The Holiness & Majesty of God¶
We've crafted an unofficial, source-cited, non-commercial index of Dr. R.C. Sproul's publicly available teachings, weighted by how many independent sources corroborate each point. The content is authored by Dr. R.C. Sproul and published by Ligonier Ministries (a few items are third-party YouTube re-uploads); see the Methodology & Rights page for more info. Quotations are brief, linked to their source, and reproduced for study under Ligonier's Copyright Policy (ligonier.org/copyright-policy). This site is humbly offered for personal use only, out of love and respect, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Ligonier Ministries or St. Andrew's Chapel.
577 positions — 52 corroborated across multiple sources.
Well-attested positions¶
Independently stated in two or more of his messages.
The fear of God is not a servile fear, but rather a filial fear of offending our Father, which involves living with awe and reverence.
When we talk about the fear of God in Scripture, such as when the Old Testament wisdom literature says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” we are quick to say that the fear the Bible speaks of is not a servile fear that a prisoner has for his torturer, but rather a filial fear of offending our Father.
Corroborated across 5 sources: Strange Fire (Ligonier article) · Wisdom and Knowledge (Ligonier article) · R.C. Sproul @ 0:50 · Fearing God (Ligonier) · The Magnificat (Part 1) (Ligonier)
The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, and those who lack this fear are considered fools.
That is why the wisdom literature of the Old Testament says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. This is the incredible thing: people who do not fear God think they are smart. They think they are wise, when if a person has no fear of God, there is not an ounce of wisdom in their heads or hearts.
Corroborated across 4 sources: The Book of Job (Ligonier article) · R.C. Sproul @ 1:21 · The Indictment of the Jews and Gentiles (Ligonier) · Israel's Rejection Not Final (Part 3) (Ligonier)
The primary meaning of 'holy' is that which signifies separation, meaning something is distinct or different from something else.
The secondary meaning of this word in Scripture is that which refers to personal righteousness and purity, but the primary meaning of the word "holy" means separate, or if you will, theological
That which is holy is that which is other -- O-T-H-E-R -- that which is different from something else.
Corroborated across 4 sources: What Is a Sacrament? (Ligonier article) · R.C. Sproul @ 0:07 · R.C. Sproul @ 2:58 · R.C. Sproul @ 10:00
God's glory is fundamentally tied to His dignity and gravity, meaning His being is substantive and weighty, not light or insignificant.
Literally, in the original Semitic language, it means “weightiness” or “heaviness.” So, when we speak about the glory of God, we say His being is not light or insignificant, but substantive. It is heavy.
Corroborated across 3 sources: The Weightiness of the Gospel (Ligonier article) · Faith Triumphs in Trouble (Part 3) (Ligonier) · Transfiguration (Part 2) (Ligonier)
The disciples' reaction to Christ's power was not merely admiration, but a profound fear stemming from recognizing His divine holiness.
In a word, what the disciples experienced on the Sea of Galilee that night was the holiness of Christ. They liked His power when they were in trouble, so they were quick to wake Him when the boat seemed endangered. But when He showed them His power, they said: “This is not common power. This is holy power. This man is different from every other person on the face of the earth.”
Corroborated across 3 sources: The Holiness of Christ (Ligonier article) · Legion (Ligonier) · Calming the Sea (Ligonier)
The experience of Christ's transcendent majesty causes people to be reduced to terror because He is holy and fundamentally different from humanity.
As soon as He manifests His transcendent majesty, they are reduced to terror. That is why, beloved, if Christ in His majesty would come in this church this morning, nobody would go up to Him and shake His hand and say, “Hey, pal, come on in.”
Corroborated across 3 sources: The Holiness of Christ (Ligonier article) · R.C. Sproul @ 24:43 · Calming the Sea (Ligonier)
Even during Jesus' general progress from humiliation to exaltation, there are moments where God's glory is still manifest.
Rather, the book explains that even in Jesus’ general progress from humiliation to exaltation, in His worst moments of humiliation, there are interjections by the grace of God, wherein the Son’s glory is also manifest.
Corroborated across 3 sources: Humiliation to Exaltation (Ligonier article) · Humiliation to Exaltation (Ligonier article) · The Resurrection (Ligonier)
God has revealed His wrath against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.
when he declared that “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men” (Rom. 1:18).
Corroborated across 3 sources: None Righteous (Ligonier article) · God’s Wrath (Ligonier) · Present Condition of Israel (Ligonier)
Encountering the holiness of God causes a profound realization of one's own unholiness and inadequacy.
As soon as Isaiah sees the unveiled holiness of God, for the first time in Isaiah's life, he understands who God is; and the very second that Isaiah understood who God was, for the first time in his life, he understood who Isaiah was.
Corroborated across 3 sources: R.C. Sproul @ 23:20 · R.C. Sproul @ 13:22 · The Beheading of John the Baptist (Part 2) (Ligonier)
The transfiguration represents a visible, dramatic change where Christ's hidden divine glory is revealed to the disciples.
In terms of what is visible to the eyes of His disciples, there is a transformation, a movement from one perspective to another, where for all His earthly life, the incarnate Logos, the second person of the Trinity, has His glory hidden and veiled in the cloak of Jesus’ humanity. And now, all of a sudden, before the eyes of the disciples, they see the bursting forth of the full deity of Christ.
Corroborated across 3 sources: R.C. Sproul @ 1:33 · Transfiguration (Part 1) (Ligonier) · Transfiguration (Part 2) (Ligonier)
The desolation of Jerusalem was imminent, and the people were warned to flee to the mountains.
But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.
Corroborated across 2 sources: R.C. Sproul @ 6:20 · The Destruction of Jerusalem (Ligonier)
A Christian indwelt by the Holy Spirit cannot be possessed by a demon.
But a Christian who is indwelt by the Holy Spirit cannot be possessed by a demon. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
Corroborated across 2 sources: Are We Too Concerned with Demons? (Ligonier article) · Satan the Proud and Powerful (Ligonier article)
The ascension of Jesus is not merely a physical movement upward, but a unique event linked to a prior descent.
Yet, there is something extremely unusual and extraordinary about the record of Jesus’ ascension, because when Luke talks about the ascension of Jesus, he is not talking simply about somebody going up, even up in the air or the sky.
Corroborated across 2 sources: The Ascension (Ligonier article) · Jesus Appears (Ligonier)
Marriage is a highly valuable but dangerous institution because it involves putting deep emotional expectations on the line.
Into our marriages we pour our greatest and deepest expectations. We put our emotions on the line. There we can achieve the greatest happiness, but we also can experience the greatest disappointment, the most frustration, and the most pain.
Corroborated across 2 sources: The Basis of a Christian Marriage (Ligonier article) · R.C. Sproul @ 24:48
The lordship of Jesus is not merely a future hope but a present reality that the church must bear witness to.
The lordship of Jesus is not simply a hope of Christians that someday might be realized; it is a truth that has already taken place.
Corroborated across 2 sources: Bearing Witness to an Invisible Kingdom (Ligonier article) · The King of Kings (Ligonier article)
The Son willingly relinquished his glory and was not forced by the Father to do so.
He is not coerced by the Father to relinquish His glory and be subjected to humiliation. Rather, He willingly “made Himself of no reputation.”
Corroborated across 2 sources: The Blueprint of Redemption (Ligonier article) · What Is the Covenant of Redemption? (Ligonier article)
God is both transcendent, meaning He is above and beyond the created order, and immanent, meaning He manifests Himself within it.
On the one hand, God is not a part of the created order. He’s above and beyond. That’s what we mean by transcendent . And yet He is not remote. Aristotle thought of God as a do-nothing king who reigns but doesn’t rule. His god is uninvolved with the affairs of human beings. But God is not like that. He is immanent , meaning He is close by.
Corroborated across 2 sources: A Consuming Fire (Ligonier article) · A Supernatural Faith (Ligonier article)
Understanding God's holiness makes humans acutely aware of their own corruption, leading them to recognize their need for grace.
if we understand who God is, and catch a glimpse of His majesty, purity, and holiness, then we are instantly aware of the extent of our own corruption. When that happens, we fly to grace—because we recognize that there’s no way that we could ever stand before God apart from grace.
Corroborated across 2 sources: A Consuming Fire (Ligonier article) · The Holiness of God and the Sinfulness of Man (Ligonier article)
The primary meaning of holiness is that God is transcendent, meaning He is fundamentally different from everything in the created order.
And the first meaning, the primary meaning of holiness in the Scriptures is that the term holy means that which is other, or different, or apart. That has to do with this, that when we say that God is holy, we’re saying that God is different from everything that we experience in the created order.
Corroborated across 2 sources: “Hallowed Be Your Name" (Ligonier article) · R.C. Sproul @ 20:41
God's love is a majestic, sacred, and transcendent love that is fundamentally different from human experience.
So the first thing we have to understand about God’s love is that it is transcendent. It’s not common. It’s not profane. It’s not ordinary. But it is a majestic, sacred, transcendent kind of love that goes far beyond anything the creature can ever manifest.
Corroborated across 2 sources: The Holy Love of God (Ligonier article) · R.C. Sproul @ 21:51
Satan might be able to intimidate believers to the point of paralysis, even if he cannot take away their faith.
Because if Satan can't take away our faith, he might be able to intimidate us to such a degree that we are paralyzed, that we are not quite as bold as we were before.
Corroborated across 2 sources: The Most Valuable Aim of Apologetics (Ligonier article) · The Task of Apologetics (Ligonier article)
Biblically, the word 'curse' is not superstitious, but rather relates to a profound contrast to God's blessing.
But in biblical categories there is nothing superstitious about it. If you really want to understand what it meant to a Jew to be cursed, I think the simplest way is to look at the famous Hebrew benediction in the Old Testament
Corroborated across 2 sources: Obscene, yet Beautiful (Ligonier article) · Jesus Became a Curse for Us (Ligonier article)
The joy and bliss awaiting those who go to heaven far surpass any joy or delight experienced in this life.
But for those who are going to heaven, the bliss that God has stored up for you is unworthy to be compared with any joy or any delight we cling to in this life.
Corroborated across 2 sources: Thinking of Home (Ligonier article) · R.C. Sproul @ 1:36
The holiness of God is something that simultaneously attracts and frightens humanity.
Ambivalence meaning this: that we have conflicting feelings about the holy, that there is something about the holiness of God that attracts us, but there's also something about the holiness of God that repels us and frightens us.
Corroborated across 2 sources: The Trauma of Holiness (Ligonier article) · R.C. Sproul @ 11:45
Human dignity, according to the Bible, is tied to the concept of glory, and only God possesses true intrinsic significance.
Dignity, by biblical definition, is tied to the biblical concept of glory. God’s glory, His weightiness, His importance, His significance, is what the Bible uses to describe the fountainhead of all dignity. And only God has eternal value and intrinsic (that is, in and of Himself) significance.
Corroborated across 2 sources: We Are Not Germs: The Case for Human Dignity (Ligonier article) · What is the biblical basis for human dignity? (Ligonier Q&A)
The presence of the shekinah glory signifies the presence of God, and the glory displayed on the transfigured Jesus was not a reflection but a burst from His concealed deity.
Just as that bush was burning from the inside and the bush itself was not burning, so in the transfigured Jesus, the glory that was displayed on the mountain was not a reflection but a glory that burst from His concealed deity—because where the shekinah is, God is.
Corroborated across 2 sources: What Was the Burning Bush? (Ligonier article) · Israel's Rejection of Christ (Ligonier)
Envy is an outward action of inward envy, which is a destructive attitude towards other people's possessions and enjoyment.
Vandalism is simply the outward action of inward envy. The basic attitude of the vandal is this: If I can’t enjoy what you possess, I’m not going to – I’m going to make sure that you can’t enjoy it either.
Corroborated across 2 sources: R.C. Sproul @ 21:28 · Put on Christ (Ligonier)
The highest possible joy is found in the beatific vision, which is seeing God's presence directly.
There is no higher possible felicity that any creature can ever enjoy than to bask in the presence of the light of the countenance of God. Our promise for the future is the beatific vision, where we will see Him as He is.
Corroborated across 2 sources: R.C. Sproul @ 15:09 · The Beatitudes (Ligonier)
To participate in Christ's exaltation and glory, one must first be willing to identify with Him in His disgrace and humiliation.
Unless you’re willing to identify with Jesus in His disgrace and humiliation, you will never participate in His exaltation and His glory.
Corroborated across 2 sources: R.C. Sproul @ 0:00 · Kingdom Climbers (Ligonier)
The disciples were so astonished by Jesus' power over the storm that they questioned his identity.
You see when the disciples saw Jesus tame the storm and the sea by the mere force of his command, they stood back in horror and they asked the question, “What kind of man is this? What kind of person is this?”
Corroborated across 2 sources: R.C. Sproul @ 7:25 · Calming the Sea (Ligonier)
Xenophobia is defined as the fear of strangers, which includes the fear one ethnic group has for another.
Xenophobia is the fear of strangers, aliens, people who are different from us, the fear one ethnic group has for another, the fear people of one nation have for people of another.
Corroborated across 2 sources: R.C. Sproul @ 10:21 · Calming the Sea (Ligonier)
A lack of concern for truth indicates a lack of concern for the Word of God, the Son of God, and ultimately, God.
If you don’t care about truth, you don’t care about the Word of God. If you don’t care about the Word of God, you don’t care about the Son of God. Furthermore, if you don’t care about the Son of God, you don’t care about God.
Corroborated across 2 sources: R.C. Sproul @ 1:35 · How concerned should we be for the lack of truth taught in the church? (Ligonier Q&A)
Human history is characterized by continuous resistance to God's grace, which is nonetheless powerful enough to overcome that resistance.
Now beloved, the history of the human race is the history of relentless resistance by human beings to the sweetness of the grace of God. What is meant by irresistible grace is not what the word suggests, that it's incapable of being resisted. Indeed, we are capable of resisting God's grace, and we do resist God's grace.
Corroborated across 2 sources: R.C. Sproul @ 2:23 · R.C. Sproul @ 3:10
The disciples were terrified because they realized they were in the presence of the holy.
In other words, ladies and gentlemen, what terrified the disciples, ladies and gentlemen, was that suddenly they realized that they were in the presence of the holy, and their fear was increased.
Corroborated across 2 sources: R.C. Sproul @ 20:27 · Legion (Ligonier)
Peter's reaction to Jesus' holiness was to declare himself a sinful man and ask Jesus to depart.
Peter looked at Jesus, and he said this – it’s astonishing. He said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man.” Peter said, “Jesus, please leave. I can’t stand it.”
Corroborated across 2 sources: R.C. Sproul @ 21:33 · Healing of the Man with the Unclean Spirit (Ligonier)
People are uncomfortable in our presence not because we’re holy but because we represent the one who is.
People are uncomfortable – imagine somebody being uncomfortable in front – in front of me. That’s ridiculous, but people are uncomfortable in our presence not because we’re holy but because we represent the one who is,
Corroborated across 2 sources: R.C. Sproul @ 27:13 · The Catch of Fish (Ligonier)
God highly exalted Christ and gave Him the name that is above every name, which is the supreme title.
Paul concludes: “Therefore”—that is, because of this—“God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name” (Phil. 2:9).
Corroborated across 2 sources: R.C. Sproul @ 0:00 · David's Son and Lord (Ligonier)
God is transcendent and has the power to use every bad thing that happens to us to contribute ultimately to our good.
God is on the vertical plane transcending this horizontal vale of tears in which we live, and He has the power to take every bad thing that happens to you and make it contribute ultimately to your good, doesn’t He?
Corroborated across 2 sources: R.C. Sproul @ 5:58 · R.C. Sproul @ 0:12
God's glory is so intense that even angels must shield themselves from looking directly at His face.
Think of it- that these angelic beings ministered daily in the immediate unveiled presence of Almighty God, whose glory is so refulgent, so piercing that even the angels have to shield themselves from looking directly at His face.
Corroborated across 2 sources: R.C. Sproul @ 13:13 · R.C. Sproul @ 16:49
The attribute of God that is emphasized to the third degree of repetition in Scripture is holiness.
There’s only one attribute of God that is ever raised to the third degree of repetition in Scripture. [...] There’s only one characteristic of almighty God that is communicated in the superlative degree, from the mouths of angels, where the Bible doesn’t simply say that God is holy or even that He’s holy, holy but that He is holy, holy, holy.
Corroborated across 2 sources: R.C. Sproul @ 22:40 · R.C. Sproul @ 0:00
Humanity cannot stand before a holy God on its own merits and must be clothed with the righteousness of Christ.
The only way any of us can ever stand in the sight of God is to be stripped of those rags and clothed afresh in the garments of the righteousness of Christ.
Corroborated across 2 sources: R.C. Sproul @ 1:48 · Jesus' Arrest (Ligonier)
Jesus genuinely experienced God's forsakenness, which was necessary for human salvation.
It was his absolute forsakenness that Jesus had to experience for your salvation and for mine.
Corroborated across 2 sources: R.C. Sproul @ 0:14 · Jesus at Gethsemane (Ligonier)
God's wrath is not a lack of righteousness, but rather a manifestation of the fullness of His righteousness.
His wrath is not a manifestation of a lack of righteousness in God. It is a manifestation of the fullness of righteousness in Him.
Corroborated across 2 sources: R.C. Sproul @ 0:54 · God's Judgment Defended (Ligonier)
The truth of God's holiness is the most threatening objective truth to humanity.
And there is no objective truth more threatening to us than the truth of the holiness of God. Because if that truth is real, we are in trouble, deep trouble, and we know that.
Corroborated across 2 sources: R.C. Sproul @ 18:01 · R.C. Sproul @ 3:18
The people reacted to Moses' radiance because it was a reflection of God's glory, which was intense and blinding.
