From The Farewell Discourse and Final Prayer of Jesus:
"I do not doubt for a moment that men are responsible to repent and believe; but it is salutory to recognize that no believer will have legitimate grounds for claiming, throughout all eternity, that he made it and his neighbor did not because he made the right choice." (107)
"But what does praying in Jesus' name mean? At very least, prayer in Jesus' name is: (1) prayer in accord with all that name stands for; (2) prayer that seeks God's glory (cf. 15:8); and (3) prayer which is consciously uttered under Christ's lordship, much as baptism is Jesus' name signifies in part coming under Christ's lordship." (109)
"What is necessary, then, is an increasing knowledge of the Scriptures so that we may learn how to pray with confidence in Jesus' name." (110)
"To come to Jesus and confess him as Savior and Lord requires contrition, a bended knee. One cannot come to Christ sensing no need, no unworthiness, no sin; one cannot come with head held high as a partner in the enterprise of salvation. It is impossible; for the light of the gospel in the person of Jesus simultaneously illumines our grimy and corrupt hearts and points to him who alone makes all things clean and new. In that moment of self-revelation, either the grace of God takes hold and the sinner cries for mercy, for cleansing, for life; or else he loathes the light that has exposed the dirt." (122)
"Human beings are supposed to know God. We were made in his image, and enough of his nature and character have been stamped on our conscience that we are eternally without excuse. I ought to know God, not merely some facts about him; and if I do not, my ignorance of him is already a sign of my rebellion against him, of my pursuit of other gods or myself. Such ignorance is culpable." (124)
"The aim of the Spirit's work is not to produce a guilty verdict - that already stands (3:18, 36) - but to bring the defendant to see the perilous condition in which he stands. That may prompt him to enter a plea for mercy; for only mercy will save him." (139)
No comments:
Post a Comment