From this it further follows, when a Christian does good works and shows love to his neighbor, that he does not thereby become a Christian or pious, but before this is done he must have been a Christian and pious. He indeed does good works, but his good works do not make him a Christian. The tree brings or yields good fruit, but the fruit does not make the tree good. So also here, no one becomes a Christian through his works, but through Christ.
– Martin Luther –
These wounds were meant to purchase me. These drops of blood were shed to obtain me. I am not my own today. I belong to another. I have been bought with a price. And I will live every moment of this day so that the Great Purchaser of my soul will receive the full reward of His suffering.
– Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf –
I’m convinced that a large percentage of people that we call worldly Christians are perhaps not Christian to begin with and that may be the trouble.
– Vance Havner –
There was a day when I died; died to self, my opinions, preferences, tastes and will; died to the world, its approval or censure; died to the approval or blame even of my brethren or friends; and since then I have studied only to show myself approved unto God.
– George Müller –
And so it had gotten down to the place where salvation was nothing more than the assent to a scheme or a formula.
– Paris Reidhead –
The law shows the distance that exists between God and man; the Gospel bridges that awful chasm and brings the sinner across it.
– CH Spurgeon –
Was there anything Jesus wanted from this earth besides you and me? … NOTHING.
– Zac Poonen –
I care not where I go, or how I live, or what I endure so that I may save souls. When I sleep I dream of them; when I awake they are first in my thoughts. No amount of scholastic attainment, of able and profound exposition, of brilliant and stirring eloquence can atone for the absence of a deep impassioned sympathetic love for human souls.
– David Brainerd –
Think not to say within yourself, “No one can know what his heart is. We must hope the best. No one can find out with any certainty the state of his own soul.” Beware, I say again — beware of such thoughts. The thing can be known. The thing can be found out. Deal honestly and fairly with yourself. Set up a ‘trial’ on the state of your inward man. Summon a jury. Let the Bible preside as judge. Bring up the witnesses. Inquire what your tastes are — where your affections are placed — where your treasure is — what you hate most — what you love most — what pleases you most — what grieves you most. Inquire into all those points impartially, and mark what the answers are. “Where your treasure is there will your heart be also.” (Matt. 6:21) A tree may always be known by its fruit, and a true Christian may always be discovered by their habits, tastes, and affections. Yes! you may soon find out what your heart is, if you are honest, sincere, and impartial.
– JC Ryle –