Why? Because Moses' face was shining with such radiance and such intensity that it was blinding the people, and what the people were seeing, ladies and gentlemen -- think of it -- was merely a reflection on a human being's face from a backward, instantaneous glance of the glory of God.
Corroborated across 2 sources: R.C. Sproul @ 16:49 · The Transfiguration (Ligonier)
The manifestation of God's holiness is so powerful that it affects inanimate parts of creation, causing them to tremble.
Inanimate, lifeless, unintelligible parts of creation in the presence of the manifestation of the holiness of God had the good sense to be moved. How can we, made in His image, be indifferent or apathetic to His majesty?
Corroborated across 2 sources: R.C. Sproul @ 27:56 · R.C. Sproul @ 5:58
The Scripture consistently reports that every human being reacts with trembling when exposed to God's holiness.
Context: Referencing John Calvin's interpretation of Scripture.
As Calvin said, the uniform report of sacred Scripture is that every human being, whoever is exposed to the holiness of God, trembles in His presence.
Corroborated across 2 sources: R.C. Sproul @ 2:30 · R.C. Sproul @ 4:33
A true understanding of sin requires recognizing that God's holiness is absolute, and sinfulness cannot be excused or minimized.
Context: Quoting Habakkuk's complaint.
If God were to call me to account for my life, He would be perfectly justified to send me to hell forever. Do you realize that? If you do not know that, then you have never really dealt with your sin.
Corroborated across 2 sources: R.C. Sproul @ 1:29 · God's Judgment Defended (Ligonier)
Biblical blessedness is understood by the Jew as being related to one's proximity to the presence of God.
The Jew understood blessedness always in terms of one’s proximity to the presence of God.
Corroborated across 2 sources: Abraham Justified Before Circumcision (Ligonier) · The Beatitudes (Ligonier)
Being in the presence of the Holy is the scariest experience.
Ladies and gentlemen, there is nothing on this planet scarier than to be in the presence of the Holy.
Corroborated across 2 sources: The Birth of Jesus (Ligonier) · The Calming of the Storm (Ligonier)
God's glory is unique and transcendent, representing His singular dignity that no creature can possess.
The word for glory, kavod or kabod, literally means God’s weightiness, significance, and value, or God’s august being and character. The glory of God refers to His singular transcendent dignity that no creature can possess in a similar magnitude.
Corroborated across 2 sources: Israel's Rejection Not Final (Part 4) (Ligonier) · Peter's Sermon - Part 3 (Ligonier)
Humans tend to judge themselves by relative standards of goodness, rather than by God's absolute standard of holiness.
We are used to flattering ourselves as being good people, or at least we are not as bad as the next person. We are like the Pharisee in the temple saying, “I thank you, Lord, that I’m not like that wretched tax collector over there.”
Corroborated across 2 sources: The Jews Are as Guilty as the Gentiles (Ligonier) · The Rich Young Ruler (Ligonier)
Further positions¶
Drawn from a single high-trust (official transcript) source.
The modern embrace of skepticism and superficial persuasion, similar to Sophism, threatens the foundations of truth and civilization.
Socrates came into this environment and said that if Sophism triumphs in our culture, it will be the end of civilization because this kind of skepticism and superficial persuasion rips life out of the context of truth.
Source: Against the Sophists (Ligonier article)
After ascending, Christ sits at the right hand of the Father, exercising lordship over the world and interceding for humanity.
So as He sits at the right hand of the Father, exercising His lordship over the whole world and His intercession before the Father on behalf of His people, He improves our condition dramatically.
Source: The Ascension (Ligonier article)
Understanding the holiness of God is something that few Christians actually possess.
But he didn’t understand the holiness of God. No one who is separated from God understands His holiness. To tell you the truth, not many Christians do either.
Source: Asking the Right Questions (Ligonier article)
Athanasius was a champion of Trinitarian orthodoxy who suffered exiles due to his steadfast faith.
This great Christian leader suffered several exiles during the embittered Arian controversy because of the steadfast profession of faith he maintained in Trinitarian orthodoxy.
Source: The Athanasian Creed (Ligonier article)
He was shocked when a student was humiliated for holding the belief that Christ is the incarnate Son of God.
I was shocked when I saw a student being humiliated for having the audacity to come to seminary with the idea already formed in his mind that Christ is the incarnate Son of God.
Source: Be Prepared (Ligonier article)
Christians are called to participate in Christ's afflictions by bearing and enduring pain, which serves to demonstrate God's love.
By bearing and enduring pain, we walk in the footsteps of Jesus and mirror and reflect Him to onlookers. Pain and suffering are opportunities to show the love that God has shed abroad in our hearts.
Source: Bearing and Enduring (Ligonier article)
Jesus ascended into heaven for the specific purpose of being invested and crowned as the supreme King of kings and Lord of lords.
He was ascending into heaven for the purpose of His investiture and coronation as the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Source: Bearing Witness to an Invisible Kingdom (Ligonier article)
When we see God in heaven, we will see Him in His very essence, not just an image of Him.
We won't simply see the expression of the perfect image of God; we will see God in His very essence, face-to-face.
Source: Blessed Are the Pure in Heart, for They Shall See God (Ligonier article)
God demonstrates His superior power by asking Job questions that highlight Job's inability to perform cosmic feats.
Can you bind the chains of the Pleides? Or loose the belt of Orion? Can you lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season, or can you guide the Bear with its children?
Source: The Book of Job (Ligonier article)
The design of sacred spaces, like the tabernacle, was intended to manifest the glory and beauty of God, not the glory of the human ministers.
But for whose glory were they designed? Not for the human beings who ministered in the tabernacle. Arguably, the glory that is in view is the glory of the Lord. The beauty is to manifest that same glory.
Source: Building with Conviction (Ligonier article)
Christ's fulfillment of the sacrificial system does not diminish God's concern for His glory or beauty.
Since Christ fulfilled all of the aspects of the sacrificial system undertaken in the Old Testament tabernacle, does that mean that God’s concern for His glory and for His beauty has passed away? I think not. God has lost nothing of His glory or of His beauty.
Source: Building with Conviction (Ligonier article)
Modern churches often prioritize pure functionality and creature comfort, neglecting the architectural styles that emphasize God's transcendent majesty.
Instead of using architectural styles designed to call attention to the transcendent majesty of God—the beauty of His holiness and glory—we have moved in the direction of pure functionality. Churches are designed now for creature comfort and for utilitarian purposes.
Source: Building with Conviction (Ligonier article)
Reconstructing doctrine by stripping God of uncomfortable attributes constitutes a sophisticated form of idolatry.
When we reconstruct our doctrine of God in such a way that we strip Him of those attributes with which we are uncomfortable, we reconstruct a god who is not holy, a god who is not wrathful, a god who is not just, a god who is not sovereign.
Source: Calvin’s Defining Passion in the Protestant Reformation (Ligonier article)
God is deeply concerned about and appreciative of beauty, as evidenced by the detailed instructions for sacred objects.
Simply put, the God of heaven and earth is deeply concerned about and appreciative of beauty.
Source: The Church Adorned with Beauty (Ligonier article)
The account of the burning bush demonstrates that the story is fundamentally about the holiness of God.
The account of the burning bush is a story about the holiness of God.
Source: A Consuming Fire (Ligonier article)
Without the covering of Christ's righteousness and the purging of our filthiness, we would be consumed by God's holiness.
The Lord is holy, high and lifted up. He is a consuming fire. And if not for His grace, we would be consumed. This is still true for us today: if not for the covering of Christ’s righteousness, if not for the purging of our filthiness, we would be consumed.
Source: A Consuming Fire (Ligonier article)
The tendency to find flaws in famous figures, especially Jesus, is a form of iconoclasm that is particularly appealing to sensational fiction writers.
To sully His character by salacious innuendos is the ultimate form of iconoclasm. Add to the mix the appetite for conspiracy and cover-up, and it’s easy to see how The Da Vinci Code can be catapulted to the top of the best-selling list.
Source: The Da Vinci Conspiracy (Ligonier article)
Gnostics believed their special knowledge was superior to the firsthand accounts of the apostles who witnessed Jesus.
▷ A view Sproul explains or critiques — not his own position.
They claimed to have a knowledge that superseded the knowledge of the first-century eyewitnesses of Jesus.
Source: The Da Vinci Conspiracy (Ligonier article)
The joy of a Christian is a sustainable emotion that can coexist with spiritual depression.
A Christian can have joy in his heart while there is still spiritual depression in his head. The joy that we have sustains us through these dark nights and is not quenched by spiritual depression.
Source: The Dark Night of the Soul (Ligonier article)
Nations that neglect or repudiate God's blessings risk losing His presence and glory.
One wonders that if God pours out a profound blessing on a particular geographical region and that blessing is neglected or repudiated, does a kind of ichabod ensue in which God removes His lampstand from their midst, along with His glory (1 Sam. 4:20–22; Rev. 2:5)?
Source: Ecclesiastical Myopia (Ligonier article)
The spiritual blessings and profound benefits enjoyed by the West could be lost and transferred to other, more receptive nations.
We should take heed in this country that the profound spiritual benefits and blessings that we have enjoyed in our brief history may be removed and passed to other nations that are more receptive to the truths of God.
Source: Ecclesiastical Myopia (Ligonier article)
Even great human achievements do not give us the right to boast except in God's glory and redemption.
If we were to achieve the highest goals possible in this world, to scale the heights of human achievement in unprecedented manners, we would still be at best, unprofitable servants who have no right to boast in anything but in the glory of God and the precious redemption that is ours in Christ Jesus.
Source: Exceptional Mediocrity (Ligonier article)
Believers should strive for the highest level of excellence in all things while remaining vigilant against the sin of pride.
Let us therefore seek to excel, let us push ourselves to the highest limits of endurance to achieve the highest possible level of excellence in all that we do, while at the same time watching ever vigilantly for the evil impulse of pride to vitiate any value to our labor.
Source: Exceptional Mediocrity (Ligonier article)
A major danger in the Christian life is making oneself the center of concern, thereby stealing the glory that belongs to God.
The great danger is that we make ourselves the center of concern, and we steal the glory of God.
Source: For the Glory of God (Ligonier article)
Human inability to see God is due to internal impurity of the heart, not a physical defect.
What prevents us from seeing God is our heart, our impurity.
Source: Forsaken: Jesus Became A Curse (Ligonier article)
To be 'hard pressed' means experiencing a massive weight or pressure that threatens to crush one's spirit.
To be hard pressed is to feel a massive weight that threatens to crush us.
Source: From Hard Pressed to Hope (Ligonier article)
Humans tend to underestimate their own capacity to bear burdens, assuming they can carry less than they actually can.
We all have a tendency, however, to suppose that we can carry far less than we actually can.
Source: From Hard Pressed to Hope (Ligonier article)
Sproul believes that Jesus' use of the term 'greater works' refers to the overall scope of the Christian church's historical impact on the world, rather than a literal increase in miraculous power.
I think, personally, that that's what Jesus meant when He talked about greater works.
Source: What Did Jesus Mean When He Said We Would Do Greater Work Than He Did? (Ligonier article)
When a student says 'I feel that X is wrong,' they are making a cognitive judgment, not expressing a feeling.
When the student declares, “I feel that Kant made a mistake” he means that he thinks Kant committed an error. The student is making a cognitive judgment. It is not a feeling, it is thinking.
Source: What Is Hedonism? (Ligonier article)
Sin is attractive because it offers the short-term feeling of pleasure, even though it violates God and injures our relationship with Him.
But sin is pleasurable. If sin offered no pleasure it would have little attraction for us. The enticement of sin is for the short-term feeling of pleasure.
Source: What Is Hedonism? (Ligonier article)
Hell is a dreadful reality that is not comparable to any human experience and is more terrifying than any symbol can suggest.
Yet no human experience in this world is actually comparable to hell. If we try to imagine the worst of all possible suffering in the here and now we have not yet stretched our imaginations to reach the dreadful reality of hell.
Source: What Is Hell? (Ligonier article)
Hell is characterized by eternal suffering and the unending wrath of God.
Hell, then, is an eternity before the righteous, ever-burning wrath of God, a suffering torment from which there is no escape and no relief.
Source: What Is Hell? (Ligonier article)
God's holiness is so transcendent that it is beyond human categorization and causes all creatures to respond with awe and fear.
Such a One is in a class by Himself. This One is so alien, so other, that there is no compartment for Him. In a word, what the disciples experienced on the Sea of Galilee that night was the holiness of Christ.
Source: The Holiness of Christ (Ligonier article)
Sin introduced the painful experience of personal shame and embarrassment into the human condition.
However, along with the first experience of sin came the awful burden of the weight of personal shame and embarrassment.
Source: Humiliation to Exaltation (Ligonier article)
Christ voluntarily entered the domain of shame and humiliation through the incarnation.
Yet it was precisely into this domain of shame and humiliation that our Savior came voluntarily in the incarnation.
Source: Humiliation to Exaltation (Ligonier article)
God's foreknowledge enhances the beauty of praise rather than limiting it.
If God knows what I’m going to say before I say it, His knowledge, rather than limiting my prayer, enhances the beauty of my praise.
Source: If God Is Sovereign, Why Pray? (Ligonier article)
God's transcendence is a statement about His being, not His physical location.
When we say that God is above and beyond the universe, we are saying that He is above and beyond the universe in terms of His being. He is ontologically transcendent.
Source: In the Beginning... (Ligonier article)
Because of Christ's love, believers are not merely conquerors, but achieve a supreme level of victory over all adversity.
Paul’s point is that because of the love of Christ, we are not only conquerors in the face of all adversity, but we reach the supreme level of conquest, the zenith of victory in Him.
Source: The Inseparable Love of God (Ligonier article)
Anger is a dangerous emotion that must be guarded and tempered by the truth of God to prevent it from leading to sin.
Yet if there’s any emotion that is laced with danger and can be the occasion for the destruction of other people and of our own souls, if not guarded and tempered by the truth of God, it is anger.
Source: Is It OK to Be Angry? (Ligonier article)
The Christian's joy is rooted in the Lord, and this relationship provides a constant reason for rejoicing.
The key to the Christian's joy is its source, which is the Lord. If Christ is in me and I am in Him, that relationship is not a sometimes experience. The Christian is always in the Lord and the Lord is always in the Christian, and that is always a reason for joy.
Source: The Key to the Christian’s Joy (Ligonier article)
Godly ministry requires leaders to avoid assuming a posture of superiority in their speech, demeanor, or attitude.
This must be the first principle of godly ministry and leadership—that we do not assume a posture of superiority, whether in our speech, in our demeanor, or in our attitude.
Source: Leadership in the Church (Ligonier article)
A true Christian leader is primarily concerned with the fears and weaknesses of other people, not just their own.
But Paul, when he was ministering to people, was not primarily concerned about his own weaknesses, inadequacies, and fears. He was more concerned with other people’s fears and weaknesses, and I think that’s a mark of a Christian leader.
Source: Leadership in the Church (Ligonier article)
Because the Bible was viewed as suspect, there was no need for significant maintenance of orthodox Christian doctrine.
Along with the denials of particular aspects of historic Christianity, a denial of the importance of Christian doctrine also came in its wake. Doctrine was something that was derived from the teaching of the Bible, and since the Bible was now suspect, there was no need for any significant maintenance of orthodox Christian doctrine.
Source: The Liberal Agenda (Ligonier article)
Liberalism led to a denial of the importance of Christian doctrine because the Bible was viewed as suspect.
▷ A view Sproul explains or critiques — not his own position.
Along with the denials of particular aspects of historic Christianity, a denial of the importance of Christian doctrine also came in its wake. Doctrine was something that was derived from the teaching of the Bible, and since the Bible was now suspect, there was no need for any significant maintenance of orthodox Christian doctrine.
Source: The Liberal Agenda (Ligonier article)
God's grace is always an undeserved expression of His sovereign generosity, making it inherently uncommon.
God’s grace can never be reduced to the level of experience that may be deemed “common.” Though God’s grace in one sense is commonplace, it is always and everywhere an expression of something that He gives that is undeserved by the creature.
Source: A Loving Provision (Ligonier article)
Christmas is considered the holiest of holy days because of the Incarnation of the Word.
There was never a more holy place than the city of Bethlehem, where the Word became flesh. There was never a more holy time than Christmas morning when Emmanuel was born. Christmas is a holiday. It is the holiest of holy days.
Source: Marley and His Message to Scrooge (Ligonier article)
A major factor drawing evangelicals toward the Roman Catholic Church is their desire for the beauty and transcendent majesty of the classical liturgy.
▷ A view Sproul explains or critiques — not his own position.
I think this is the biggest factor pulling evangelicals toward the Roman Catholic Church.
Source: Misunderstanding Vatican II (Ligonier article)
In Hebrew poetry, the sea is generally a negative symbol, while rivers, fountains, and wells are positive images.
In all of Hebrew poetry, the sea is a negative symbol; the river, the fountain, and the well serve as positive images.
Source: The Nature and Wonder of Heaven (Ligonier article)
In the Old Testament, being blessed meant having the ability to behold the face of God, while being cursed meant being removed from His presence.
The Israelite understood blessedness concretely: to be blessed was to be able to behold the face of God. One could enjoy the blessing only in relative degrees: the closer one got to the ultimate face-to-face relationship, the more blessed he was. Conversely, the farther removed from that face-to-face relationship, the greater the curse.
Source: Obscene, yet Beautiful (Ligonier article)
The suffering of Christ, though obscene, was beautiful because it allows humanity to someday experience God's blessing.
It was obscene, yet it was beautiful, because by it we can someday experience the fullness of the benediction of Israel. We will look unveiled into the light of the countenance of God.
Source: Obscene, yet Beautiful (Ligonier article)
Human accomplishments, even those that are impressive, must ultimately be done for the glory of God, not for human glory.
