Our hearts so often condemn us (we probably don’t know our hearts as we think we do). But God is greater than our hearts. Calvin wrote, “the human heart has so many crannies where vanity hides, so many holes where falsehood lurks, is so decked with deceiving hypocrisy, that it often dupes itself.” It never dupes God (see Hebrews 4:13). Look to God and his grace for healing comfort.
Reason to be Thankful
God alone is the author of all good that comes to us, or is done by us, at any time.
What Does Conversion Involve?
2 things:
a) the dying of the old man
b) the coming to life of the new man
This is by God’s Sovereign work alone through the saving instrumentality of the gift of grace & faith.
To die to self – is to be genuinely sorry for my sin, to hate it more and more & to run away from it.
To come to life – is to receive wholeheartedly with joy Christ Jesus, and to have a desire to do every kind of good work as God desires of me
Hell-Delivering Concern
How concerned are we for the lost? Do we agonize painfully in prayer for their salvation. Do we declare the love of Christ for sinners? Doctrinal exactness is no substitute for preaching Jesus & him crucified. Without the love of Christ manifest in our lives & preaching – precision in theology will leave sinners cold & dead. I am all for doctrinal exactness and we should be very concerned for that – but let our hearts be fired with love from our doctrine for the sinner who is perishing. The lost husband or wife or child or friend. Pray about this – seek Christ about it – since he sought you and found you.
Saturated & Sanctified
The Holy Spirit is the great Saturator & Sanctifier