Happiness is a by-product of wanting something more than happiness-to be rightly related to God and our neighbor.

To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God. It is what we need more than anything. It liberates us from pretense, humbles us out of our self-righteousness, and fortifies us for any difficulty life can throw at us.

The great basis of Christian assurance is not how much our hearts are set on God, but how unshakably his heart is set on us.

Paul sees all kinds of sins in himself and all kinds of accomplishments too, but he refuses to connect them with his identity.

If you're avoiding sin and living morally so that God will have to bless you and save you, then you may be looking to Jesus as a teacher, model, and helper, but ironically you are avoiding him as Savior. You are trusting in your own goodness rather than in Jesus for your standing with God.

The human race doesn't need more books telling them what to do. They need the power to do what they already know.

The gospel is an exclusive truth but it's the most inclusive exclusive truth in the world.