Why should God get all the glory? Why should the monuments of this world only be to the praise and honor of the Creator? Can't we share in that? Can't we claim it for ourselves?
Source: Our Story (Ligonier article)
The philosophical concept of Angst describes an undefined, amorphous anxiety that hangs over us and causes deep unease.
The Angst about which the philosopher speaks is an undefined, faceless, amorphous type of anxiety which hangs over us and eats away at us. We can't really put our finger on what it is that is unsettling us inside.
Source: Pessimistic Existentialism (Ligonier article)
Man experiences anxiety and dread because he lives within finite boundaries as a result of being 'thrown' into existence.
He said that the reason man experiences anxiety and dread is that man lives in his finite boundaries as a result of what Heidegger calls the experience of "throwness."
Source: Pessimistic Existentialism (Ligonier article)
Being in a place where the blessings and grace of God are utterly absent is worse than any suffering in this world.
Being in a place where the blessings and the grace of God are utterly absent would be far worse than anything that could possibly befall us in this world.
Source: The Place of God’s Disfavor (Ligonier article)
The transcendent realm is defined as the source of unity and the realm of the absolute, contrasting with the relative nature of the physical world.
The transcendent realm is where we find unity. The world in which we live is the world of diversity. Universals are beyond the wall; the particulars of our experience are here and now. The transcendent realm is also the realm of the absolute.
Source: Pluralism and Relativism (Ligonier article)
Evil is not an illusion, despite being defined in terms of privation or negation.
If we think of evil and pain simply in terms of negation and privation, and seek to avoid the actuality of it, we can easily slip into the absurd error of considering evil an illusion. Whatever else evil is, it is not illusory.
Source: The Problem of Pain (Ligonier article)
Human grandeur is partially found in the ability to contemplate our origins, destiny, and place in the universe.
Human grandeur is found in part in our ability to contemplate ourselves, to reflect upon our origins, our destiny, and our place in the universe.
Source: Providence and Contentment (Ligonier article)
The Old Testament is a crucial source for understanding the nature and character of God, particularly regarding His majesty.
We turn to the Old Testament because it’s one of the most important sources that you find anywhere in the universe on the nature and character of God.
Source: The Reformed Doctrine of God (Ligonier article)
The Old Testament provides vivid revelations of God's holiness, covenant faithfulness, and unfailing love.
In Isaiah 6 we find one of the most vivid disclosures of divine holiness in all of Scripture. Then, of course, there’s the Lord’s revelation of Himself and His covenant name to Moses at the burning bush that we read about in Exodus 3.
Source: The Reformed Doctrine of God (Ligonier article)
The book of Isaiah provides a vivid disclosure of divine holiness.
In Isaiah 6 we find one of the most vivid disclosures of divine holiness in all of Scripture.
Source: The Reformed Doctrine of God (Ligonier article)
Humility is not weakness, but rather the fear of the Lord, which stems from being in awe of God and submitting to His authority.
What is humility? Scripture does not say the humble person is Mr. Milquetoast, the wishy-washy person, the spineless man who is a doormat for the world; rather, the humble person is one who fears God. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and such fear flows from a heart that is in awe of God and bows to His authority.
Source: The Secret to a Happy Life (Ligonier article)
Secularism restricts all human understanding and value to the present moment, denying or being skeptical of anything eternal.
For secularism, all life, every human value, every human activity must be understood in light of this present time. The secularist either flatly denies or remains utterly skeptical about the eternal.
Source: Secularism: Ignoring the Eternal (Ligonier article)
The world is inherently seductive, drawing attention and devotion away from God and heaven.
The world is a seducer. It seeks to attract our attention and our devotion. It remains close at hand, visible and enticing. It eclipses our view of heaven.
Source: The World Is a Seducer (Ligonier article)
Traditional Gothic cathedrals are designed to evoke a sense of awe and the transcendence of God, unlike many modern Protestant sanctuaries which are often utilitarian.
Most would say, “I felt a sense of awe” or “I felt a sense of the transcendence of God.” That gave me the opportunity to point out how the architecture of the cathedrals, the form of the worship environment in those buildings, put my students in the “mood” for worship, as it were.
Source: Sight, Place, and the Presence of God (Ligonier article)
The greatest threat to Israel was not paganism from outside, but the paganism within its own people.
It was not paganism outside the camp that threatened Israel so much as the paganism within the camp.
Source: Songs from Exile (Ligonier article)
God's judgment against Nadab and Abihu served to remind Israel of the sanctity of His presence.
Nadab and Abihu violated the holy law of the priesthood. When they did so, God killed them, reminding Israel of the sanctity of His presence.
Source: Strange Fire (Ligonier article)
Even though Christians live after the cross, they must maintain a godly fear inspired by respect for God's holiness.
Even though we are living on the finished side of the cross, the fear of the Lord is still the beginning of wisdom (Ps. 111:10a). God is still a consuming fire, a jealous God (Deut. 4:24).
Source: Strange Fire (Ligonier article)
His favorite theologians, including Augustine, Luther, Calvin, and Edwards, all shared a common focus on God's majesty.
In my own theological studies, my favorite theologians—Augustine, Luther, Calvin and Edwards—all seem to have a common thread woven through their works. Each of these theological giants wrote with an exuberant sense of adoration for God.
Source: Striking a Chord in the Heart of the Believer: An Interview with R.C. Sproul (Ligonier article)
He observed that contemporary evangelical Christianity lacked sufficient focus on the majesty of God the Father.
One of the things that seems so obviously absent from contemporary evangelical Christianity was any kind of focus on the majesty of God the Father.
Source: Striking a Chord in the Heart of the Believer: An Interview with R.C. Sproul (Ligonier article)
Despite its lack of popularity in modern preaching, the Creator designed humanity to feel a deep desire for God's majesty when the Holy Spirit is present.
I believe that despite the lack of popularity of the holiness of God in contemporary preaching, the Creator has made us such that if we have the Holy Spirit within us we must have some deep hunger and thirst to know more about God’s majesty.
Source: Striking a Chord in the Heart of the Believer: An Interview with R.C. Sproul (Ligonier article)
Studying God's holiness reveals the speaker's own profound unholiness.
The more I study God’s holiness, the more I see my utter unholiness.
Source: Striking a Chord in the Heart of the Believer: An Interview with R.C. Sproul (Ligonier article)
The profound unity experienced by believers is grounded in the mystical union of Christ with His church.
The union of believers is grounded in the mystical union of Christ and His church. The Bible speaks of a twoway transaction that occurs when a person is regenerated.
Source: One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church (Ligonier article)
Christ is superior to angels, and the Kingdom belongs to Him alone, who is seated at the right hand of God the Father.
No angel rises to the level of the only begotten Son of God. Angels are not to be worshiped—yet the angels are commanded to worship Christ. The Kingdom is not given to angels; it is given to Christ who alone is seated at the right hand of God the Father in the position of cosmic authority.
Source: The Supremacy of Christ (Ligonier article)
The supreme malediction (curse) is the polar opposite of the blessing, involving abandonment, darkness, and the removal of peace.
The supreme malediction would read something like this: “May the Lord curse you and abandon you. May the Lord keep you in darkness and give you only judgment without grace. May the Lord turn his back upon you and remove his peace from you forever.”
Source: Jesus Became a Curse for Us (Ligonier article)
Fallen human beings, like Adam and Eve, are generally terrified of being exposed to God's scrutiny.
The sad fact, however, is that we do not usually like to undergo His inspection. Do you remember how Adam and Eve reacted when God visited the garden of Eden after they had eaten from the forbidden tree? They hid themselves.
Source: The Bishop of Our Souls (Ligonier article)
For those who are prepared, a visit from the Episkopos is welcome because they understand that the scrutiny is aimed at caring for the souls under supervision.
For all who are ready, a visit from the Episkopos is a welcome thing, for they understand that His scrutiny is directed toward the care of the souls under His supervision.
Source: The Bishop of Our Souls (Ligonier article)
God's involvement in the construction of the temple and tabernacle was an artistic enterprise that showcased His glory.
God spent the energy of His Holy Spirit on an artistic enterprise. There was nothing “tacky” about the temple. It was a building whose excellence in every way called attention to the glory of the God whose house it was.
Source: The Christian and Art (Ligonier article)
Removing the aesthetic element from the virtues results in an incomplete understanding of God.
If we cut off the aesthetic element from our triad of virtues we are left with a truncated Christianity and a God who at best is dull, and at worst, is ugly.
Source: The Christian and Art (Ligonier article)
Although God's omniscience can be disquieting, the concept of God seeing us should ultimately be comforting.
As I noted above, we often find this divine sight disquieting, but the concept of God’s vision, of God seeing us, should be comforting to us.
Source: The God Who Sees (Ligonier article)
Because of Christ's conquest of death, believers are called 'hyper-conquerors' who are more than conquerors through Him.
Because of Christ’s conquest of death, we are called “hyper-conquerors” by Paul: “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Rom. 8:37).
Source: The Last Enemy (Ligonier article)
Sproul believes the Manhattan Declaration confuses common grace and special grace by combining them.
The Manhattan Declaration confuses common grace and special grace by combining them.
Source: The Manhattan Declaration: Why didn’t you sign it, R.C.? (Ligonier article)
Some spiritual problems arise because well-meaning Christians make promises 'for' God that God never authorized.
Sometimes the immature Christian suffers bitter disappointment not because God failed to keep His promises, but because well-meaning Christians made promises “for” God that God Himself never authorized.
Source: The Power of Prayer (Ligonier article)
God's glory is too great for man to behold and live, as demonstrated by the refusal to grant Moses his request.
No man can see God and live. Moses should have rejoiced that God said no.
Source: The Power of Prayer (Ligonier article)
Praying for things we already possess in Christ can lead to a state of unbelief.
It is possible to pray ourselves right into a state of unbelief by continuing to pray for those things we already have in Christ.
Source: The Power of Prayer (Ligonier article)
Humans were created to know God's holiness and reflect His glory.
He formed our bodies and breathed life into us so that we might know the greatness of His holiness and stand in awe of it. Our hearts and minds were meant to be so impressed with God’s goodness, that we would readily worship and obey Him.
Source: The Quest for Glory (Ligonier article)
The Bible frequently uses the word 'beauty' and connects it to the concepts of God's glory and holiness.
If you were to look up every reference to “beauty” or “the beautiful” in the Bible, you would see that the word “beauty” in one form or another occurs frequently in the pages of sacred Scripture, particularly in the Old Testament.
Source: The Role of Art in the Christian Life (Ligonier article)
Godliness is characterized by a deep concern for the things of God, while godlessness is marked by preoccupation with the world.
The godly person is deeply concerned about the things of God, but the godless person has no concern for the things of God. Instead, he is preoccupied with this world.
Source: The Things of God (Ligonier article)
In ancient Jewish thought, the sea was often used as a symbol for something ominous, sinister, and threatening.
In Jewish literature, the sea was often used as a symbol for that which was ominous, sinister, and threatening.
Source: There Will Be No Sea in the New Heaven and New Earth (Ligonier article)
True Christians can experience serious falls but are never destined for a total and final fall from grace.
That's why we say that true Christians can have radical and serious falls but never total and final falls from grace.
Source: TULIP and Reformed Theology: Perseverance of the Saints (Ligonier article)
The greatness of Moby Dick is found in its unparalleled theological symbolism, which is abundant throughout the novel.
No, its greatness is found in its unparalleled theological symbolism. This symbolism is sprinkled abundantly throughout the novel, particularly in the identities of certain individuals who are assigned biblical names.
Source: The Unholy Pursuit of God in Moby Dick (Ligonier article)
The chapter 'The Whiteness of the Whale' shows how whiteness is used to symbolize concepts in history, religion, and nature, using terms like elusive, ghastly, and pure.
He explores how whiteness is used in history, in religion, and in nature. The terms he uses to describe the appearance of whiteness in these areas include elusive, ghastly, and transcendent horror, as well as sweet, honorable, and pure.
Source: The Unholy Pursuit of God in Moby Dick (Ligonier article)
The whale, which embodies all things symbolized by whiteness, suggests that it represents the full perfections found in the being of God.
If the whale embodies everything that is symbolized by whiteness—that which is terrifying; that which is pure; that which is excellent; that which is horrible and ghastly; that which is mysterious and incomprehensible—does he not embody those traits that are found in the fullness of the perfections in the being of God Himself?
Source: The Unholy Pursuit of God in Moby Dick (Ligonier article)
It is dangerous to prioritize subjective feelings or openness to the Spirit over the disciplined study of Scripture.
It seems so much more exciting to live with a freewheeling openness to the leading of the Holy Spirit rather than practicing the laborious discipline of mastering His Word. This is exceedingly dangerous ground.
Source: We Cannot Love God if We Do Not Love His Word (Ligonier article)
Believers must recognize that God is omnipresent and sovereign, meaning they cannot escape His penetrating gaze.
To live in the presence of God is to understand that whatever we are doing and wherever we are doing it, we are acting under the gaze of God. God is omnipresent. There is no place so remote that we can escape His penetrating gaze.
Source: What Does “Coram Deo” Mean? (Ligonier article)
Worshipping an impersonal and amoral higher power is dangerous because it removes ethical demands and accountability for sin.
The trouble with a nebulous, nameless, characterless power is that, first, it is impersonal, and second and more importantly, it is amoral. There’s an upside and a downside to worshiping such a higher power.
Source: What Is God’s Name? (Ligonier article)
God provided protection for Jesus by posting angels inside the tomb, contrasting with the human guards outside.
Pilate posted his guards on the outside of the tomb, but God posted His guards on the inside of the tomb.
Source: What Happened on Saturday? (Ligonier article)
No matter what difficulties Christians face, nothing can separate them from the love of God's sovereign providence.
Paul is saying that no matter what we have to endure in this world as Christians, nothing has the power to sever the relationship we have to a loving and sovereign providence.
Source: What Is Providence? (Ligonier article)
God's encounters with individuals like Moses and Paul involved a powerful, fiery manifestation of His glory.
Abraham and Moses both had the experience of encountering the shekinah glory of God in a fire that changed their lives. In the New Testament, we read in Acts 9 about the Apostle Paul’s experience of conversion on the road to Damascus: “But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him” (Acts 9:1–3).
Source: What Was the Burning Bush? (Ligonier article)
True godliness involves manifesting the fruit of the Spirit and concerns matters much weightier than superficial behavioral rules.
It is much easier for someone to avoid going to movies, for example, than it is to manifest the fruit of the Spirit. True godliness concerns much weightier matters than superficial ways of distinguishing ourselves from our unbelieving neighbors.
Source: When to Stop, When to Go, When to Slow Down (Ligonier article)
The term 'homoousios' was elevated to orthodoxy to assert that the Logos shares the same divine essence as God, meaning He is co-eternal and co-essential.
Now the term, of course, was not used to revert to Sabellius’ modalism; rather, it was used to assert that the Logos is of the same divine essence as God—co-eternal, co-essential, not created.
Source: Who Do You Say That I Am? (Ligonier article)
The religious authorities, specifically the scribes and Pharisees, reacted to Jesus with hostility for two main reasons: jealousy of His popularity and because He exposed their false righteousness.
The first is this: they were jealous of Him. Why would they be jealous of the Son of God? Everywhere Jesus went, He attracted huge throngs, multitudes, crowds pressing around to listen to His every word, watching His every move.
Source: Why Did the Pharisees Hate Jesus? (Ligonier article)
The Pharisees' perceived virtue was merely a pretense and external, which was exposed when the genuine holiness of Christ was manifested.
They were the ones who were most honored and celebrated for their virtue, but their virtue, as Jesus taught repeatedly, was a pretense. It was external.
Source: Why Did the Pharisees Hate Jesus? (Ligonier article)
The Pharisees were counterfeit and fake, and their hypocrisy was exposed by the genuine holiness of Christ.
In a word, they were counterfeit. They were fake. And nothing reveals a counterfeit like the presence of the genuine. When Jesus walked this earth, true righteousness and holiness was manifested by Him before the eyes of the people.
Source: Why Did the Pharisees Hate Jesus? (Ligonier article)
The Pharisees feared the consequences of welcoming Christ into their midst, particularly concerning the loss of their power and authority.
The third reason I think that they hated Him is because they were afraid—not so much of what He would do to them in His wrath but of the consequences of welcoming Him into their midst. Why were they afraid? Look at the history of Israel.
Source: Why Did the Pharisees Hate Jesus? (Ligonier article)
For the Jewish writers, true wisdom is practically understood as a life pleasing to God, requiring a fear of the Lord.
For the Jews, wisdom meant a practical understanding of how to live a life that is pleasing to God. The pursuit of godliness was a central concern of the writers of the Wisdom Literature. They affirmed that the necessary condition for anyone to have true wisdom is a fear of the Lord.
Source: Wisdom and Knowledge (Ligonier article)
The charismatic movement was flawed because it promoted false doctrine, false prophecy, and relied on subjective feelings rather than Scripture.
The more interpretations of tongues-speaking and prophecies I heard, the more false doctrine and false prophecy I heard. Several people spoke “prophecies” to me about specific things that would occur within a specific time period. Every single prophecy of that sort failed to materialize.
Source: Zeal without Knowledge (Ligonier article)
The speaker described a deeply emotional and sweet experience during the Lord's Supper, feeling a 'mystic sweet communion' that brought tears.
the only way I can describe it is a mystic sweet communion when I prayed and participated in the Lord’s Supper, and I had to take my hands and cover my eyes because I was embarrassed because the tears were streaming down my face for ten minutes.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 14:20
Hostility or anger towards the doctrine of grace is concerning because it suggests a misunderstanding of God's grace.
But what bothers me with my Arminian friends, for example, is – and sometimes I’ll say to them when they manifest hostility and anger towards that particular doctrine, it frightens me.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 21:17
The speaker suggests that Christ's suffering in Gethsemane was greater than Abraham's faith.
