Collected Shorter Writings Volume 1: Celebrating the Saving Work of God
On Covenant Theology
J.I. Packer
Luther is held to have said that Christianity is a matter of personal pronouns, in the sense that everything depends on knowing that Jesus died for me, to be my Savior, and that his Father is my God and Father, personally committed to love, nurture, uphold, and glorify me.
For the Love of God
D.A. Carson
Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the LORD require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
Genuine salvation not only forgives us but transforms us.
Link: Complete Blog Post
Redeemer Acts Bible Study
If you see yourself as a sufferer looking for relief primarily, you will never find peace. God is no sugar daddy to be used by you to secure your own happiness. Say to [yourself]: “Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after—what? Blessedness? No! Righteousness! Happy are they which don’t seek happiness, but rather to give God his due. Happiness never comes to those who seek it directly. You are a sinner, in need of pardon. Give God what you owe: repentance, faith, obedience. Your troubles will take care of themselves. Until you have grasped this in your heart, you’ll not have peace.”
Christless Christianity
Michael Horton
Religion, spirituality, and moral earnestness–what Paul called “the appearance of godliness but denying its power” (2 Tim. 3:5)–can continue to thrive in our environment precisely because they avoid the scandal of Christ. Nobody will raise a fuss if you find Jesus helpful for your personal well-being and relationships, or even if you think he was the greatest person in history–a model worthy of devotion and emulation. But start talking about the real crisis–where our best efforts are filthy rags and Jesus came to bear the condemnation of helpless sinners who place their confidence in him rather than in themselves–and people being shifting in their seats, even in churches…
The bad news is far worse than making mistakes or failing to live up to the legalistic standards of fundamentalism. It is that the best efforts of the best Christians, on the best days, in the best frame of heart and mind, with the best motives fall short of that true righteousness and holiness that God requires. Our best efforts cannot satisfy God’s justice. Yet the good news is that God has satisfied his own justice and reconciled us to himself through the life, death, and resurrection of his Son. God’s holy law can no longer condemn us because we are in Christ.
Bringing Up Boys
James Dobson
I was discussing this historic event [the sinking of the Titanic] recently with a young author, Ned Ryun, son of U.S. Congressman Jim Ryun. He sent me a written account of Rev. John Harper of Glasgow, Scotland, who was on the Titanic the night it began, “Let the women, children, and unsaved into the lifeboats.” Then he kissed his only daughter, Nana, good-bye for the last time and placed her in the hands of one of the ship’s officers aboard a lifeboat. Soon he was immersed in the chilly waters of the Atlantic. This is Ned’s description of what happened next:
Concerned not with his life, but for the dying around him, Harper with his last breaths swam to the dying souls and cried out for them to be saved – “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.”
As his strength began to ebb, Harper called out to a man clinging onto a piece of timber, “Are you saved?”
“No,” was the reply.
A few moments later, Harper and the man came into contact again. “Are you saved?”
“No,” was again the reply.
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,” Harper cried out one last time and with that, slipped beneath the waves. The young man clinging to the board was rescued and was later to testify that he had indeed been saved that night, not only by a rescuing ship, but by the words of John Harper.
A Call to Prayer
J.C. Ryle
Doubt not his willingness to save you, because you are a sinner. It is Christ’s office to save sinners. He says himself, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32). Wait not because you feel unworthy. Wait for nothing. Wait for nobody. Waiting comes from the devil. Just as you are, go to Christ. The worse you are, the more need you have to apply to him. You will never mend yourself by staying away. Fear not because your prayer is stammering, your words feeble, and your language poor. Jesus can understand you. Just as a mother understands the first lispings of her infant, so does the blessed Saviour understand sinners. He can read a sigh, and see a meaning in a groan. Despair not because you do not get an answer immediately. While you are speaking, Jesus is listening. If he delays an answer, it is only for wise reasons, and to try if you are in earnest. The answer will surely come. Though it tarry, wait for it. It will surely come. Oh, reader, if you have any desire to, be saved, remember the advice I have given you this day. Act upon it honestly and heartily, and you shall be saved.
Link: Complete PDF
Jonathan Edwards
I am bold to say that the work of God in the conversion of one soul…is a more glorious work of God than the creation of the whole material world.
Leviticus 16:30
[30] For on this day shall atonement be made for you to cleanse you. You shall be clean before the LORD from all your sins. (ESV)
The Day of Atonement was the most important day of the year for the people of God. It was the day that the Lord would ceremonially put away the sin of His people. The people’s sin would be placed on two goats. One goat was slaughtered, signifying that sin must be paid for with death. The other goat was sent away into the wilderness, signifying that sin eternally separates us from God. The Day of Atonement pointed forward to the Son of God who would be slaughtered and cast away from His heavenly Father that we might be welcomed into the household of God.
For his role in the day of atonement, the High Priest of Israel needed to wear special clothing. Normally, the High Priest was dressed impressively. According to Exodus 28:2, he wore items made with pure gold, colorful yarns, and expensive gems. The High Priest’s clothing was to be the most beautiful, glorious garments in the nation.
On the Day of Atonement, the most important day of the year, one would imagine that the High Priest might wear something even more glorious. But instead, he wears clothes of linen (Leviticus 16:4). This clothing was plain and simple, more simple than what an ordinary priest would wear.
See, among men, the High Priest was the holiest, most exalted person in the nation. But before God, he was not so impressive. In fact, he’s no one. Imagine a guest shows up to a wedding wearing a dazzling, white dress. This would be out of place. This guest would want people to notice them but all they would be doing is drawing attention to the fact that they are not the bride. In a similar way, nothing is more out of place, nothing draws more attention to our lack than to come before God trying to show off our own righteousness and goodness.
Isaiah 64:6 tells us that all our righteous acts are like filthy rags before God. This verse is not talking about the worst parts of us, but our very best. Our greatest strengths, our most noble sacrifices, our most holy prayers are filthy rags compared to the blinding holiness of the Lord of glory. No one can stand before God. No one can boast. For all have sinned and fall woefully short of the glory of God. We do not flaunt ourselves before Him. We bow.
Hearing God in Conversation
Samuel C. Williamson
…sin is man substituting himself for God, and salvation is God substituting himself for man.
Leviticus 19:1–3
[1] And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, [2] “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy. [3] Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and you shall keep my Sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.
Leviticus 16 details the Day of Atonement for the people of Israel. On this day, God’s people are humbled, cleansed, and set free. Now, there are always two parts to freedom. We are freed from something and we are freed for something. When we graduate from college, we are free from studying and exams and free for getting a full time job and paying taxes. When we get married, we are free from loneliness and tv dinners, and free for lifelong commitment, service, and life together. Now, through the blood of Jesus Christ we are set free. We are set free from guilt, shame, and the power of sin and death. But what are we free for? The clear answer from book of Leviticus is that we are free for holiness.
The Alpha Project 