“The gospel does not tell us to be passive toward others in their faults. It tells us to be aggressively graceful. We overcome evil with good. ‘Overcome’ is a warrior’s term. Paul is saying, ‘Go to war with evil, and defeat it soundly with grace.’ Jesus overcame evil in us through the grace of the cross. We will overcome evil in others by being to them as Jesus was to us.”

–JD Greear, Gospel (Pg. 118)

“Let each of us, therefore, in contemplating his own nature, remember that there is one God who governs all natures, and, in governing, wishes us to have respect to himself, to make him the object of our faith, worship, and adoration. Nothing, indeed, can be more preposterous than to enjoy those noble endowments which bespeak the divine presence within us, and to neglect him who, of his own good pleasure, bestows them upon us.”

–John Calvin, The Institutes of Christian Religion

“Take every word as spoken to yourselves. When the word thunders against sin, think thus: “God means my sins”; when it presseth any duty, “God intends me in this.” Many put off Scripture from themselves, as if it only concerned those who lived in the time when it was written; but if you intend to profit by the word, bring it home to yourselves: a medicine will do no good, unless it be applied.”

–Thomas Watson

“Our peace with God is not fragile; it is stable. When we sin, God is displeased, and He will move to correct us and convict us of our sin. But he does not go to war against us. His bow is no longer bent, and the arrows of His wrath are no longer aimed at our hearts. He does not rattle His sword every time we break the treaty.”

 – R.C. Sproul, The Holiness of God

“If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.” (Matt. 5:29–30)

“For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Romans 8:13)

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
(Galatians 5:16)

“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (Col. 3:5)

“Do you mortify? Do you make it your daily work? Be always at it whilst you live; cease not a day from this work; be killing sin or it will be killing you.” – John Owen

“All other ways of mortification are vain, all helps leave us helpless, it must be done by the Spirit.” – John Owen

“Set faith at work on Christ for the killing of thy sin. His blood is the great sovereign remedy for sin-sick souls. Live in this, and thou wilt die a conqueror; yea, thou wilt, through the good providence of God, live to see thy lust dead at thy feet.” – John Owen

Are you putting sin to death in your life?

All that bitter agony which He endured—all that mental suffering—the sorrow of His soul in the garden—the sufferings of His body on the cross—all was for sin. See, then, the close and beautiful connection between the death of Christ, and the death of sin. All true sanctification comes through the cross. Reader, seek it there. The cross brought into your soul by the eternal Spirit will be the death of your sins. Go to the cross—oh, go to the cross of Jesus. In simplicity of faith, go. With the strong corruption, go. With the burden of guilt, go, go to the cross. You will find nothing but love there—nothing but welcome there—nothing but purity there. The precious blood of Jesus “cleanses us from all sin.” And while you are kept low beneath the cross, your enemy dares not approach you, sin shall not have dominion over you, nor shall Satan, your accuser, condemn you.

–Octavius Winslow, Morning Thoughts, or Daily Walking With God

The beautiful connection between the death of Christ and the death of sin is clearly displayed above. I have read this over and over these past two days and find my heart encouraged each time I do. This certainly impacted me and I thought I’d share with everyone.

Run to the Cross!

Matt

Anyone who has a kindle (.99 cents) or is just looking for a good devotional should pick this book up! It will encourage your soul!

This is exactly why I enjoy reading Piper.

“The Critical question for our generation and for every generation is this: If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ were not there?”

- John Piper: God is the Gospel

“The natural man may have excellent notions in divinity, but God must teach us to know the mysteries of the Gospel after a spiritual manner. A man may see the figures upon a dial, but he cannot tell how the day goes unless the sun shines; so we may read many truths in the Bible, but we cannot know them savingly, till God by His Spirit shines upon our soul….He not only informs our mind, but inclines our will.” – Thomas Watson