Maybe he had faith such as to move mountains, but even Christ himself sweats beads of perspiration that were of blood in the Garden of Gethsemane, and He was greater than Abraham.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 9:31
Biblical figures experienced passions and heartaches similar to those of modern people.
His passions were just like your passions. His heartaches were just like your heartaches.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 12:00
The Bible is the most dramatic book ever written.
I'm convinced, dear friends, that this book is the most dramatic book that has ever been written.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 15:02
Scripture is rich with dramatic material, even in seemingly mundane or technical passages.
I can remember one last example that I'll give you. I think of reading in later on in the book of Leviticus where we read in the thirteenth chapter the following instructions. Listen to this as Leviticus thirteen and see how interesting Scripture is,
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 20:48
Enduring slander is one of the most difficult pains to bear.
Context: Quoting Edwards regarding the nature of slander.
Edwards, speaking about this, says this, “Some injure others in their good name by reproaching or speaking evil of them behind their backs. No injury is more common, no iniquity more frequent or base than this. Other ways of injury are abundant, but the amount of injury by evil speaking of this kind is beyond account. Some injure others by making or spreading false reports about them and cruelly slandering them. Others, without saying that which is directly false, greatly misrepresent things picturing out everything respecting their neighbors in the worst of all possible colors, exaggerating their faults, setting them forth as far greater than they really are, always speaking of them in an unfair and unjust manner. A great deal of injury is done among neighbors by thus uncharitably judging one another and putting injurious and evil constructions on one another’s words and actions.” Edwards is talking about slander. One of the most difficult pains there is to endure.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 16:33
The hardening of Pharaoh's heart is an act of divine judgment that involves God removing His restraining power.
All He has to do is remove His hands and give Pharaoh all the space he needs. And that's how Pharaoh's heart is hardened, which is itself an act of divine judgment - a just act of divine judgment upon him.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 29:43
The phrase 'turbulent as the waters' means that Reuben's insolence, arrogance, and presumptuousness are easily stirred up.
And when we look at that phrase carefully, we see that what he is saying is that "Just like waters can be easily stirred up, your insolence, your arrogance, your presumptuousness is easily quickened."
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 5:24
The Messiah's arrival will be associated with immense prosperity, wealth, and majesty, particularly concerning the vineyards of Judah.
He will tether his donkey to a vine, his colt to the choicest branch. He will wash his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes. His eyes will be darker than wine, his teeth whiter than milk.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 21:54
The Scripture describes Abraham being overcome and virtually vanquished by terror that descends upon him while he was asleep.
So, what the Scriptures are describing here in Abraham's life is, as the sun goes down and he's left with this scene of carnage around him, he is suddenly overcome and virtually vanquished by terror that descends upon him in his sleep.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 29:55
The term 'theophany' refers to a visible manifestation of the invisible God.
The word "theophany" means "a visible manifestation of the invisible God."
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 42:08
Luther expressed a profound fear of God, sometimes even stating that he hated God, viewing Christ as a consuming judge.
Sometimes I hate God. I see Christ as a consuming judge who is simply looking at me to evaluate me and to visit affliction upon me.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 6:22
Luther's decision to become a monk and priest was driven not by love for God, but by a phobic preoccupation with God's wrath.
So Trevino responded to his close brush with death from lightning with typical jocularity and flippancy, where Luther was driven to change his entire life, to enter into the monastery, to give up his career -- not out of a love for God but out of a phobic preoccupation with the wrath of God.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 5:34
Luther froze during the mass because he was so overcome with unworthiness regarding the handling of the body and blood of Christ.
he explained later that it wasn't a mental lapse, but rather he began to contemplate the idea that this one who was a sinful human being would dare have the audacity to hold in his filthy hands the precious body and blood of Christ. And Luther was so overcome with his unworthiness that he froze at that moment.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 14:41
Knowing that God is intimately aware of one's transgressions, tears, aches, and fears is deeply comforting.
To me, there’s nothing more comforting to know that there is a divine Providence who’s aware not only of every one of my transgressions but also who is aware of every one of my tears, every one of my aches, and every one of my fears.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 4:07
Sproul suggests that the reality of hell exceeds the intensity of its symbolic representation.
Does the reality normally exceed in intensity the symbol? A symbol only approximates.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 2:29
Jesus criticized the Pharisees for their hypocrisy, noting that their outward appearance of virtue was merely a show that lacked inner truth.
On the outside they seemed to be paragons of virtue, but Jesus said it was all show. It was all surface. They were liked whited sepulchers that had been painted spotlessly white on the outside, but inside, underneath the surface, they were filled dead men's bones.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 5:03
When people encounter the holiness of God and become acutely conscious of their sin, two desires emerge: a plea to be covered and a plea for cleansing.
You know, if we look at people's experiences of encountering the holiness of God in the Scripture and when they become acutely conscious of their sin, we see two desires that come to the fore over and over and over again.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 12:08
The trustworthiness of the Word of God is a highly controversial issue that has faced significant criticism.
Perhaps the most controversial issue of Christianity is the trustworthiness of the Word of God. The church has been exposed to over two hundred years of concentrated criticism and skepticism leveled against the creditability of the Scriptures
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 0:00
The current challenge is a test of whether people live in trust of the Word of God or are willing to negotiate it with unbelief.
I think that’s the test that we’re going through today, the test of whether or not we live in trust of the Word of God or whether we’re willing to negotiate it with unbelief.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 0:00
When people question God's attributes, such as holiness or sovereignty, they may be exhibiting an idolizing tendency.
When we talk about the sovereignty of God and we talk about the holiness of God, and people respond say to me, "I don't believe that stuff, my God's a loving God" and all that stuff, I say, "Are you sure your God isn't an idol?"
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 45:32
Traumatic memories resurface in disguised ways, such as dreams, symbols, or tics, because the original form is too scary to emerge directly.
So, because repressed knowledge seeks to come back to the surface, but when it comes up, ladies and gentlemen, it comes up disguised. It will come out in a dream, in a strange symbol, in a strange tic or gesture because it is too scary to come out in the form it went in.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 49:29
Humans react to God's holiness by burying it in their psyche and exchanging the truth for a lie or an idol.
And when God reveals His righteousness and His holiness to us ,that is so scary to us that what we do is that we bury it as deeply as we possibly can in the depths of our psyche, but it cannot be destroyed. And there's a relationship between katechein in verse 18 and in the word metallassō in verse 25, which means "exchange." We repress, then we exchange. We exchange the truth of God for a lie.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 50:38
The term homoousios means 'the same being or the same substance.'
so that homoousios means "the same being or the same substance."
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 5:44
The Church reinstated the term homoousios, despite having previously condemned it, because the threat of Arianism was so serious that it was necessary to communicate that Christ and the Spirit share the very essence of God.
So the point that we have to understand is that the church of the Fourth Century saw the threat of Arianism as being so serious to biblical Christianity that she reverted back to a term that she had previously rejected in order to communicate the idea that however we understand Christ and the Spirit, that they are the very essence of God and of deity -- that Christ and the Spirit are homoousios, of the same substance, being, and essence as the Father.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 23:16
Stripping a person of their clothes, such as in ancient warfare or prison, reduces their defenses and makes them feel vulnerable.
They became less aggressive, less terrifying, more subdued, because they felt so vulnerable.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 16:02
People fear God's comprehensive knowledge and scrutiny, which they find embarrassing and overwhelming.
Do you realize that there are thousands and thousands of people out there in this world who can't stand the thought of God looking at them? They can't stand it.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 22:30
People try to hide from God's gaze because their guilt and shame are exposed by His presence.
Because under the gaze of God what happens? Our shame is put out in front of us, because we are guilty.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 24:24
When faced with flattery, one must view it as a threat rather than allowing oneself to be flattered and tempted.
I can respond and allow myself to be flattered by that and therefore tempted or I can see that as a threat to what I cherish.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 25:28
Man's fallen state is characterized by living in the lusts of the flesh and being children of wrath.
Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 6:13
Humans desire to behold the face of God and live in His presence, which is considered the greatest hope.
On the one hand we want to behold the face of God. That is our greatest hope that shall see him face to face, that we live coram Deo, in his presence and before his face.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 6:02
Apocalyptic literature is characterized by vivid, graphic imagery that often carries symbolic meaning.
that which characterizes apocalyptic literature is that it tends to be exceedingly rich in vivid, graphic imagery that often takes on a symbolic meaning.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 0:07
When faced with signs of tribulation, followers of Jesus should flee to the hills rather than going to the city.
Jesus says to His disciples, "When you see these things happen, don't go to the city, but go to the hills, which is exactly what the early Christian community did in AD 70."
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 19:42
Humans cannot see God because the problem lies with the heart, and God will not allow those who are not pure in heart to see him.
Not because there's a problem with our eyes, the problem is with our hearts, and God will not allow himself to be seen by anybody who's anything less than pure in heart.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 2:45
He questions whether God purifies us first, allowing us to bask in the immediate apprehension of Christ's glory, or if the sight of his glory is the power that perfects us.
So is this what happens that God purifies us, and then the lights come on and we bask in the immediate apprehension of the glory of Christ? Maybe, I don't know. Or is it the thing that totally purifies us, that he shows us his glory so that the instant we see him as he is the very sight of him is that power that he uses to perfect us. I don't know which comes first and I don't care which comes first.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 0:00
When the Bible discusses God's holiness, the primary focus is on God's transcendence, meaning He is superior and different from all creatures.
And so when the Bible speaks about God's holiness, the primary thrust of those statements is to refer to God's transcendence, to refer to His magnificence, to refer to that sense in which God is higher and superior to anything that there is in the creaturely realm.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 2:26
Something becomes sacred or holy not because of its intrinsic value, but because of God's touch upon it.
It's not because of the intrinsic value of these objects, but what makes something sacred, what makes something holy is the touch of God upon it.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 5:53
The supreme form of xenophobia is the fear of the living God because He is so different from humanity.
and the supreme form of xenophobia that we have is our fear of the living God because He is so different from us.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 5:53
Rudolf Otto defined the experience of the holy as the 'Mysterium Tremendum.'
the answer he gave was this: "That the holy is the Mysterium Tremendum."
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 11:18
The basic human response to the holy is one of ambivalence, meaning it contains both attraction and repulsion.
But what he detected in this study of the holy is this: that across the board, throughout varying civilizations the basic response of human beings to whatever they consider holy -- to be holy -- is a response of ambivalence.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 11:45
The experience of the holy is mysterious, powerful, and provokes a sense of fear.
He said that the experience that we have of the holy is an experience of something very strange and impossible to penetrate and to fathom. It is mysterious, but it is also powerful, and this awesome, mysterious power provokes a sense of fear within us.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 11:45
The speaker asserts that the most frightening thing to humans is not natural disasters, but rather the presence of God.
That even though we may be afraid of hurricanes and floods and fires and other natural disasters, there’s something that is more frightening to us than the wind or the sea. It’s the presence of God.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 7:02
The disciples were unable to categorize Jesus' power because it exceeded their understanding of human experience.
Now what happened to the disciples on the Sea of Galilee was they started through that sorting process and it wouldn’t compute because they didn’t have a category that would describe somebody who had the power to stop a storm just by speaking to it or yelling at it.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 9:19
Peter's reaction to the miracle was an overwhelming sense of his own sinfulness.
And then when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees saying, ‘Depart from me for I am a sinful man, O Lord.’
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 17:43
The presence and power of Christ reveal to people their own sinfulness when they are confronted with absolute purity.
It was the presence and power of Christ. You see, when Simon Peter saw Christ and saw who he was so clearly in that moment, he was overwhelmed just as Isaiah had been overwhelmed centuries earlier. He looked into a mirror of his own soul and he realized that next to the standard of perfection, next to the standard of absolute purity, in the presence of one who was altogether holy, we can do nothing but tremble and quake at the contrast.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 21:06
People hate Christ because of his holiness, which is demonstrated by his teachings about sin and hypocrisy.
Why was Christ killed? He was killed not because he said “Consider the lilies how they grow,” but because he said “Consider the thieves how they steal.” And because he said, “Consider the Pharisees how hypocritical they are.” And they hated him because he was holy.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 24:01
The glory of the Gospel is that God declares people righteous while they are still sinners.
the glory of the Gospel is that God pronounces people just while they are still sinners, that He declares a person to be righteous in His sight and before His law when under analysis they are still sinners.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 19:37
The word 'hesed' is translated in various ways, including mercy, kindness, covenant love, lovingkindness, and the loyal love of God.
Sometimes it is simply translated by the word mercy, sometimes it is translated by the word kindness, sometimes it is translated by the phrase covenant love, the most common translation is through the single word, the compound word, lovingkindness.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 2:13
The concept of 'hesed' describes God's relationship with the people of Israel, particularly when He brought them out of bondage during the Exodus.
And this concept is found very early in the Pentateuch and it is the word that is used to describe God’s relationship to the people of Israel when he brings them out of bondage into the Exodus, and pledges to them that he would be their God and they would be his people.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 2:40
Humans cannot endure looking at God's pure, unveiled glory, nor can they bear the sight of reflected glory.
Not only can we not stand to look into the pure, unveiled glory of God Himself, we can’t even bear the sight of reflected glory.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 0:00
Humans are endowed with a capacity to reflect or mirror the holiness of God.
What that means is that you as a human being have been so constituted and so made and so endowed by your creator with certain faculties that you have a capacity in creation to reflect or to mirror the holiness of God.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 0:41
Moses' shining countenance after encountering God was due to the glory of God still reflecting off him.
What was happening was Moses was so intimately closely connected with the presence of God and surrounded by the glory of God that when he came down from the mountain that glory was still reflecting from the face of Moses.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 0:00
Worry and anxiety are detrimental because they diminish or rob us of our joy.
It’s worry, it’s anxiety, that robs us of our joy. It’s hard to be joyful when you’re afraid, when you’re worried, when you’re concerned.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 0:00
Man exchanges the glory of the incorruptible God for corruptible things such as men, buildings, and machines.
He takes the glory of the incorruptible God and exchanges it for the corruptible things like men, and buildings, machines, and all the rest—bee trees, idols.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 2:02
Humans fear the power and presence of a holy person more than they fear any impersonal force of nature.
The thing that Freud didn’t understand is that, ladies gentlemen, there is something within the human heart that we fear more than any of the impersonal forces of nature, and that is the power and the presence of a person who is holy.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 15:43
The most comfortable people with Jesus were the outcast sinners because they had no illusions about their own righteousness.
the people that were the most comfortable with Jesus were the outcast sinners, you see, because they had no illusions about their own righteousness.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 27:46
The Christian life involves recognizing that the presence of a holy God is an invitation that allows for vulnerability and comfort.
The secret the Christian carries around with him is the knowledge this is the one place where we can really be vulnerable, the one place where we can be comfortable, the one place where we can be naked without fear is in the presence of Christ.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 26:42
Conflict, whether global or personal, originates from deep-seated issues within the human heart, specifically envy.
And James says, "Where do these things come from?" And he said, practically speaking, they all come from something that's wrong deeply within our hearts. And the one motivating factor that creates these wars and conflicts is envy.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 0:42
A truly happy Christian is characterized by contentment and satisfaction in God's presence, needing nothing else.
When you are alone in the presence of God, you're communing with God, you're in fellowship with God, you know that your sins have been forgiven, and you say, "What else do I need? I don't need anything else."
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 4:18
The ascension is the movement of the resurrected Christ from humiliation to exaltation, where he is enthroned as the King of kings.
There's something beyond resurrection -- that's ascension, where the resurrected One now moves out of humiliation completely to exaltation to be enthroned as the King of kings.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 25:09
God cursed the serpent, decreeing that it would crawl on its belly, eat dust, and live in enmity with mankind.
And God says to the serpent, "From this day forth, you are going to be the lowest beast of the field. You crawl on your belly. You eat dust. And not only that, I'm going to build in a kind of hostility or aversion or enmity between you and these people whom I have established giving dominion over the world. There's going to be a special kind of repulsion between you and mankind."
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 10:29
The story of Joseph illustrates how envy among his brothers led to his suffering and enslavement.
Probably the most poignant story in all of Scripture about the consequences of envy is the story of Joseph in the Old Testament where because he received this magnificent coat of many colors from his father, the rest of his brothers became green with jealousy, and they turned their hostility against Joseph, and sold him into slavery that had him ending up languishing in prison for year after year after year, all as a result of the brothers' envy.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 1:57
God responds to hypocrisy by judging those who possess the outward appearance of godliness but whose lives are spiritually barren.
God’s response to those who have the outward trappings of religion, the external signs of godliness, but whose lives bear no fruit. They are arid; they are dry. They are like waterless clouds that give promise of refreshment but never deliver the goods.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 9:33
The view that the Bible is merely the opinions of people from the past assumes that the Bible lacks the weight of divine inspiration and transcendent revelation.
That view assumes that the Bible is merely the opinions of people who lived a long time ago. It doesn’t carry the weight of a divinely inspired book that gives us transcendent revelation from the mind of God.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 18:29
Some theologians suggest that God contains a demonic element that manifests as sudden, arbitrary anger.
Believe it or not I've read some theologians that speak about the shadow side of Yahweh, saying that there resides within God the element of the demonic, and this demonic aspect of God shows itself, displays itself by sudden, unprovoked manifestations of a whimsical, capricious, arbitrary anger.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 0:07
God's holiness is so absolute that even an accidental touch to the Ark of the Covenant results in immediate death.
And so instinctively, involuntarily Uzzah stretched forth his hand to steady the Ark, to make sure that this throne of God would not fall into the mud. And what happened? The heavens opened, and a voice came down saying, "Thank you, Uzzah." No, as soon as Uzzah touched the holy Ark of God, God struck him dead.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 6:00
When discussing God's love, it must always be qualified by the term 'holy love' to prevent secular misinterpretations.
