Category: Sovereign Grace
Never Will You See the Beauty of Sovereign Grace!
Augustine is utterly committed to the moral accountability of the human will, even though the will is ultimately governed by the delights of the souls which are ordered finally by God. When pressed for an explanation, he is willing in the end to rest with Scripture in a "profound mystery." This can be seen in the following two quotes: Now, should any man be for constraining us to examine into this profound mystery, why this person ...
Never Will You See the Beauty of Sovereign Grace!
Augustine is utterly committed to the moral accountability of the human will, even though the will is ultimately governed by the delights of the souls which are ordered finally by God. When pressed for an explanation, he is willing in the end to rest with Scripture in a "profound mystery." This can be seen in the following two quotes: Now, should any man be for constraining us to examine into this profound mystery, why this person ...
Sovereign Joy in God Triumphs Over Joy in Sin!
Pelagius was a British monk who lived in Rome in Augustine's day and taught that "though grace may facilitate the achieving of righteousness, it is not necessary to that end." He denied the doctrine of original sin, and asserted that human nature at its core is good and able to do all it is commanded to do. Therefore Pelagius was shocked when he read in Augustine's Confessions, "Give me the grace [O Lord] to do as ...
Sovereign Joy in God Triumphs Over Joy in Sin!
Pelagius was a British monk who lived in Rome in Augustine's day and taught that "though grace may facilitate the achieving of righteousness, it is not necessary to that end." He denied the doctrine of original sin, and asserted that human nature at its core is good and able to do all it is commanded to do. Therefore Pelagius was shocked when he read in Augustine's Confessions, "Give me the grace [O Lord] to do as ...
All Glory of Our Salvation to Him it is Due!
When you were thus dead in trespasses and sins, he quickened, or made you alive. You lay, some of you a longer, and some a shorter time in the wretched state, which has been described, like the dry bones which the Prophet saw in the valley of vision, and there you had lain till now, had not sovereign grace interposed. But he, who had from the beginning chosen you to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit, and ...
All Glory of Our Salvation to Him it is Due!
When you were thus dead in trespasses and sins, he quickened, or made you alive. You lay, some of you a longer, and some a shorter time in the wretched state, which has been described, like the dry bones which the Prophet saw in the valley of vision, and there you had lain till now, had not sovereign grace interposed. But he, who had from the beginning chosen you to salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit, and ...
God is in No Way Obligated to Save You!
Divine grace is the sovereign and saving favour of God exercised in the bestowment of blessings upon those who have no merit in them and for which no compensation is demanded from them. Nay, more; it is the favour of God shown to those who not only have no positive deserts of their own, but who are thoroughly ill-deserving and hell-deserving. It is completely unmerited and unsought, and is altogether unattracted by anything in or from or by the objects ...
God is in No Way Obligated to Save You!
Divine grace is the sovereign and saving favour of God exercised in the bestowment of blessings upon those who have no merit in them and for which no compensation is demanded from them. Nay, more; it is the favour of God shown to those who not only have no positive deserts of their own, but who are thoroughly ill-deserving and hell-deserving. It is completely unmerited and unsought, and is altogether unattracted by anything in or from or by the objects ...
A Thousand Reasons He Should Destroy Me!
“I will love them freely.” ---Hosea 14:4. THIS sentence is a body of Divinity in miniature. He who understands its meaning is a theologian, and he who can dive into its fullness is a true Master in Divinity. “I will love them freely,” is a condensation of the glorious message of salvation which was delivered to us in Christ Jesus our Redeemer. The sense hinges upon the word “freely.” “I will love them freely.” Here is ...
A Thousand Reasons He Should Destroy Me!
“I will love them freely.” ---Hosea 14:4. THIS sentence is a body of Divinity in miniature. He who understands its meaning is a theologian, and he who can dive into its fullness is a true Master in Divinity. “I will love them freely,” is a condensation of the glorious message of salvation which was delivered to us in Christ Jesus our Redeemer. The sense hinges upon the word “freely.” “I will love them freely.” Here is ...
If The First Step is Man’s, Let Man Have it All!
All things that refer to the new nature—all things that refer to our new privileges and to our new actions—whatever things refer to the new nature are of God. The personal desire after Christ which is found in the sinner’s contrite heart is of God. The first new hope which gilds the darkness of the poor benighted mind is of God. The first glimpse of new faith, when that man turns his eye to the ...
If The First Step is Man’s, Let Man Have it All!
All things that refer to the new nature—all things that refer to our new privileges and to our new actions—whatever things refer to the new nature are of God. The personal desire after Christ which is found in the sinner’s contrite heart is of God. The first new hope which gilds the darkness of the poor benighted mind is of God. The first glimpse of new faith, when that man turns his eye to the ...
Benefits of Adversity—My Grace is Sufficient for Thee
The Prayer The daily battles never cease. Adversity is a companion I know too well. My strength is gone, and despair brings me low. I ask again for release from this, for I fear it will be the end of me. The enemy gathers to devour me. Their strength seems overwhelming. Lord, deliver me from this weakness. I see the wicked live in peace as I strive to do your will, and yet I suffer day by day. If it be Your will, end ...
Benefits of Adversity—My Grace is Sufficient for Thee
The Prayer The daily battles never cease. Adversity is a companion I know too well. My strength is gone, and despair brings me low. I ask again for release from this, for I fear it will be the end of me. The enemy gathers to devour me. Their strength seems overwhelming. Lord, deliver me from this weakness. I see the wicked live in peace as I strive to do your will, and yet I suffer day by day. If it be Your will, end ...
This Infiniteness of Grace!
And on this ground it is that if all the world should (if I may so say) set themselves to drink free grace, mercy, and pardon, drawing ((Cant. v. 1; Isa. lv. 1; Rev. xxii. 17; John vii. 37, 38)) water continually from the wells of salvation; if they should set themselves to draw from one single promise, an angel standing by and crying, “Drink, O my friends, yea, drink abundantly, take so much grace ...
This Infiniteness of Grace!
And on this ground it is that if all the world should (if I may so say) set themselves to drink free grace, mercy, and pardon, drawing ((Cant. v. 1; Isa. lv. 1; Rev. xxii. 17; John vii. 37, 38)) water continually from the wells of salvation; if they should set themselves to draw from one single promise, an angel standing by and crying, “Drink, O my friends, yea, drink abundantly, take so much grace ...
How Could God Do This to Us??
Thursday in Minneapolis it was so gorgeous walking home I thought: I should write a post on how astonishing it is that no earthquake swallowed up this city today. Instead God sent warmth and crystal skies and cool breezes and golden leaves and hanging sea gulls over Elliot Park. Amazing. Absolutely amazing! We deserved the 52-story IDS tower to fall, and bridges to collapse, and poisonous gas to kill thousands. But instead God gave us over-the-top foretastes of ...
How Could God Do This to Us??
Thursday in Minneapolis it was so gorgeous walking home I thought: I should write a post on how astonishing it is that no earthquake swallowed up this city today. Instead God sent warmth and crystal skies and cool breezes and golden leaves and hanging sea gulls over Elliot Park. Amazing. Absolutely amazing! We deserved the 52-story IDS tower to fall, and bridges to collapse, and poisonous gas to kill thousands. But instead God gave us over-the-top foretastes of ...