The Thoughts of Ryan-C

QOTD: God’s Wrath

// November 11th, 2009 // No Comments » // Jesus Stuff, Quote of the Day, Yelling, sin, theology

God’s wrath is not a cranky explosion, but his settled opposition to the cancer of sin which is eating out the insides of the human race he loves with his whole being.

-Becky Pippert (via @mikeyporfiris)

Faith: Our Justification

// November 6th, 2009 // No Comments » // Calvin, Faith, Jesus Stuff, Life, Quote of the Day, calvinism, reformed, sin, theology

For we are said to be justified by faith, not because we receive within ourselves any righteousness whatever, but because the righteousness of Christ is credited to us, as if it were really ours; while our own wickedness is not imputed to us. The outcome is that it is possible, in a word, to truly call this righteousness the remission of sins. This is what the apostle co clearly declares in often comparing the righteousness of works to that of faith, and in declaring that the one is destroyed by the other (Romans 10:3-8; Philippians 3:9).

-John Calvin, Truth For All Time

Faith: A Gift From God

// November 4th, 2009 // No Comments » // Calvin, Faith, Jesus Stuff, Life, Quote of the Day, calvinism, grace, theology

If we honestly consider within ourselves how very blind our thought is when faced with the heavenly secrets of God, and how very unfaithful our heart is in everything, we shall not doubt that faith is infinitely beyond all the power of our nature and that it is an extraordinary and precious gift of God. For as St. Paul says, “Nobody knows the things of man, except for the spirit of man which is in him; and nobody knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.” …The Holy Spirit witnesses to our spirit the God is our father and that we are his children.

-John Calvin, Truth For All Time

Faith: True Faith

// November 3rd, 2009 // No Comments » // Books, Calvin, Faith, Jesus Stuff, Life, Quote of the Day, grace, reformed

Christian faith is, rather, a firm and solid assurance of the heart, by which we cling securely to the mercy of God which is promised to us though the gospel.

-John Calvin, Truth For All Time

Faith: Election and Predestination

// November 3rd, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Books, Calvin, Jesus Stuff, grace, reformed, theology

Now the reason why the Lord treats some mercifully and exercises the rigour of his judgement towards others must be known by him alone, for he, with very good intentions, has wished that it should be hidden from us all. The coarse insensitivity of our mind would not be able to bear such a great light; nor would our smallness be able to understand such great wisdom.

It is enough for us to have decided this in our hearts: that this dealing of the Lord, although hidden from us, is nonetheless holy and just. For if God wanted to ruin all humanity, he would have the right to do it. And in those whom he rescues from perdition, one can contemplate nothing but his sovereign goodness.

-John Calvin, Truth For All Time

Faith: A Short Series

// November 1st, 2009 // No Comments » // Books, Calvin, Faith, Jesus Stuff, Life, Quote of the Day, grace, theology

I was lucky enough to get a hold on Calvin’s Truth For All Time, thanks to my buddy Jimmy and I realized that it had some great stuff in it on Faith.. thus I figured I could do a quick QOTD series on faith from this book.

Up first, is today’s quote on how we lay hold of Christ by faith.

It is true that the Word of the gospel calls all men to participate in Christ, but many, blinded and hardened by unbelief, spurn such extraordinary grace. Only believers, then, enjoy Christ; only they receive him as sent to them. He is given to them, and they do not reject him. They are called by him, and they follow him.