From: September 16, 2017
God’s grace, as Paul speaks of it here, is that which saves and sustains the one trusting in Christ’s finish work of salvation. Grace is about God’s mercy, while “works righteousness” is about our merit. But grace is more than mercy, for mercy only withholds the punishment we deserve. Yet, grace gives us the opposite of what we deserve. This is not only saving and sustaining grace, it is scandalous grace. For it gives the one who deserves an “F” on life’s test, an “A+.” How is this just? It is just because Christ died in our place. He took our “F” and offers us His “A+.” He took our death and offers us His life. When we attempt to add law-keeping to salvation, we “set aside” grace. And having nullified grace, we nullify the work of Christ on the cross with it. Grace (Greek: χάρις, charis) is God’s unmerited favor freely bestowed on those who having recognized their own inability to save themselves, put their trust in Christ and His finished work of salvation. Grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone saves.
From: September 16, 2016
Christianity is not a self-improvement course. We are not called to come and do, but to come and die. For the new life is not self-improvement, but self-denial. We consider our old self “crucified with Christ” and our new self risen with Him to new life. We die to sin and we also die to self-effort, no longer trying to please God by following some set of religious rules and regulations that we are unable to keep. Dying to self, we live by Christ, “trusting” in Him to live His life in and through us.
From: September 16, 2015
In this psalm of David, he spoke of a “banner” given to Israel by the Lord, that was to be “displayed.” In the armies of old the one who carried the banner or flag was among the most courageous of the soldiers. He was commissioned to carry and protect the banner, to keep it raised high in the sky and blowing in the breeze, so that all could see it. In Spurgeon’s meditation on this verse, he identifies the gospel as the church’s standard. I agree. We are to hold the gospel, the message of the cross, high over our lives. We have been given this banner by Christ and instructed to display it before the nations. Let us keep it lifted up, not allowing it to fall, or to be trampled in the mud. It may be bullet-ridden from the battle, but it is still the standard of truth given to us by the Lord Himself. Let us wave high the gospel banner over our lives until all the nations have heard.
From: September 16, 2014
Christianity is not a self-improvement course. We are not called to come and do, but to come and die. For the new life follows not self-improvement, but self-denial. We consider our old self “crucified with Christ” and our new self risen with Him to new life. We die to sin and we also die to self-effort, no longer trying to please God by following some set of religious rules and regulations that we are unable to keep. Dying to self, we live by Christ, “trusting” in Him to live His life in us.
From: September 16, 2012
If we are saved through faith, we must live and walk by faith. Self-effort neither saves nor sanctifies. We must learn to lean, being filled with the Spirit, we lean on Him for power and progress. More prayer, less planning. More leaning, less effort.
From: September 16, 2011
How godly parents feel when their children act wisely. Every parent wants healthy and well-educated kids, but wise parents aim past the outward to the heart. They shepherd their child’s heart to know and follow God.