The Gospel's Very Heart

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”  Romans 8:1

Now.  Not five years from now when you are a better Christian.  Right now.  At this instant.

No.  None at all.  Not even a little.  Zero.  Gone.

For those in Christ Jesus.  And only because we are in him.  We provide everything that deserves condemnation.  He provides everything that deserves acceptance and even glory.

This is the clear message of the Bible, because God not only does not condemn us in Christ, he doesn’t want us feeling condemned in Christ.  He wants us feeling freed.
James Montgomery Boice, Romans (Grand Rapids, 1992), page 789: “Verse 1 is not only the theme of Romans 8.  It is the theme of the entire Word of God, which is only another way of saying that it is the gospel.  Indeed, it is the gospel’s very heart.”

The gospel’s very heart

is a post from: Ray Ortlund

“It is finished, there is enough”

“If today you feel that sin is hateful to you, believe in Him who has said, ‘It is finished.’  Let me link your hand in mine.  Let us come together, both of us, and say, ‘Here are two poor naked souls, good Lord; we cannot clothe ourselves,’ and He will give us a robe, for ‘it is finished.’ . . . ‘But must we not add tears to it?’  ‘No,’ says He, ‘no, it is finished, there is enough.’
Child of God, will you have Christ’s finished righteousness this morning, and will you rejoice in it more than you ever have before?”

Charles Haddon Spurgeon, The Treasury of the New Testament (Grand Rapids, 1950), II:675.  Style updated.

“It is finished, there is enough”

is a post from: Ray Ortlund

Glory Hallelujah!

When things seem bleak, you are bloodied, bruised and there seems no light at the end of the tunnel, wait on the LORD.  Be strong and take heart and wait on the LORD (Ps 27:14).  Look forward to redemption for it is coming.  It is always darkest before the dawn.  He will show Himself mighty.  When all is said and done, Jesus wins.  

You Can Stand Any Test

Feeling pretty defeated today. This post from Ray Ortlund came in perfect timing:

“The cross is practical, it is God moving in love to meet violent men and women, facing violence and suffering for us.  Your faith was born in violence.  The Christian is not scared when the whole world is shaking.  Your faith was born on Calvary.  It can stand anything.  It is an all-weather faith.

Don’t imagine you can only be a Christian when everything is smooth.  Christians shine better when everything is just the opposite.  Your faith was born in blood and sweat in the loneliness of Calvary.  You can stand any test.”

Bishop Festo Kivengere, When God Moves in Revival (Wheaton, 1973), page 16.

You can stand any test

is a post from: Ray Ortlund