We constantly want to justify ourselves before God, to be good enough without Christ. But God does not want us to trust in our goodness. He does not want us to make up for our past sins through present obedience. He does not want us to think that we are good enough to go to heaven by comparing ourselves to the Hitlers and Stalins of the world. Comparisons are useless when it comes to establishing righteousness before God. God crucified His one and only Son for our justification, and He wants us to trust in Him alone. When it comes to being justified, faith plus anything else is quicksand. The only ground for right standing before God is Christ Jesus grabbed ahold of by faith.
— Jay Harvey, Presbyterianischer Pastor, Theologe und Dozent
Topics: Grace & Redemption, Faith & Trust, Guilt & Forgiveness
Occasions: For Reflection
Jay Harvey
Jay Harvey ist ein US-amerikanischer presbyterianischer Pastor und Theologe, der im Gemeindedienst sowie als Dozent und Direktor am Reformed Theological Seminary in New York tätig war. Er vertritt eine klassisch-reformierte Theologie mit Schwerpunkt auf Seelsorge und Bibelauslegung, unter anderem als Autor eines Studienführers zum Hohelied. Bibellesern bietet er strukturierte und anwendungsorientierte Zugänge zu biblischen Texten für das persönliche Bibelstudium und die Kleingruppenarbeit.
It wasn't the nails that held Jesus to the cross. It was love.
Max Lucado
Grace, like water, flows to the lowest part.
Philip Yancey
In our own woundedness, we can become sources of life for others.
Henri Nouwen
God does not love us because we are lovable, but because his nature is love.
Oswald Chambers
Oswald Chambers
God counts on your failure far more than you do yourself.
Hans Peter Royer
Ultimately mourning means facing what wounds us in the presence of One who can heal.
Henri Nouwen
The church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints.
Tim Keller