When we say that God is love we must add to that immediately this descriptive term, that God’s love is a holy love.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 19:51
The secondary meaning of holiness is absolute purity, meaning the absence of any blemish or evil.
The secondary meaning of holiness is purity. Absolute purity - without any blemish, without any touch of evil mixed with it.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 21:33
The speaker is motivated to study God's holiness because of his own unholiness, not because he believes he is holy.
I study God's holiness not because I'm holy, but because I'm not holy and I know it.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 0:00
The speaker asserts that what the world considers normal is often viewed by God as evil when measured against God's holiness.
What we call normal, God normally calls evil when judged against the character of his holiness.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 1:48
Sproul asserts that the presence of beauty serves as a witness to the excellence and grandeur of God.
I saw something of the grandeur of God in this expression of beauty. because wherever beauty is, the excellence of God is borne witness.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 0:00
The glory God has prepared in heaven far surpasses the worthiness of enduring life in this world.
to endure in this world are not worthy to be compared to the glory that God has laid up for us in heaven.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 5:35
Isaiah's experience of God's holiness was a psychological process of disintegration, causing him to feel utterly ruined.
What Isaiah was experiencing when he had this vision of the holiness of God was the psychological process that we call "disintegration."
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 12:42
Encountering God's holiness is a devastating experience that destroys one's previous sense of self-worth and righteousness.
Before I saw who God was, I was secure. I thought I was a pretty good guy, and everybody complimented me on my righteousness. In fact, people kind of regarded me as the paragon of virtue in and around Jerusalem, and then I saw real holiness and it was devastating. It destroyed me.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 13:30
If judged by God's standard of righteousness, the individual will realize they cannot stand before Him.
That if I am to be judged by God by the standard of His law, by the standard of His righteousness, by the standard of His holiness, and by the pure standard of justice, I perish.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 8:35
The contrast between historical monuments of secular power and those of the Christian Church illustrates a collision between worldly forces and divine things.
And it was like an exercise in contrasts where we see an intersection -- no, not just an intersection -- a collision between the secular forces of this world and the things of God.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 0:37
A person truly grasped by the holiness of God cannot use His name in a blasphemous way.
There is no way that you can be a person who has been grasped by the character of God, the holiness of God, and turn around and use His name in a blasphemous way. You can't do it.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 8:53
The manifestation of God's glory is overwhelming, causing people to be terrified.
Like the night in which Christ was born, and the glory of God shone round about. And the shepherds were terrified because they were beholding a sound and light show such as no one in their generation had ever seen.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 15:31
The holiness of the ground is not due to human presence, but rather because God has intersected that location.
Certainly not Moses' presence makes it holy ground! What makes it holy is God has intersected the planet at that point.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 16:04
The physical elements of a building react to God's holiness, as evidenced by the shaking of the door posts and the filling with smoke.
These inanimate elements of the building -- the doors, the posts -- shake at the presence of God in His holiness.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 23:32
Humans do not truly understand themselves until they encounter and recognize God's holiness.
Here's the point: Isaiah never, ever, ever knew who Isaiah was until he found out who God was. And we don't really know who we are until we find out who God is.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 24:36
The cry, though quoting Psalm 22, directs attention to the deeper significance of Christ's forsakenness.
And obviously, the cry, as it is uttered from the lips of Jesus, though it may certainly involve an identification with the lament that is recorded in Psalm 22, directs our attention behind and beneath that Psalm to its deeper significance.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 1:38
The ladder symbolizes a point of contact or way of passing from the earthly world to the transcendent realm where God exists.
Now, that ladder is indicating a point of contact, a way of passing over from this world to the world of transcendence, to the level where God exists.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 7:13
The phrase 'Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated' is understood to express God's preference for Jacob, meaning his love for Jacob was greater than his love for Esau.
God is simply declaring that he has preferred Jacob over Esau, or that his love for Jacob is greater than his love for Esau. He loves them both, but he loves one more than the other, and in order to express the preference, and the greater intensity of love that he has for Jacob over Esau, by way of contrast, the greater love that God has for Jacob makes the love that he has for Esau
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 5:14
The Bible also speaks significantly about God's hatred for sin and rebellion, not just his love.
But I think it might come as a surprise to you if I would say that God or the Bible speaks as much about God's hatred for us as it does of his love for us.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 15:07
God can express intense displeasure and disgust towards human hypocrisy and religious rituals.
When he gets angry with Israel, he says through the voice of the prophets, "I despise your feasts. I hate your solemn assemblies. They make me sick. The sacrifices that you offer in your hypocrisy have become loathsome to my nostrils."
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 15:55
God intensely abhors the wicked, the bloodthirsty, and the deceitful, which is a serious point that must be taken seriously.
You hate those that are involved in iniquity. And then, you abhor the bloodthirsty and the deceitful man. It's not that God is moderately disturbed with the bloodthirsty person or the person who's a liar and a cheat and deceitful. It's that God abhors them. That's intense. And I think we have to take that seriously.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 18:27
The Bible shows that God's love has limits, and beyond those limits, there is divine wrath and divine abhorrence.
What this says above everything else, ladies and gentlemen, is that there is a border to the love of God. And we cannot understand the love, or the attitude of God towards his fallen creation as being exclusively one of love. Because the Bible tempers its extolling of the transcendent majesty of the love of God with these warnings of the limit of his love, beyond which there is divine wrath, and there is divine abhorrence.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 19:46
Believers should praise the glory of God's grace rather than viewing God's sovereign love as a basis for arrogance.
But what you praise when you come to an understanding of the sovereign, electing love of God, is the glory of his grace.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 20:27
The group of outlaws, Robin and his Merry Men, remained happy and joyful despite being dispossessed, disenfranchised, and hunted.
Nevertheless, they were happy, because their delight was in their king.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 38:34
Christ drank the cup of wrath for all who put their trust in Him, specifically for His own and His sheep.
He drank the cup of wrath for all who put their trust in Him. He drank the cup of wrath for His own, for His sheep.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 3:30
The book of Hebrews presents a high Christology, which was a key reason for the early church's affirmation of Christ's deity.
Obviously, the Christology that we find in the book of Hebrews is exceedingly high and one of the reasons why the early church was inclined to affirm the deity of Christ.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 1:42
The speaker finds that experiencing the glory of God is rare and profound, contrasting it with everyday busyness.
I don’t think that every time you walk in the classroom you’re overwhelmed by a sense of the glory of God, are you? I’m sure not, with my daily experiences. In fact, in my whole life I can count probably on one hand – maybe two – the number of times that I have had an intense, heavy, profound sense of the presence of God.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 0:34
True spiritual experiences are characterized by an overwhelming and palpable sense of God's presence that cannot be ignored.
But I’m talking about those special moments – those weighty moments – when you feel the almost palpable sense of the presence of God so overwhelming, so overbearing that you can’t ignore it and you become intensely aware of His glory.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 1:09
The speaker's initial profound realization about God was not His love or mercy, but His transcendent majesty.
But really, what was blowing me away in my initial reading of the Old Testament, listening to this lecture about Augustine’s view of creation, was the holiness of God. It wasn’t the love of God or the mercy of God – all of which are wonderful things dealing with His sweetness and His excellency – but it was His transcendent majesty that was coming across.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 12:37
The Biblical God is simultaneously transcendent (above and beyond creaturely things) and imminent (close at hand).
He is on the one hand above and beyond everything creaturely and yet, in His exalted position, He still visits His people.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 14:41
The majesty of God is a subject that should provoke terror and fear in people.
What it is about the majesty of God that provokes terror and fear.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 24:43
Historically, people who encounter the living God in Scripture always respond with trembling.
But if you look at the Scriptures, every account of every person who ever meets the living God, that person trembles before Him.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 24:54
Sproul believes that Isaiah's vision of the enthroned supreme sovereign is a preincarnate glimpse of Christ's full majesty.
I'm convinced, personally, that what he is seeing here is a preincarnate glimpse of the enthronement of Christ himself in His full majesty.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 11:05
The description of the heavenly King's garments filling the Temple emphasizes the visual experience of His majesty.
But do you hear what Isaiah is saying here, is that when he saw this vision of the heavenly King, he saw a King whose splendorous garments billowed out over the sides of the throne and so went on to furrow back along the sides of the Temple, around the back entranceway and spilled out and completely filled the entire building.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 14:03
The fear of God is the essential element that converts all knowledge into wisdom.
In other words, the fear of God is the necessary ingredient to make wisdom out of knowledge, all knowledge.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 0:00
The Ark of the Covenant was the most sacred object, serving as the throne of God and containing sacred items.
You remember that the ark of the covenant was the most sacred piece of furniture in the tabernacle and later in the temple. The ark was that chest where the cherubim adorned the sides of it, and the ark was the throne of God. At its cover was the mercy seat where the blood of the sacrifices were spread. And inside this chest was contained the tablets that Moses had brought down from Sinai, Aaron's rod and so on.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 3:50
When the Ark of the Covenant entered the camp, the people reacted with overwhelming joy and acclamation.
And it happened as the ark of the covenant of the Lord (small caps) came into the camp that all of Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth itself resounded.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 5:18
The presence of the Lord's ark caused the Philistines to become terrified and recognize the power of God.
And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, "What does the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?" And then they understood that the ark of the Lord had come to the camp, and the Philistines were afraid, and they said, "God has come to this place. Woe unto us!"
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 5:51
The wickedness described in Sodom and Gomorrah was of an exceedingly grave and unspeakably corrupt nature.
Their wickedness was exceedingly grave, "unspeakably corrupt," was the judgment of God.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 13:19
Encountering God is an overwhelming, non-boring experience that evokes profound reactions.
But you will never, ever find in the Bible an example of somebody’s meeting the living God and being bored. Because there is nothing less boring in all of reality than God Himself.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 0:08
Preaching only the goodness, love, and mercy of God while omitting His wrath, justice, and sovereignty is a form of idolatry.
Context: Quoting a practicing psychologist from San Francisco.
He never talks about the wrath of God. He never talks about the justice of God. He never talks about the sovereignty of God and he certainly never talks about the holiness of God. All he talks about is the goodness of God, the love of God and the mercy of God.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 0:08
God is inherently holy, which necessitates a barrier between God and humanity.
Because you see, there was a barrier there. And the barrier – the reason for the barrier – was simple. God, who dwells in the holy of holies, is Himself altogether holy. And we are not holy.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 16:16
The natural reaction of unholy or fallen creatures when encountering the holy is fear.
And those who are not holy fear whatever is holy. The Bible tells us that it is the reaction of fallen creatures to flee when no man pursues. That the pagan trembles at the rustling of a leaf.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 20:55
Even after coming into Christ, believers should maintain a healthy fear and awe when contemplating God's nature.
And there’s a sense in which even in Christ we will always have – I hope – a healthy fear, the fear of respect, the fear of awe, that when we contemplate who He is, we will still have the capacity to tremble before Him.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 25:08
Churches compromise the message of Scripture because people are afraid of the true God.
That’s why churches compromise the integrity of the message of the Scripture because we know people are afraid of the God who really is.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 24:24
In the sixteenth century, people were highly preoccupied with the tangible reality of Satan's presence.
But we do have this preoccupation almost, in the sixteenth century, with the reality of Satan.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 1:27
When determining the reality of something, one must consider the source of affirmation, specifically contrasting personal fantasy with sacred Scripture.
Why? Because whenever we’re debating the question of the existence of one thing or another, we want to consider what is the source for affirming these realities. Is it somebody’s fantasy and their imagination or something else?
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 5:15
A danger for Christians is underestimating Satan's reality and power, which gives him safe access.
Satan makes – there’s nothing that makes him happier than a generation of Christians who don’t believe that he exists because then he has safe conduct. He’s got a diabolical American Express card. He can go anywhere he wants and get in.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 25:52
The Bible emphasizes God's holiness in the superlative degree, using the phrase 'holy, holy, holy.'
There is only one characteristic of Almighty God that is communicated in the superlative degree from the mouths of angels, where the Bible doesn’t simply say that God is holy, or even that He is holy, holy, but that He is holy, holy, holy.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 1:38
Despite humanity's inherent fear and unholiness toward God, believers are welcomed through Christ.
We must come to understand that even though we have this built-in antipathy and fear towards the Holy One, and even though we recognize that we are unholy, in Christ, ladies and gentlemen, we are welcome.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 2:36
God's foreknowledge is characterized as a foreloving, indicating His eternal love for humanity.
And so, the love of complacency is found even here in the concept of God’s foreknowledge because his foreknowing, beloved, is a foreloving.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 23:19
Instead of rejoicing, Joseph's brothers reacted with intense jealousy and fury.
And again, instead of rejoicing in their brother's good fortune, the brothers rise up in fury born of jealousy.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 0:08
Joseph was overwhelmed by the emotion of seeing his brothers and needed privacy to process the encounter.
The first time that Joseph saw his brothers, in the midst of the conversation, he abruptly excused himself because he couldn't stand the emotion. He couldn't stand the drama, and he went out into his private chambers and wept.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 19:14
The warning is that people can easily honor Christ with their lips while their hearts are distant from Him.
The warning of the New Testament is that it is easy to honor Christ with our lips while our hearts are far from Him.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 2:36
Humans universally acknowledge their imperfection, but they fail to grasp the seriousness of this lack of perfection.
There’s not one person in a thousand who will claim to be perfect. Beloved, there’s not one person in a thousand who understands the seriousness of not being perfect.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 0:53
Luther experienced intense personal struggles with Satan, which he described as a relentless siege of warfare.
Luther called it an Anfechtung, a kind of siege of warfare, where the devil in his temptations and accusations was relentless in his attack on Luther.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 4:08
Martin Luther's inability to speak during the Mass was caused by his sense of unworthiness, which was rooted in guilt.
Later in his life, he reflected back on that episode, and he said, "As I approached the table, and the thought struck me that my hands were going to hold in them the very body and blood of Christ, my sense of unworthiness left me paralyzed, and I couldn't speak."
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 10:55
The speaker notes that the holy city itself, Rome, was considered the most sacred place for finding relics and making pilgrimages.
Context: Describing the historical context of relic collecting, not his own position.
but these most sacred site of all, where the best relics were to be found, and where the highest and most holy pilgrimage could be made was the holy city itself, Rome.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 17:38
Upon arriving in Rome, Luther was disheartened by the commercialism of the relics and the immorality of the Roman priests.
Context: Describing Luther's emotional reaction.
But when he came into the city and saw the crass commercialism of the display of relics, and saw the blatant immorality of the Roman priests, he was heartsick.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 19:57
After completing the ritual on the sacred stairs, Luther muttered to himself, expressing doubt about the truth of the experience.
Context: Describing Luther's action and internal thought.
And, when he reached the top of the stairs, he stood up and he muttered to himself, "Who knows if it is true."
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 21:26
When God appears to a person, the physical reaction is one of profound fear and reverence.
When God appeared to Habakkuk, he said, “My lips quivered, my belly trembled, and rottenness entered into my bones.”
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 1:47
The most serious crisis in understanding future prophecy is related to the credibility of the Bible and the credibility of Jesus himself.
And that crisis has to do with the question of credibility, and it has to do with the credibility of two distinct objects. First of all, it has to do with the credibility and trustworthiness of the Bible itself, as I will try to show you. And secondly it has to do even more importantly with the credibility of Jesus Himself.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 4:23
Over the last 200 years, there has been an unprecedented assault against the trustworthiness of the Scriptures.
for the last 200 years there has been an unprecedented assault against the trustworthiness of the Scriptures.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 5:33
Historically, the Pharisees were characterized by a profound and concentrated zeal for pursuing righteousness.
They were the conservatives of Israel who wanted to reach back into the past and recapture the pristine purity of the Commonwealth of Israel, and so they set themselves apart out of this concentrated zeal to obey the law of God; and because of their single-minded desire towards righteousness, they were named the “Set Apart Ones” – the “Pharisees.”
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 10:19
Human origin and ultimate destiny are rooted in holiness.
It’s that day He sanctifies to tell us that our origin and our destiny is in holiness.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 6:27
Man's ultimate fulfillment and reason for existence is found in the pursuit of holiness and glorifying God.
But the point of the catechetical question was this, that man's ultimate joy, his ultimate fulfilment is found in the seventh day, in the pursuit of holiness, in the pursuit of the glory of God, to glorify God, to manifest His greatness, to mirror and to reflect His character.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 27:33
Humanism, which emphasizes the dignity of man, presents a problem regarding how a creature can possess dignity if its origin is in chaos.
I ask this question, and it's a troublesome question I know, how can a creature have dignity if his origin is in chaos? If he comes originally from insignificance and he moves inexorably to more insignificance, how can he possibly have dignity in between?
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 5:25
Sin does not destroy man's dignity, but merely distorts the image of God within him.
Our image of God is distorted by our sin and our corruption, but man's dignity even by sin is not destroyed.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 19:40
Paul's description of love contrasts sharply with the arrogance and pride displayed by people, such as the Pharisees.
I noted that one of the phrases in First Corinthians thirteen where Paul describes what love is and what it isn't, he says that, "Love does not parade itself and is not puffed up." And I immediately thought of the arrogance and the pride of the Pharisees who paraded themselves and their status in front of the people.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 16:17
Anyone who approaches God in a spirit of penance or contrition has no fear of being rejected by Him.
So that anybody who comes before God in the spirit of penance, in the spirit of contrition has no fear of being cast away from His presence.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 18:27
The word 'eros' refers to a sensuous love that is heavily associated with sexual overtones and, in classical Greek, sometimes carried the baggage of the demonic.
eros refers to a sensuous love, a love that is heavily laden with sexual overtones, but not only that, in classical Greek, the word for love, eros, also carried with it the baggage of the demonic.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 4:00
Jesus taught his disciples that they were called to transcend normal human feelings of hatred and vengeance by loving their enemies.
