The Explicit Gospel

I just started reading Matt Chandler's book The Explicit Gospel; here is the description from the flyleaf:

Even if you go to church, it doesn’t mean that you are being exposed (or exposing others) to the gospel explicitly. Sure, most people talk about Jesus, and about being good and avoiding bad, but the gospel message simply isn’t there—at least not in its specificity and its fullness.

Inspired by the needs of both the overchurched and the unchurched, and bolstered by the common neglect of the explicit gospel within Christianity, popular pastor Matt Chandler writes this punchy treatise to remind us what is of first and utmost importance—the gospel.

Here is a call to true Christianity, to know the gospel explicitly, and to unite the church on the amazing grounds of the good news of Jesus!

As I read through this book I hope to do a series of posts based on what I am learning and on what God is teaching me through what Matt has written. Let me begin today with a brief quote from the introduction: 

Christ has set us free from the law of sin and death.My sin in the past: forgiven. My current struggles: covered. My future failures: paid in full all by the marvelous, infinite, matchless grace found in the atoning work of the cross of Jesus Christ.

Now that is good news! Because of the gospel I don't have to worry about my past sin, my current struggles, or my future failures - they are all covered by the blood of Jesus, and I am forgiven not because of anything I have done or will do, but because of what He did for me.

I have been looking forward to reading this book for a while, and I hope that you will pick up a copy and join me. Let's be amazed again by the grace and mercy of our God expressed in the gospel of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Calvinism Is The Gospel

Michael Horton On Eternal Security

Here is another quote from Michael Horton's book Putting Amazing Back Into Grace:

"Those whose hearts and minds have been (and are being) renewed by God's grace should not be obsessed with worry about falling away because, although we will always have periods of  wondering around in the wilderness and falling into various temptations and sins, we really are becoming new persons, The ugly duckling is turning into the beautiful swan, to our surprise!

"God never plants trees that do  not bear fruit: [Jesus said] 'You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last' (John 15:16)...

"Since God initially gives us the grace to believe in him and to turn from self, why would he not give us the grace to keep on trusting him? One simply cannot believe in the possibility of loosing through moral failure and salvation by grace at that same time.

"If we expect ourselves to maintain our faith and keep everything going, we fall under the reprimand of the apostle Paul, as he confronted the Galatian church: 'You foolish Galatian's! Who has bewitched you?... I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?' (Galatians 3:1-3).

"We always approach God on his terms. Admittedly this fact does serious injury to our pride because it tells us that we are saved in spite of rather than because of ourselves."

Michael Horton

I am thoroughly enjoying this book and highly recommend it for anyone who wants to understand the grace and mercy of our Heavenly Father.

Repent & Return To God

The Wrath Of God

Savior But Not Lord?

"We are justified solely by knowledge of, ascent to, and trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ. And yet, anyone who is justified has been regenerated, grafted into the life of Christ, and fruits of gratitude will inevitably follow. Without an interest in the Savior and his Word and sacraments and the fellowship of his people there is no life. Christ's lordship is not an option for the first-class Christians but an inevitability for all who share his life. At the same time, we will always be perfectly righteous before God's judgment even though we struggle with indwelling sin throughout our life."

Michael Horton

Putting Amazing Back Into Grace

Another One For My Non-Calvinist Friends

This is from Calvinistic Cartoons... enjoy.

The Gospel In Psalm 1

Here is the first message in R.W. Glenn's new series The Psalms of Jesus:

Will God Always Forgive Me Of Repetitive Sin

A Tale Of Two Sons: John MacArthur