Because it has been so united with the devil it is vital for man to receive from God a change of mind before he can receive a new heart.
– Watchman Nee –
Beginning of Salvation – Martin Luther
The recognition of sin is the beginning of salvation.
– Martin Luther –
Grief and Joy – AW Pink
After grief for sin there should be joy for forgiveness.
– AW Pink –
Wonderful Love of Christ – Thomas Watson
It was wonderful love that Christ should die for such as we are. What are we? Not only vanity, but enmity. When we were fighting, he was dying; when we had the weapons in our hands, then he had the spear in his side (Romans 5:8).
– Thomas Watson –
from The Lords Supper, 1665
True Repentance – George Whitefield
True repentance will entirely change you; the bias of your souls will be changed, then you will delight in God, in Christ, in His law, and in His people.
– George Whitefield –
Forgiveness is to the Soul What Bread is to the Body – Andrew Murray
“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” As bread is the first need of the body, so forgiveness is for the soul. The provision for the one is as sure as for the other. We are children, but we are also sinners. We owe our right of access to the Father’s presence to the precious blood of Christ and the forgiveness it has won for us.
– Andrew Murray –
from Teach Me To Pray
Bring Lust to the Gospel – John Owen
Bring thy lust to the gospel, not for relief, but for further conviction of its guilt: look on him whom thou hast pierced, and be in bitterness. Say to thy soul, What have I done? What love, what mercy, what blood, what grace, have I despised and trampled on! Is this the return I make to the Father for his love, to the Son for his blood, to the Holy Ghost for his grace? Do I thus requite the Lord? Have I defiled the heart that Christ died to wash, which the blesses Spirit hath chosen to dwell in? And can I keep myself out of the dust? What can I say to the dear Lord Jesus? How shall I hold up my head with any boldness before him? Do I account communion with him of so little value that for this vile lust’s sake I have scarce left him any room in my heart? How shall I escape, if I neglect so great salvation? In the mean time, what shall I say to the Lord? Love, mercy, grace, goodness, peace, joy, consolation; I have despised them all, and esteemed them as a thing of naught, that I might harbour a lust in my heart.
– John Owen –
from The Mortification of Sin
The Magnitude of Sin – Charles Spurgeon
But we arrive at a more adequate idea of the magnitude of sin by the greatness of the remedy provided. It is the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s only and well-beloved Son. God’s Son!
– Charles Spurgeon –
A Real Salvation – Samuel Brengle
It is no little salvation that Jesus Christ came to work out for us. It is a “great salvation,” and it saves. Hallelujah! It is not a pretense. It is not a make-believe.” It is a real salvation from all sin and uncleanness; from all doubt and fear; from all guile and hypocrisy; from all malice and wrath. Bless God!
– Samuel Brengle –