But it is radical. It's a radical thought that Jesus introduced in the Sermon on the Mount when he said to his disciples that they were called to transcend human boundaries of love even to love their enemies.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 11:09
Josephus and Jesus both warned their respective people that the impending judgment was due to their ungodliness.
And from a Jewish perspective Josephus was making the same kind of warning to his people looking to Old Testament passages and from the prophets of the Old Testament to warn the people that this was the promised judgment of -- against the ungodliness of that generation.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 14:03
Both Jesus and Josephus evaluated their contemporaries as being exceptionally wicked.
And Josephus makes the same evaluation against his contemporaries saying that they were the most wicked of all.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 14:42
The stones used in the siege were white and visible before they landed due to their brightness.
He said that the Jews at first watched the coming of the stones, for they were of a white color, and could therefore could not only be perceived by the great noises they made, but they could be seen before they landed by their brightness.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 17:54
The speaker realized that experiencing the traditional Christmas pageantry as a Christian was a profound, reality-based truth.
And this time when the minister interrupted his sermon and listened to the chimes and then leaned over the pulpit and said, “It’s Christmas,” I was ready to walk through the door into heaven. It was all the joy that I could handle because now for the first time I was experiencing this pageantry as reality, as truth, as something that had really taken place.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 3:41
Understanding God's holiness is a major controlling dimension of his thinking, leading him to recognize that what the world considers normal is actually abhorrent to God.
I would say that in my own life, one of the strongest controlling dimensions of my thinking has resulted from detailed study of the holiness of God. I study God's holiness, not because I'm holy, but because I'm not holy and I know it.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 17:39
The fear of the Lord remains essential for Christians, serving as the beginning of wisdom even after the cross.
And even though the wall of partition has been removed and though we are living on this side of the cross, the fear of the Lord is still the beginning of wisdom.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 1:09
Christians should approach God with a godly fear that acknowledges His immense power and holiness.
But there is to be a godly fear that still respects who it is we are dealing with.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 1:49
A plausible interpretation of why Abraham rose early is that he was unable to sleep due to the dread and gravity of the impending task.
The only reason I can figure out why Abraham got up early in the morning was because he couldn't sleep. The guy was tossing and turning all night long.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 9:11
The experience of facing God's call can be deeply challenging, leading to feelings of frustration and anger.
You know, in terms of the pathos, humanly speaking of what's going through this man's mind I can hardly conceive of it. He takes that thing, and I can see all of the frustration, the anger, the fears are pouring down through his arms and out through that axe handle, through that axe head into that wood.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 9:52
If people understood that God is holy and that sin is an offense against that holiness, they would urgently seek salvation.
If they understood that there is a holy God, and that sin is an offense against a holy God, if they understood those two things, they would be breaking the doors down of your churches saying, “What must I do to be saved?”
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 0:00
The speaker identifies fear and guilt as the two primary emotional experiences that repeatedly contribute to various forms of paralysis.
There are two things in our emotional experiences that contribute again and again to all different kinds of paralyses, and they are -- I'll write them on the board -- fear and guilt, and these two, incidentally, are often very closely related.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 10:21
A significant element of fear, particularly regarding impotency and frigidity, is the fear of performance.
I think both in the case of impotency and frigidity, one of the most significant elements of fear is fear of performance.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 12:23
Fear, such as the fear of being seen or hurt, can be a paralyzing force that inhibits intimacy and leads to feelings of rejection.
And if people are afraid that somebody's going to see them, then they're inhibited. And then the partner takes that as a personal act of rejection.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 15:25
People do not seek God because they are afraid of Him.
No. They’re not seeking God, because God terrifies them.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 2:29
The holiness of God is inherently traumatic to unholy people.
The reason is this: that the holiness of God is traumatic to unholy people, and that becomes clear if we look at the rest of the text of Isaiah.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 1:35
When confronted with God's holiness, even the most righteous person reacts with terror and distress.
Isaiah was about as righteous as human beings could be found in those days, and he has this glimpse of the holiness of God, and the first thing he does when he sees the holiness of God is that he cries out in terror, and the old King James Version records his words as saying this: "Woe is me, for I am undone!"
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 5:23
Prophets were understood to be divine spokesmen who prefaced their messages with phrases like 'Thus saith the Lord' to show they were vessels of divine announcement.
It was the task of the prophet to speak to the people in behalf of God, so that when the prophet uttered his message, he wouldn't preface his statement by saying, "In my humble opinion," or, "It is my judgment that," or, "I think that perhaps this may be the case." That's not how they addressed the people. You know what they did. When they gave their message, they prefaced their words by saying what? "Thus saith the Lord."
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 7:32
The beast is described in Revelation as having seven heads, ten horns, and a blasphemous name.
And then I stood on the sand of the sea and I saw a beast rising up out of the sea having seven heads and ten horns. And on his horns ten crowns and on his heads a blasphemous name.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 0:56
The number of the beast is 666.
Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is 666.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 3:32
Many scholars interpret the imagery and military power of the beast rising from the sea as a reference to the military power of Rome.
most scholars would grant that this is obviously a reference to the military power of Rome, and that the seven heads refer to the seven mountains or the seven hills.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 4:27
During the Reformation, many believed the Pope in Rome was the Antichrist, and the Roman Catholic Church was the antichristian institution.
At the time of the Reformation, the most popular candidate for fulfilling the image of antichrist was the pope. Luther and Calvin both were convinced that the pope in Rome was the Antichrist, that the Roman Catholic church was the antichristian institution that was embodied in the one who called himself the vicar of Christ on earth, that is the substitute for Jesus in the church; namely, the pope.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 6:39
The covering provided by God's work removes guilt, shame, and fear, allowing humanity to approach God freely.
But the covering that God provides takes away the guilt, takes away the shame, takes away the fear of the presence of God, puts an end to our vocation as fugitives, and we can once again come into the presence of God, naked and unashamed.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 2:04
The popular understanding of God is flawed because it fails to grasp God's holiness and sovereignty.
And the reason for that dichotomy, dear friends, is because we don't know who God is, because the God of popular religion is not holy.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 1:13
God's holiness is so absolute that even the touch of a human being, rather than physical dirt, is what can mar the sacredness of His throne.
No, the thing that God commanded so clearly in Israel that should never come in contact with His throne, with His sacred ark, was not the mud but the touch of man. It is the touch of man that would mar the holiness of the throne of God.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 10:47
True courage is not the absence of fear, but the capacity to act despite the presence of fear.
But that what courage does is gives us the capacity to act in spite of our fear, in spite
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 13:14
The ability to come to Christ willingly does not occur until God has performed His work of sovereign grace.
Now those people do come to Christ, and they choose Christ. They come willingly and cheerfully and all the rest, but not before or until God does His work of sovereign grace in bringing that person from spiritual death to spiritual life.
Source: R.C. Sproul @ 7:00
The biblical imagery of hell suggests that being cursed by God means being removed from His presence and grace.
In fact, the imagery in the Bible of hell itself is the place of outer darkness where not the slightest glimmer of light penetrates from the countenance of God. To be cursed of God is to have God turn His back upon you, remove His grace from you, and take away all hope of peace.
Source: Abraham Justified Before Circumcision (Ligonier)
God will not shine His face or lift up His countenance upon people unless they are adequately covered.
Unless we are covered, He will avert His glance from us; He will never make His face to shine upon us; He will never lift up the light of His countenance upon us unless we are covered.
Source: Abraham Justified Before Circumcision (Ligonier)
The supernatural elements of Scripture, such as angels, are often dismissed by skeptics and cynics.
In our modern era, this seems to smack of the mythological and of a supernatural element of Scripture that the skeptics and the cynics repudiate.
Source: The Angel & Zacharias (Part 1) (Ligonier)
God is patient, forbearing, tender, and kind toward people who hear the Word of God and stagger in unbelief.
As was the case with Hezekiah and as was the case with Gideon and his fleece, we see people throughout Scripture who hear the Word of God and stagger in unbelief, and then God is patient with them, forbearing, tender, and kind.
Source: The Angel & Zacharias (Part 3) (Ligonier)
The reason humans doubt God's Word is not because the Word is unbelievable, but because they project their own untrustworthiness onto God.
The reason we doubt the Word of God is not because His Word is unbelievable or incredible, but because we project upon God the untrustworthiness that describes our own condition.
Source: The Angel & Zacharias (Part 3) (Ligonier)
Waiting for the promises of the Father is a difficult task for any Christian.
That in itself deserves a whole sermon because one of the most difficult things for any Christian to do is wait for the promises of the Father.
Source: The Ascension (Ligonier)
The Hebrew benediction signifies that being blessed means entering a close relationship with God, allowing His glory to shine upon the person.
The Hebrew was saying that to be blessed is to be brought into an intimate, close relationship with Almighty God, so that God would remove the veil and literally make His face radiate so the refulgence of His glory would shine on you.
Source: The Beatitudes (Ligonier)
Paul commands believers to abhor evil, viewing it as an assault on God's character and sovereignty.
We should see evil as an unveiled assault on the character of God and His sovereignty. As we seek to grow in grace and to gain the mind of Christ, we need to learn to think like Jesus, to love what Jesus loves, and to hate what Jesus hates.
Source: Behave Like a Christian (Part 1) (Ligonier)
Joy is maintained even during painful times because of the certainty of God's heavenly treasures, which far outweigh temporary suffering.
No matter how painful the present moment may be, we can still have joy because we know that the presence of pain, the suffering and tribulation that we endure now, is but for a moment. God has laid up treasures for us in heaven that are not even worthy to be compared to the brief moments of pain and suffering we have to endure in this world.
Source: Behave Like a Christian (Part 1) (Ligonier)
The warning against setting one's mind on high things refers specifically to worldly status and power, not spiritual principles.
Paul is not talking about focusing our thinking on the heavenly things of the gospel. Rather, he is speaking with respect to high positions of status in the world.
Source: Behave Like a Christian (Part 2) (Ligonier)
God chooses and elevates the lowly and meek, rather than the powerful or great.
Not many of the great and powerful have been called into the kingdom of God, but God gives Himself to those of no reputation, those who are lowly and meek in this world.
Source: Behave Like a Christian (Part 2) (Ligonier)
Opinion is likened to a shadow that cannot withstand the scrutiny of divine truth, while true knowledge can.
In his view, opinion was the shadow on the wall that could not stand up to the light of day. I ask the question of myself and of you: Can our opinions stand under the scrutiny of the Word of God?
Source: Behave Like a Christian (Part 2) (Ligonier)
The Exodus from Egypt was a supreme visitation of God to His people in the Old Testament.
The Exodus was the supreme visitation of God to His people in the Old Testament. It looked ahead to the ultimate visit, the incarnation of Christ Himself, who would deliver His people from the bondage of sin.
Source: The Benedictus (Part 1) (Ligonier)
The Messiah is described as the 'horn of salvation' who comes in the house of David.
And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of His servant David
Source: The Benedictus (Part 2) (Ligonier)
The title 'Dayspring from on high' refers to the moment of dawn, symbolizing the retreat of night and the arrival of light.
In the Greek, the word for “Dayspring” is anatolē , which means the breaking of the dawn when the sun rises. The dayspring is that moment where the night retreats, the shadows fall away, and the lights come on in the morning dawn.
Source: The Benedictus (Part 3) (Ligonier)
Christ's entrance into the world was marked by humiliation, lacking even a proper place to rest his head.
The entrance of Jesus into this world is against the backdrop of humiliation. There was no place for Him to lay His head. In fact, as an adult, He would say, “The Son of Man has no place to lay His head” (Luke 9:58).
Source: The Birth of Jesus (Ligonier)
Christ's entrance into the world was marked by humiliation, but this had to be balanced by an accompanying exaltation and glory.
Humiliation in His entrance into the world; humiliation in His exit from the world. At the very moment when the babe is wrapped in the cloth of humiliation, the Father is not satisfied that the circumstances of the birth of His Son be only in terms of humiliation. They must also be accompanied with exaltation. That shame must be balanced with glory.
Source: The Birth of Jesus (Ligonier)
The Shekinah glory is the blazing, blinding glory of God, which is so overwhelming that people are driven to their knees before it.
The Shekinah was the blazing, refulgent, blinding glory of God himself. When that glory was visible on this planet, people hid their eyes from it, they were overwhelmed by it, they were driven to their knees in front of it, because there was nothing in nature that could compare to the Shekinah glory of God.
Source: The Birth of Jesus (Ligonier)
Jesus frequently had to tell his disciples 'Don't be afraid' because fallen creatures are naturally terrified in God's presence.
It seems in the New Testament record of the life of Jesus that almost every time He came into the presence of His disciples, instead of saying, “Peace be with you,” or “Hello,” or “Good morning,” or “Good afternoon,” He would have to say, “Don’t be afraid,” because nothing is more common for fallen creatures than to be terrified in the presence of God.
Source: The Birth of Jesus (Ligonier)
Christians must cultivate a deep passion for godliness and righteousness, recognizing that this is a difficult challenge.
Don’t we seek with great passion everything else but the kingdom of God, everything else except righteousness? We need to have a passion for godliness.
Source: Blessings & Curses (Ligonier)
The hunger and thirst Jesus spoke of refer to a deep, spiritual longing for righteousness, not merely physical sustenance.
That is the kind of hunger Jesus was talking about.
Source: Blessings & Curses (Ligonier)
The most profound need a person has is divine righteousness, which is necessary for entering God's kingdom.
Give me what I don’t have and what I need the most: righteousness, Your righteousness, without which I will never enter Your kingdom.
Source: The Blind Man (Ligonier)
The treasury of merit is a depository where the excess merit of various figures, including Christ, is placed, and the Church controls access to it.
The treasury of merit is the bank account placed as a depository where the merit of Christ goes, along with the merit of Mary and Joseph, of Peter and Paul, of Saint Francis, Saint Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, and so on. Their merit is put into the treasury of merit.
Source: Boasting Excluded (Ligonier)
Sproul warns that the New Perspective on Paul is a serious and dangerous distortion of the gospel.
I simply say to you that if someone comes to you proclaiming the so-called New Perspective on Paul, run for your life because it is a really serious diabolical distortion of the gospel.
Source: Boasting Excluded (Ligonier)
Humans cannot truly love God with their whole heart until they are purified in heaven.
We will not love God with our whole heart until we are totally purged of our corrupt nature in your glorification in heaven.
Source: Boasting Excluded (Ligonier)
A lawless person lacks fear of God, meaning they do not care about their words or keeping promises because their life is unstable.
They do not care what comes out of their mouth or if they keep their promises, because their house is built on sand.
Source: Build on the Rock (Ligonier)
The disciples' fear intensified after Jesus calmed the storm, leading them to view Him as something profoundly unique and terrifying.
The Scriptures tell us that after the threat of nature was removed by Jesus, instead of eliminating the disciples’ fear, their fear intensified. The Bible tells us, “And they became very much afraid.”
Source: The Calming of the Storm (Ligonier)
The Bible teaches that people who were previously secure and safe become fearful whenever God appears in His holiness.
Context: This quote is used to contrast with a view by Calvin, but Sproul is asserting the biblical teaching.
Calvin wrote that people are completely fearless in certain circumstances, but the Scriptures uniformly relate that people who previously were self-secure and safe were reduced to trembling every single time God appeared to them in His holiness.
Source: The Calming of the Storm (Ligonier)
Worship must be approached with reverence and godly fear, as it is considered holy ground.
No person ever comes into the immediate presence of a holy God in a cavalier manner. You do not come into the presence of God dressed like you are going to the beach.
Source: The Calming of the Storm (Ligonier)
Sinners avoid the presence of Jesus because the holiness of God makes them uncomfortable.
The reason sinners don’t want to come to church is because they’re sinners, and nothing makes a sinner more uncomfortable than the presence of a holy God.
Source: The Catch of Fish (Ligonier)
Both demons and sinners cannot tolerate the presence of the holy.
The demons couldn’t stand to be in the presence of the holy, and neither could sinners.
Source: The Catch of Fish (Ligonier)
The speaker acknowledges that the manifestation of God's wrath is far more dreadful than any human-made weapon.
Context: This is part of a prayer, reflecting the speaker's understanding of God's attributes.
and yet we know that the manifestation of Your wrath is far more dreadful than any weapon creatures can invent or use.
Source: Christ in Our Place (Ligonier)
The disciples recognized a shared experience between Jesus and David: a consuming zeal for the house of God.
They saw in Jesus the same thing that David experienced in his life—this zeal for the house of God, the house that God had established for worship.
Source: Cleansing of the Temple (Ligonier)
God shows no partiality, accepting anyone in any nation who fears Him and works righteousness.
Context: Quoting Peter's speech in Acts 10:34.
In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.
Source: Cornelius' Household (Ligonier)
Those who are not Christians are living in a state of hopelessness and futility.
The Bible says that without Christ, you are without hope. You are hopeless. You are living in a state of hopelessness.
Source: The Cost of Discipleship (Ligonier)
Pope Pius IX, at Vatican Council I in 1870, defined two types of ignorance: vincible and invincible.
At Vatican Council I in 1870, the pope was officially proclaimed to be infallible, de fide . The presiding pope was Pius IX. During that time, he wrote his Allocution , in which he defined two different kinds of ignorance. He distinguished between what he called “vincible” ignorance and “invincible” ignorance.
Source: The Crucifixion (Part 2) (Ligonier)
Jesus is not merely the Lord of the Jews or the Gentiles, but specifically the 'Lord of glory,' who resides in the heavenly places.
