Tag: gospel

God Now Brought Nigh

“It is the atonement of the cross reconciling the holiness of the lawgiver with the safety of the offender that hath opened the way for a sanctifying influence into the sinner’s heart, and he can take a kindred impression from the character of God now brought nigh and now at peace with him. Separate the demand from the doctrine and you have either a system of righteousness that is impracticable or a barren orthodoxy. Bring the demand and the doctrine together, and the true disciple of Christ is able to do the one through the other strengthening him. The motive is adequate to the movement, and the hidden obedience of the gospel is not beyond the measure of his strength just because the doctrine of the gospel is not beyond the measure of his acceptance.”

—Thomas Chalmers, The Expulsive Power of a New Affection (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2020), 63-64. Chalmers said this while preaching on 1 John 2:15.

All That Was Necessary For Our Salvation

“Nothing could be clearer, for our Lord Jesus Christ has perfectly fulfilled all that was necessary for our salvation. Are we afraid, then, because we are sinners? We find righteousness in the Son of God. Does our ignorance distress us? He is given to all for wisdom. Are we captives and slaves to Satan? He is the one who ransoms us. Are we corrupt and defiled? He sanctifies us. Are we weak? He is God’s power to strengthen us. Do we see only filth in ourselves? He is the source of all purity. Have we nothing but death in us? He is life, and lord over death for he has vanquished it. The fathers waited for these things in hope; today they are given to us in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

—John Calvin, trans. Robert White, Sermons on Titus (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 2015), 24. Calvin said this while preaching on Titus 1:1-4.

God Wishes To Embrace Us As His Children

“God’s love, we learn, was shown not only when Christ came into the world and took human flesh, but also when the gospel was preached, so that wretched unbelievers might share in this priceless gift. Today God’s love is revealed when he gathers us into his flock and rescues us from our dire distress, to the end that, as members of his house and church, we might be certain of the inheritance prepared for us in heaven. Having heard, then, of God’s free goodness and of the fatherly love which comes from it, we may be sure that he shows the same to us today. For when the gospel is preached to us, it is like a lamp that gives us light, allowing us to perceive what before was hidden. Until we come to know God’s goodwill we are more or less entombed in darkness. Yet God is kind and gracious, assuring us that he is near to us and wishes to embrace us as his children. Now that he has sent us his word and made us certain of his truth, we cannot doubt that he has secured salvation for us.”

—John Calvin, trans. Robert White, Sermons on Titus (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 2015), 248-249. Calvin said this while preaching on Titus 3:3-5.