After creation God said, 'It is finished'-and he rested. After redemption Jesus said, 'It is finished'-and we can rest.

Life in this fallen world is to a great degree meaningless, our aspirations are constantly being frustrated, and sometimes the respectable people are oppressive and bigoted. And yet there is a Good that will triumph over Evil in the end. From a Christian perspective the problem with both kinds of stories is that they tend to blame problems on things besides sin and identify salvation in things besides God — and therefore are ultimately too simplistic.

When I forget the gospel I become dependent on the smiles and evaluation of others.

If God is not at the center of your life, something else is.

Ironically, the insistence that doctrines do not matter is really a doctrine itself

There are many ways to cover up our sin. We may justify or minimize it by blaming circumstances and others people. However, real repentance first admits sin as sin and takes full responsibility. True confession and repentance begins when blame shifting ends...Just as real repentance begins only where blame shifting ends, so it also begins where self-pity ends, and we start to turn from our sin out of love for God rather than mere self-interest.

Only on the cross do you have a totally holy God and a totally loving God.