One of my favorite titles is the one the Apostle used in this context when he referred to Jesus as the “Lord of glory.” He is not just the Lord of the Jews or the Gentiles, the pagans, all human beings, or the earth, but the “Lord of glory,” the “King of glory,” who resides in the heavenly places.
Source: The Crucifixion (Part 2) (Ligonier)
The religious leaders should have understood and seen Jesus's true identity as the Lord of glory, preventing them from crucifying him.
Paul said, “If they knew who they were killing, if they knew that this was the Lord of glory hanging in front of them, they wouldn’t for a moment think of crucifying Him.” In other words, they did not understand it. They did not see it. They should have understood it, they should have seen it, but they did not.
Source: The Crucifixion (Part 2) (Ligonier)
The speaker asserts that modern society lacks a proper fear of God across various groups of people.
We live in a godless nation. We live in a situation where there is no fear of God in the land. Republicans do not fear God, Democrats do not fear God, independents do not fear God. Sinners do not fear God, except they flee when no one pursues them.
Source: The Crucifixion (Part 2) (Ligonier)
Paul warns that those unwilling to identify with Christ's humiliation and death should not expect to participate in His exultation.
Paul says that if you are not willing to identify with His humiliation, if you are not willing to identify with His death and with His burial, do not expect to participate in His exultation, because Jesus said, “If you are ashamed of Me before men, I will be ashamed of you before My Father on that day.”
Source: Dead to Sin, Alive to God (Part 1) (Ligonier)
Complaining about being misrepresented by Adam actually proves the perfection of that representation because the complaint stems from our fallen nature.
When we complain about being misrepresented by Adam, all we do is prove the perfection of that representation as we manifest our fallen nature, our Adamic nature when we complain against God in this way.
Source: Death in Adam, Life in Christ (Ligonier)
God will not be mocked, and those who arrogantly claim deity will face divine judgment.
This king of the Jews had killed the Apostle James, harassed the body of Christ, thrown Peter into prison, and was arrogating to himself a claim to deity. At that point, God said, “This far and no further.”
Source: The Death of Herod (Ligonier)
The most perilous condition for a human being is having no fear of God in their heart.
There is no more perilous condition for any human being than to have no fear of God in your heart.
Source: The Death of Herod (Ligonier)
Jesus expressed a deep longing for the fire to be kindled.
Rather, He said, “How I wish it were already kindled!”
Source: The Dividing Christ (Ligonier)
Anxiety is defined as uneasiness of mind or a fearful concern, which is distinct from eagerness.
Rather, the dictionary defines anxiety as uneasiness of mind, or a fearful concern. Eagerness is related to joy and anxiety is related to fear.
Source: The End of Anxiety (Ligonier)
Anxiety can be specific (like worrying about money) or non-specific (like a vague sense of dread).
In addition to specific fears or anxieties that we encounter in this world are non-specific forms of anxiety.
Source: The End of Anxiety (Ligonier)
Worrying about things beyond our control is futile because it cannot change our physical stature or extend our lifespan.
Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? Worry all you want; you will not add an hour to your life. Worry all you want; you will not add an inch to your height.
Source: The End of Anxiety (Ligonier)
True security and lasting treasure are found in the heavenly realm, not in worldly possessions.
They are heavenly bags. “A treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Source: The End of Anxiety (Ligonier)
The prophet Habakkuk questioned God about why God allowed pagan enemies to invade Israel, despite God's holiness.
He is astonished and says: “God, I thought You were on our side. I thought You were too holy to even look at iniquity. Yet You are allowing these ruthless pagans to invade our people.”
Source: Eternal Appointment (Ligonier)
Human hearts are so hardened and immune to truth that they lack fear of God.
Our hearts are so calcified, and we have become so immunized against the truth of the gospel, that there is no fear of God in our land.
Source: Eternal Appointment (Ligonier)
The core problem of secular people is not ignorance of God, but a hatred for the God they know exists.
I told them at the end of the address that their problem was not that they did not know that God exists, as we pointed out in Romans 1, but their problem was that they hated the God whom they know exists.
Source: Faith Triumphs in Trouble (Part 2) (Ligonier)
The greatest delight of Adam and Eve was the unlimited access they had to God, which was ruined by their first transgression.
Adam and Eve’s greatest delight was when God walked in the cool of the garden with them. They rushed to commune with Him, until that communion was totally ruined by the first transgression.
Source: Faith Triumphs in Trouble (Part 2) (Ligonier)
Access to the most sacred parts of God's presence was severely restricted, limited to specific individuals and times.
Of the whole nation of Israel, only one person was ever allowed inside the Holy of Holies. People could be in the Holy Place or in the outer court, but they could only come so close to God; this far and no further. Only one person could enter and only once a year: the high priest.
Source: Faith Triumphs in Trouble (Part 2) (Ligonier)
Believers are called to enter God's presence with boldness, but never with arrogance.
There is a difference between boldness and arrogance. We are never called to enter into the presence of God arrogantly.
Source: Faith Triumphs in Trouble (Part 2) (Ligonier)
The joy experienced by the justified believer is not merely normal joy, but a profound celebration focused on contemplating God's character and glory.
Paul is saying that one of the results of our justification is that we glory now in glory . We have a sense of celebration and ecstasy beyond normal levels of joy, and the target of our joy is hope that is directed towards the manifestation of the glory of God.
Source: Faith Triumphs in Trouble (Part 3) (Ligonier)
The hope of glory refers to the expectation of God's final manifestation when He will be all-encompassing.
We speak of the hope of glory, which refers to the hope of the final manifestation of God’s glory when He will be all in all.
Source: Faith Triumphs in Trouble (Part 3) (Ligonier)
Christians can find glory in tribulation and affliction because of their justification and knowledge of God's sovereignty.
Once we are reconciled and justified, even when people slander us, when they wound us deeply and tribulation becomes our life, we can glory in it because of Christ and our justification.
Source: Faith Triumphs in Trouble (Part 3) (Ligonier)
The more a person hears the Word of God while remaining hardened, the greater the punishment they will receive on judgment day.
The more you keep hearing the Word of God repeatedly and remain hardened in your heart, the greater the stripes you will receive on judgment day.
Source: The Faithful Steward (Ligonier)
Sproul quotes Jesus to emphasize that one should fear God because He has the power not only to kill the body but also to send the soul to hell.
Rather, fear the One who not only can kill your body, but after you’re dead, can send you to hell forever.” He said, “Fear Him, who after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him.”
Source: Fearing God (Ligonier)
While acknowledging the need to fear God due to His knowledge, Sproul concludes that believers should not fear because God has given them incalculable value.
On the one hand, we should fear Him. On the other hand, we should not fear, because He has redeemed us in His sight. Do not fear, for you matter to your Father.
Source: Fearing God (Ligonier)
The ultimate warning is to submit to the Son of God rather than despising Him.
Then we’re told at the end of Psalm 2, “Kiss the Son lest He be angry, and you perish in the way.” Dearly beloved, how our land needs people today who will kiss the Son instead of despising Him.
Source: The Forgiven Woman (Ligonier)
The carnal mind is fundamentally hostile to God, leading to a state of enmity.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God.
Source: Free from Indwelling Sin (Ligonier)
God must be capable of judging the world by inflicting wrath, otherwise, His judgment would be unjust.
If God were unjust when He inflicts wrath, if that were an injustice in God, then He would never be able to judge the world. What could be more obvious than that?
Source: God's Judgment Defended (Ligonier)
One cannot selectively embrace certain attributes of God while rejecting others, as God is simultaneously the God of love and the God of wrath.
You cannot take the attributes of God you are comfortable with and embrace them while rejecting the rest. When you do that, you join the throng of humanity that suppresses the truth of God and refuses to honor Him as God or to be thankful.
Source: God’s Wrath (Ligonier)
Those who refuse to acknowledge God's truth often become idolaters by exchanging the glory of the incorruptible God for creatures.
They change “the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.” They take the majestic, self-existent, eternal God of heaven and earth, exchange His truth, and begin to worship birds, bears, and totem poles.
Source: God’s Wrath (Ligonier)
The world is filled with God's glory, which is evident in every place and moment.
O Father, the whole world is filled with Your glory. We cannot take two paces on earth without bumping into clear, manifest demonstration of Your eternal power and deity.
Source: God’s Wrath (Ligonier)
The ultimate response to God's sovereign grace is the declaration that if God is for us, no human opposition can ultimately overcome His glory.
Paul is saying that all the opposition that rises up against us by human beings is meaningless in the final analysis, because all the opposition in the world cannot overthrow the glory that God has laid up for His saints from the foundation of the world.
Source: The Golden Chain (Ligonier)
Christ is worthy of eternal glory, honor, dominion, and power.
Behold, the Lion of Judah has prevailed, and the Lamb of God is worthy to receive glory, honor, dominion, and power now and forever more.
Source: The Gospel of the Kingdom (Ligonier)
Jesus attached singular significance to the miracle of exorcism as a manifestation of the breakthrough of the divine kingdom.
Jesus attached singular significance to the miracle of exorcism as a manifestation of the breakthrough of the divine kingdom.
Source: The Gospel to Samaria (Ligonier)
The amazement of the onlookers was directed not just at the miracle, but specifically at the majesty of God.
But notice the locus of their amazement in this text. We read, “And they were all amazed at the majesty of God.”
Source: The Greatest (Ligonier)
When people witnessed Jesus's works, their amazement was directed toward the majesty of God, not merely the man.
We read, “And they were all amazed at the majesty of God.”
Source: The Greatest (Ligonier)
While desiring greatness in faith and service is noble, wanting to be the greatest at the expense of others is perverse.
To want to be great in faith and in service is a noble thing, but to want to be the greatest in the kingdom of God at the expense of other people is perversity.
Source: The Greatest (Ligonier)
Guilt is a powerful, demoralizing, paralyzing, disintegrating, and destructive force in the world.
Ladies and gentlemen, guilt is one of the most powerful, demoralizing, paralyzing, disintegrating, and destructive forces in all the world.
Source: Haunted By Guilt (Ligonier)
The resurrection of Christ overcame the fear of the disciples, transforming them into courageous saints.
But the Christ who fed them that night was raised from the dead, and He raised them from their fears and turned them into valorous saints.
Source: Holy Boldness (Ligonier)
The arresting officers were careful to handle the Apostles gently because they feared the crowd would react violently if the arrest was brutal.
They wanted to make sure that they were very ginger in how they handled the Apostles because, by now, the whole town was on the Apostles’ side. If the guards used brutality to arrest them, they, the guards, were afraid they would be stoned by the people.
Source: If It Is of God (Ligonier)
Despite being redeemed, the speaker remains genuinely fearful and reverent toward the character of God.
But God is holy, and I know that, and even though I am covered by the Savior, I am still frightened at times by the character of God—with good reason.
Source: The Indictment of the Jews and Gentiles (Ligonier)
The ultimate authority and source of certainty for belief is the sacred Scripture, surpassing even rational arguments or empirical science.
But nothing moves my soul, my heart, and my mind to acquiesce to its certainty like the pages of sacred Scripture.
Source: Introduction (Ligonier)
Knowing the grace of God and the power of the resurrection of Jesus is a deep prayer for the listener.
Dear ones, that is my deepest prayer for each one of you, that you would know the grace of God and the power of the resurrection of Jesus, and that you would know His peace today and forevermore.
Source: Introduction (Ligonier)
God's glory was first manifested and invested in the community of Israel.
It was to Israel that God first manifested His glory, where he invested His glory in the community that He formed out of the slaves in Egypt.
Source: Israel's Rejection of Christ (Ligonier)
The speaker maintains a fear of God that goes beyond mere reverence, including the fear of provoking Him.
Even though I delight in my adoption into the family of God, I still fear God—not just the fear of adoration, awe, and reverence, but sometimes the stone-cold fear of provoking Him.
Source: Israel's Rejection & God's Justice (Part 3) (Ligonier)
Human worries tend to focus on personal glory and riches rather than the glory and riches of God's sovereignty and mercy.
We worry about our glory. We do not worry ourselves about the riches of Your glory, but of our own riches.
Source: Israel's Rejection & God's Justice (Part 3) (Ligonier)
Paul's statement that Christ is 'the eternally blessed God' is a clear affirmation of Christ's deity, not merely a description of His lordship.
Paul concludes this statement by saying: “Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.” On the one hand, when Paul affirms the human ancestry of Jesus, the human nature of Jesus that is manifest in His incarnation, he does not stop there but gives one of the most clear and decisive affirmations of the deity of Christ that we find anywhere in Scripture.
Source: Israel's Rejection & God's Purpose (Ligonier)
Humans are spiritually corrupt and in a state of spiritual death, requiring God the Holy Spirit to open their eyes and ears for them to believe in Jesus.
our hearts are so corrupt that we’re in a state of spiritual death, that unless God the Holy Spirit opens our eyes and ears, we will never choose Jesus or believe in Jesus.
Source: Israel's Rejection & God's Purpose (Ligonier)
Paul's ultimate goal is to overcome the hostility and resistance to make the Jewish people jealous of the blessings given by God.
Nevertheless, Paul is saying: “I want to break through those barriers. I want to cut through that hostility and that resistance. I want to make them jealous of what God has given us.”
Source: Israel's Rejection Not Final (Part 1) (Ligonier)
The holiness of the branches is not inherent to them but comes only through their connection to the root.
What makes the branches holy is not something inherently or innately found in the branches of the tree; it is only by the connection of the branch to the root that the branch is considered sacred and holy.
Source: Israel's Rejection Not Final (Part 1) (Ligonier)
God's judgment is severe when it falls upon wicked people or apostates.
When His judgment comes, when it falls upon wicked people, when He judges the apostate, the judgment is severe.
Source: Israel's Rejection Not Final (Part 1) (Ligonier)
The concept of the fullness of the Gentiles refers to a point in history when the extension of God's salvific call to the gentile nations reaches saturation.
There is presumably a point in history where God’s “roundup,” the extension of His salvific call to the gentile nations, will reach its saturation point.
Source: Israel's Rejection Not Final (Part 2) (Ligonier)
The wisdom and knowledge of God are immensely deep, unsearchable, and beyond human understanding.
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! “For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?” “Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?”
Source: Israel's Rejection Not Final (Part 3) (Ligonier)
The Apostle's contemplation is of the infinite riches of God's glory, not the limited depths of human corruption.
Paul is contemplating not the shallow water of God but the infinite depths of His being. That is why he groans, “Oh, the depth of the riches . . .”
Source: Israel's Rejection Not Final (Part 3) (Ligonier)
The manifestation of God's glory is so brilliant that it illuminates the new heaven and new earth.
But the author of Revelation tells us that there is no need of the sun or any artificial light in heaven because the glory of God and the radiance of His Son bathe the holy city in light twenty-four hours a day.
Source: Israel's Rejection Not Final (Part 4) (Ligonier)
When Paul boasts, he is stating that all the glory and reasons for boasting are rooted in and come from Christ Jesus, not from himself.
When Paul says, “I have reason to glory,” he is saying that all the glory he has experienced and all the reasons he has to boast are rooted and grounded in Christ Jesus.
Source: From Jerusalem to Illyricum (Ligonier)
The central concern of both the Apostle and the Jewish people was the experience of God's peace.
At the heart of virtually every Jewish benediction was this constant plea that God would give peace to His people.
Source: From Jerusalem to Illyricum (Ligonier)
The ascension is a climactic moment of Jesus' ministry that should be given proper celebration.
We celebrate Easter, we celebrate Christmas, we consider Good Friday, but there are few people who really take time to celebrate the climactic moment of Jesus’ earthly ministry: the moment when He departed from the disciples and ascended into heaven.
Source: Jesus Appears (Ligonier)
Jesus' ascension was a homecoming, fulfilling the requirement that only the one who came down from heaven could ascend.
What about the other terminal point of this journey? Jesus was not only going to His coronation, He was not only going to be the High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, but He had said, “No one ascends into heaven except the One who first came down from heaven.” So, beloved, this was Jesus’ homecoming.
Source: Jesus Appears (Ligonier)
God likened the people of Israel to a vineyard that He planted, nurtured, and cleared, but which they allowed to grow wild and become desolate.
God said: “I have made a vineyard for my beloved. I have cleared the stones from the earth. I have planted, pruned, and nurtured, but my people allowed this vineyard to grow wild grapes, to go unattended and become desolate.”
Source: Jesus’ Authority & the Parable of the Tenants (Ligonier)
The first time humanity sought out darkness was after the Fall, when Adam and Eve hid from God due to their shame and nakedness.
This was the first time in human history that man and woman sought out the darkness. They looked for a place to hide, a place where the gaze of God would not penetrate.
Source: Jesus Dies (Ligonier)
The speaker believes that Jesus literally sweated blood due to the intensity of his agony.
That may simply be a metaphor, but like Jonathan Edwards, I believe that Jesus really did sweat blood, that His agony was so intense that as He concentrated on this vision, the capillaries in His forehead burst and streams of blood began to flow down His face.
Source: Jesus at Gethsemane (Ligonier)
Engaging in jealousy or covetousness means despising the gifts that God has given.
When we do that, we despise the gifts of God.
Source: Jesus & John the Baptist (Ligonier)
Contentment is not a natural state for fallen people, but rather a struggle against spirits of envy and covetousness.
Contentment is not natural for fallen people. Rather, we are assaulted by spirits of envy and covetousness, where we want what someone else has.
Source: Jesus & John the Baptist (Ligonier)
When Jesus speaks of ascending into heaven, he is referring to a specific return to his coronation, which only the one who first descended from God can achieve.
He’s going again to His coronation, and the only one who ascends to be seated at the right hand of God is the One who first came down from the presence of God.
Source: Jesus as Lord of the Sabbath (Ligonier)
When Isaiah speaks of the Messiah's anointing, it refers not just to consecration, but to being charismatically endowed with power.
