Confession and repentance involve:
– Driscoll, Mark and Gary Breshears, Vintage Church: Timeless Truths and Timely Methods, Crossway Books, Wheaton, IL, 2008, p. 170
As God became a man, Jesus came to fully identify with our humanity and serve as the mediator between us and God to deal with our sin problem and reconcile us back to God.
– Driscoll, Mark and Gary Breshears, Vintage Church: Timeless Truths and Timely Methods, Crossway Books, Wheaton, IL, 2008, p. 14
Forgiveness means that no matter how much we may have been hurt by other’s sin, we give up our right to hurt them back. We love them and seek their best. Forgiveness does not mean that we ignore their sin. Neither does it mean we act like the sin never happened and go on in trusting relationship with the offender.
– Driscoll, Mark and Gary Breshears, Vintage Church: Timeless Truths and Timely Methods, Crossway Books, Wheaton, IL, 2008, p. 187
Jesus’ unparalleled humility is one of his most shocking attributes. Our culture believes that pride is our greatest friend although it is the reason why Satan himself was kicked out of heaven.
– Driscoll, Mark and Gary Breshears, Vintage Church: Timeless Truths and Timely Methods, Crossway Books, Wheaton, IL, 2008, p. 13
The confessional nature of the church requires that the essential truths of biblical Christian faith be declared, defined, and defended.
– Driscoll, Mark and Gary Breshears, Vintage Church: Timeless Truths and Timely Methods, Crossway Books, Wheaton, IL, 2008, p. 10
To be absolutely clear, the people who make up the church must have a living connection to the true Jesus rather than to one of the many popular idols that litter our cultural landscape under the name of “God” or even “Jesus.” The real Jesus is the virgin-born incarnation of the second person of the Trinity, the Word come in flesh and the gift given to the church.
– Driscoll, Mark and Gary Breshears, Vintage Church: Timeless Truths and Timely Methods, Crossway Books, Wheaton, IL, 2008, p. 9
Someday, at the return of the Lord Jesus, the world will be made new. The kingdom of God will come fully. Jesus himself will be the great all-satisfying Treasure in that new and beautiful earth. But not everyone will enjoy it (John 3:3). Jesus is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). Until we come to him, we will not have life. Not now. Not ever. God gives eternal life, and this life is in his Son (I John 5:11).
– John Piper, Finally Alive, Christian Focus Publishers, copyright 2009, page 192
This means that if you feel average or below average in your fitness to share the gospel treasure, you are closer to the truth than someone who feels powerful and wise and self-sufficient. Paul wants us to realize that we are clay pots.
– John Piper, Finally Alive, Christian Focus Publishers, copyright 2009, page 181
He causes the human heart to see the truth and beauty and worth of Christ – the glory of Christ. And when we see him for who he really is, we receive him for who he is. (John 1:12)
– John Piper, Finally Alive, Christian Focus Publishers, copyright 2009, page 179
God’s work and your work come together like this:
– John Piper, Finally Alive, Christian Focus Publishers, copyright 2009, page 169-170
Notable Quotables 