from the dead when Jesus comes back.  We will be victorious over death like Jesus (I Corinthians 15).  And we will dwell in a new heaven and earth forever with the Lord (Revelation 21).  We not only look forward to paradise with Jesus, but even more we hope in our own resurrection.  And this hope is not “I wish it were true” hope.  It is a certain hope based on the very promises of God.

Yes, there are more things certain than death and taxes.  Death is certain.  But for the one who looks to Jesus, paradise with him after death is certain.  And the resurrection when he returns is certain.  And so the gospel shapes our approach to death from fear to anticipation and hope.  May we live and die with this anticipation and hope alive in us as we look to Jesus.