When Isaiah speaks about the anointing of the Messiah, however, he is not simply speaking about the Messiah as being set apart and consecrated, but rather that He’s being charismatically endowed with power.
Source: Jesus in the Synagogue (Ligonier)
Jesus held a superior, heavenly high priesthood order (Melchizedek) that was greater than the temporary earthly priesthoods of Annas and Caiaphas.
He was a High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. He was the heavenly High Priest, who, in this ironic moment in history, was placed in judgment under the authority of those who were high priests temporarily .
Source: Jesus on Trial (Ligonier)
Jesus identified Jerusalem as a holy city, a city set on a hill, and a city of peace.
On this occasion, when Jesus entered the city with tears rolling down His cheeks, He said, “This is supposed to be the holy city, the city set on a hill, the city of peace, Jerusalem.”
Source: Jesus Weeps Over Jerusalem (Ligonier)
Jeremiah warned the people that their trust in the temple rituals and words was misplaced and could not profit them.
Context: Quoting Jeremiah
Jeremiah said: “You say these things: ‘The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.’ But you trust in lying words. Words that cannot profit you” (Jer. 7:4).
Source: Jesus Weeps Over Jerusalem (Ligonier)
The prophets warned that the Day of the Lord was not a day of joy, but rather a day of darkness and judgment.
Amos, for example, said: “You look forward to the day of the Lord, the day of His visitation, but I say to you the day of the Lord is a day of darkness. There is no light in it. It is doomsday, judgment day.”
Source: Jesus Weeps Over Jerusalem (Ligonier)
People should fear the wrath of God and flee from it, especially those who are not converted.
However, some people should be fleeing with all their might from the wrath of God that will certainly come. There are, inevitably, people in the church who are not converted. If you are not converted to Christ, then you will experience the wrath of God, so if you have any wisdom in you, flee as hard as you possibly can.
Source: John Preaches (Ligonier)
Humans tend to judge themselves by their own standards, but judging oneself by God's perfection is a terrifying experience.
We judge ourselves on a curve by ourselves and among ourselves. We never judge ourselves according to the standard of God’s perfection. If we ever did, we would be as tormented as Martin Luther was in the monastery.
Source: The Just Shall Live by Faith (Ligonier)
The Apostle Paul's sentiments in Romans 7 reflect a struggle that is characteristic of the Christian life, not of unregenerate people.
I even went on to say that the sentiments the Apostle expresses here in the seventh chapter are sentiments that you do not find in unregenerate people, such as his love for the law, his great desire to please God in the Spirit, and so on.
Source: Law Cannot Save from Sin (Part 1) (Ligonier)
The conviction of the Holy Ghost is powerful enough to destroy illusions and visions of grandeur regarding personal achievements.
The conviction of the Holy Ghost is usually powerful enough to destroy such illusions and visions of grandeur about our own achievements.
Source: Law Cannot Save from Sin (Part 1) (Ligonier)
The means of grace are instruments God provides to help believers overcome the weaknesses of the flesh.
The means of grace are the instruments God gives us to help us overcome the weaknesses of the flesh.
Source: Law Cannot Save from Sin (Part 2) (Ligonier)
God's grace transforms a person's heart, changing it from a hard state to one that desires affection for Him.
He changed your heart from a heart of stone to a heart that began to pulsate and beat with affection for Him and set you free.
Source: Law Cannot Save from Sin (Part 2) (Ligonier)
Despite ongoing struggles, the Christian identifies with the new creation and the triumph provided by the Holy Spirit.
Despite the ongoing struggle, despite the failures of sin that mark the Christian life, I still know that I am a new creature. I am a new creation, and behold, all things have become new. What God has done with me can be seen not in this vestigial remnant of my old man, but God can be seen in the triumph He gives me through His Holy Spirit in the new man.
Source: Law Cannot Save from Sin (Part 3) (Ligonier)
Paul's exclamation, 'O wretched man that I am!', expresses a profound anguish over his ongoing struggle and the burden of sin.
Paul cries out in anguish after just relating to us his ongoing struggle, this death struggle with the weighty burden of sin pressing against the inclinations he has toward obedience.
Source: Law Cannot Save from Sin (Part 3) (Ligonier)
Despite ongoing struggles and stumbles, Christians are described as walking by the Spirit, not by the flesh, and are not enslaved by the flesh.
Even though we still stumble, we are described as those people who walk according to the Spirit, not according to the flesh. We are not enslaved by the flesh anymore.
Source: Law Cannot Save from Sin (Part 3) (Ligonier)
The demons recognized Jesus' identity and power, which was evident in their questions and statements.
The demons did not have to say, “What manner of man is this?” They knew exactly what manner of man He was, and they recognized what the disciples did not—they were in the presence of God incarnate.
Source: Legion (Ligonier)
People often react negatively to Jesus' holiness, sometimes fearing His presence and wanting Him to leave.
Nothing terrifies a human being more than the presence of the holy. When the townspeople realized that they were in the presence of One who was holy, and they were not, they wanted Him out.
Source: Legion (Ligonier)
Jesus accused the synagogue ruler of hypocrisy for valuing animals more than human beings.
Do each one of you on the Sabbath day not loose his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it away to water it? Do you think it’s a violation of the Sabbath day to give the necessary basic requirements of life to your jackasses? You won’t allow me to do it for a human being? What’s wrong with you? Where’s your value system? You give more value to your donkey and to your ox than you do to human beings.
Source: A Little Leaven (Ligonier)
To magnify God means to exalt Him from the deepest part of one's being after being saturated by His presence and mercy.
what she means when she says, “My soul magnifies Him,” is this: “My soul has been saturated by a sense of the divine, and by His presence and mercy. So, from the deepest part of my being, I want to exalt Him.”
Source: The Magnificat (Part 1) (Ligonier)
God's mercy is not infinite and is restricted to those who fear Him.
God, however, says, “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy” (Rom. 9:15). He does not extend that mercy to everyone.
Source: The Magnificat (Part 1) (Ligonier)
Because all secrets will be revealed at judgment, it is absolutely essential to gain the covering of Christ's righteousness.
When every secret is made manifest in that judgment, we will be covered by the perfection of Christ’s righteousness. Mine will not do it. That is why I am distraught when I hear people say to me: “I don’t need Christ. My life is going along fine. I’m happy. I’m successful. My conscience isn’t bothering me. What do I need with Jesus?”
Source: Man Is without Excuse (Ligonier)
When the Holy One is manifest among unholy people, the appropriate human response is dread, terror, and fear.
When the Holy One is manifest amid unholy people, the only appropriate human response is dread, terror, and fear.
Source: A Fearful Deliverance (Ligonier)
Jesus' great suffering (passion) coincided with the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
It is ironic that Jesus’ entering His passion, His great suffering, coincided with the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Source: The Anointing at Bethany (Ligonier)
The perfume was extremely valuable, costing the equivalent of a whole year's salary in ancient Israel.
When you have over three hundred denarii of value, you are talking about a substance that cost a whole year’s salary.
Source: The Anointing at Bethany (Ligonier)
Humans tend to misunderstand God by allowing love to overshadow His justice and righteousness, thereby obscuring His holiness.
We allow the love of God to swallow up His justice and righteousness and obscure His holiness. We think that not only will God forgive all our sins without an atonement, but we believe He must forgive us if He is really going to be good and loving.
Source: The Atonement (Ligonier)
Jesus rejected Satan's offer of worldly power because accepting it would constitute idolatry and cost him his relationship with the Father.
Jesus responds: “There is a problem with that offer, Satan. God says that we’re not to have any other gods before Him, and Him only may we serve. You see, if I bow down to you, that would be an act of idolatry, and I would lose My Father’s house.”
Source: The Baptism and Temptation of Jesus (Ligonier)
Herod was terrified by the news of Jesus' ministry, initially fearing that John the Baptist had returned from the dead.
Initially when the news of Jesus came to the ears of Herod, he was trembling. He was terrified. His first fear was that John the Baptist had come back from the dead.
Source: The Beheading of John the Baptist (Part 1) (Ligonier)
Calling attention to the wickedness of those in power or speaking publicly against sin in high places carries significant risk.
Any time you call attention to the wickedness of those in power, any time you speak publicly against sin in high places, do so at great risk.
Source: The Beheading of John the Baptist (Part 1) (Ligonier)
The mere presence of a holy person can be enough to make an unrighteous person supremely uncomfortable.
His mere presence and what he represented to this golfer was enough to make him supremely uncomfortable.
Source: The Beheading of John the Baptist (Part 2) (Ligonier)
A holy person is recognized as just and holy, which creates a difficult situation for those who are otherwise comfortable with sin.
He’s a just man. I can’t deny that he’s a just man. He is a holy person. I know that he’s a holy person.
Source: The Beheading of John the Baptist (Part 2) (Ligonier)
The congregation should strive to have a clear vision of Christ's glory, rather than seeing him vaguely or dimly.
Context: Part of the prayer offered to the congregation.
Grant, O God, that we will have eyes that behold these things, not dimly or vaguely, that when we look at Christ, we may not see a man who is as a tree walking, but that our vision may be clear that we may perceive Him in all of His glory.
Source: The Blind Man & Peter's Confession (Ligonier)
The disciples reacted to the danger by being both afraid and angry, leading them to rebuke Jesus.
Mark describes the disciples as both afraid and angry. They not only awakened Jesus, but they rebuked Him.
Source: Calming the Sea (Ligonier)
Jesus was asleep and unaware of the immediate danger faced by the boat and the disciples.
But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow.
Source: Calming the Sea (Ligonier)
The storm was not merely a tempest, but an enormous, threatening maelstrom.
It was a great, enormous storm, surpassing the usual types of maelstroms that arise on the open water.
Source: Calming the Sea (Ligonier)
Christ's holiness is so profound that it affects natural elements, causing seas and winds to respond to His command.
Not only do people tremble at His voice, but seas that have no ears listen to His command, and winds that have no knowledge know enough to stop blowing when He says, “Be still.”
Source: Calming the Sea (Ligonier)
The vision of chariots in the sky in the Old Testament consistently represented a visible appearance of God coming in wrath and judgment.
Throughout the Old Testament, the vision of chariots in the sky invariably meant a visible appearance of God coming in wrath and judgment, involving a departure of His glory, even as the glory of God was seen by the prophet in the Old Testament leaving the city of Jerusalem by the East Gate.
Source: Christ Coming in Glory (Ligonier)
Worshiping the God of the Bible requires a sense of reverence and holiness, making it impossible to treat it as mere entertainment.
If that’s how you understand God, then you know that all worship will have an element of gravitas , of gravity, of holiness, of reverence, of adoration. The fun and games end in the parking lot.
Source: Defilement from Within (Part 1) (Ligonier)
Christians are called to store up treasures in heaven rather than focusing on earthly riches.
Jesus again and again warns people against trying to serve two masters, trying to serve God and mammon, trying to store up riches for themselves in this world where thieves come in and steal, where moths come in, and rust corrodes that which is precious. Instead, He calls us to store up our treasures in heaven.
Source: The Eye of the Needle (Ligonier)
The value of the Kingdom of God surpasses all earthly possessions and material goods.
Yet Father, next to that You’ve placed the Pearl of Great Price, whose value eclipses all other things, making them but wood, hay, and stubble.
Source: The Eye of the Needle (Ligonier)
Jesus' compassion for the multitude was a profound feeling that exceeded mere human concern or empathy.
The word used here in the Greek text for “compassion” is only used to describe Jesus—not anyone else—in all the New Testament. This was a compassion that reached a level far deeper than human concern and empathy for people in pain.
Source: Feeding of the Five Thousand (Ligonier)
The Pharisees were not merely having a polite discussion, but were in full hostility against Jesus, seeking signs to prove his divine authority.
Really, the forceful word that we have here in the Greek is that they came out to harangue Him or to harass Him. They are not merely having a polite little discussion or debate about matters, but they are here in full hostility against Him.
Source: The Feeding of the Four Thousand (Ligonier)
Believers are called to use their fullest mental abilities to understand the depth and richness of Scripture.
He calls us to apply the fullest ability of the faculty of our minds to attempt to understand the riches and depths of what He has given to us in His Word.
Source: The Great Commandment (Ligonier)
Jesus ascended into heaven, fulfilling the promised office of the Messiah, which is an event of extreme importance.
Listen to that sentence, the last clause: “He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.” Two of the most important activities of our Lord are compressed into less than one sentence.
Source: The Great Commission (Ligonier)
The man's condition was characterized by both deafness and a severe difficulty in speaking clearly.
Mark tells us that the man was deaf and that he had a speech impediment. The word for speech impediment is only found twice in all of the Bible, and it means that the person had a severe difficulty in speaking clearly or in any way in which people could discern the words that he was saying.
Source: The Healing of the Deaf Mute (Ligonier)
When hearing the Word of God, believers should respond with holy dread and awe, rather than merely listening as if to human teachers.
Beloved, that is how we should respond every time we hear the Word of God. We are not listening to scribes, we are not listening to preachers, we are not listening to theologians—our hearts should be filled with a holy dread and awe before the Word of God.
Source: Healing of the Man with the Unclean Spirit (Ligonier)
The presence of God's holiness causes fear and dread in creatures, which is a universal human response to the holy.
Nothing strikes more terror into the heart of creatures than to be the presence of the holy. We will see the motif throughout the gospel of Mark that when the holiness of Christ is made manifest, the immediate response is fear and dread.
Source: Healing of the Man with the Unclean Spirit (Ligonier)
Jesus commanded the ruler of the synagogue not to be afraid, but only to believe.
As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.”
Source: Jairus' Daughter (Ligonier)
He defines a hyper-Calvinist as an orthodox Calvinist who is being described by an Arminian.
I responded, “A hyper-Calvinist is an orthodox Calvinist being described by an Arminian.”
Source: Jesus at Nazareth (Ligonier)
He warns that the greatest danger is that God and Christ will be offended by people.
The great danger, dearly beloved, is that God is offended by you and that Christ will be offended by you.
Source: Jesus at Nazareth (Ligonier)
Individuals must examine their own spiritual state by asking if they delight in or are offended by the words of Jesus.
Do you hear the words of Christ? Do you delight in the words of Jesus? Or do the words of Jesus bore you? Perhaps they offend you.
Source: Jesus before Pilate (Ligonier)
When faced with a moment of truth, one must identify oneself as belonging to Jesus, even if it involves potential shame.
Beloved, when that moment of truth comes, that moment where you must stand up and be counted, when you must identify yourself as one who belongs to Jesus, remember that Jesus said, “If you will be ashamed of Me before men, I will be ashamed of you before My Father in heaven.”
Source: Jesus before the Sanhedrin (Ligonier)
God's glory passing by is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, exemplified by the Exodus and 1 Kings.
In this theophany, similar to the Genesis 15 passage I mentioned a moment ago, when God moves with His glory to show Himself to creatures, His glory passes by .
Source: Jesus Walking on Water (Ligonier)
The encounter with God in the cave was a theophany where the glory of the Lord passed by.
In that crisis encounter, Elijah experienced a theophany as the glory of the Lord passed by. That was what happened on the Sea of Galilee.
Source: Jesus Walking on Water (Ligonier)
The glory of God manifested through Jesus, visible to the disciples while they were in distress.
The glory of God, bursting through the shroud of the humanity of Jesus, manifested itself to the disciples. In the middle of their distress, they saw the glory of God passing by, shining out of the Son of God.
Source: Jesus Walking on Water (Ligonier)
The disciples misinterpreted seeing Jesus walk on the water, thinking it was a ghost or a demon.
So, when they saw Jesus, they thought, “This must be a demon.” The disciples knew it was something supernatural, but it was not a phantom, a ghost, or a demon; it was Jesus coming to them, walking by them.
Source: Jesus Walking on Water (Ligonier)
Jesus' use of the sacred name 'Ego eimi' while walking on the water confirms that the event was a theophany.
If there was any doubt earlier that this was a theophany, Jesus’ use of the sacred name to identify Himself as He walks on the water makes that virtually certain.
Source: Jesus Walking on Water (Ligonier)
Knowing the presence of the Lord causes believers to cease struggling and enter a state of awe and reverence.
When we know the presence of the Lord, we stop straining at the oars. We are removed from our torment, and we are left in a state of awe and reverence before Him.
Source: Jesus Walking on Water (Ligonier)
John the Baptist emphasizes his own unworthiness compared to the coming Messiah.
I’m not even worthy to undo His sandals. I’m way beneath the level of the One who is coming after me. Don’t get excited about me. Get excited about the One I’m pointing you to, the One who is Messiah, the One who is the Son of God.
Source: John the Baptist (Ligonier)
The desire for significance can dangerously cross the line into a will to power or a desire to dominate others.
But do you see what a thin line it is between an aspiration for significance and a will to power, a desire to dominate everybody else?
Source: Kingdom Climbers (Ligonier)
Jesus' leadership burden is profound and misunderstood by his disciples, requiring them to understand the severity of his impending suffering.
You have no idea what you’re asking. You don’t have a clue what it means to sit in the chair that I sit. You don’t know what the burden of My leadership is.
Source: Kingdom Climbers (Ligonier)
Humans often use a hardened heart as a shield against the Word of God, which is necessary for spiritual health.
But everybody has some degree of callus on his heart, some degree of stiffness in his neck. That is the way we are, folks—we use the callused, recalcitrant heart as a shield against the Word of God.
Source: Lord of the Sabbath (Ligonier)
Darkness cannot overcome light when light is present.
Darkness has no power to quench light when light is present.
Source: Parables of the Kingdom (Ligonier)
The joy and delight God has prepared for His people in heaven far exceed any human imagination.
If you use your imagination and try to conjure up the greatest possible experience that you would have in heaven, once you reach the pinnacle of that imagination, multiply it by a million times, and you still will not reach what God is preparing for His people with His power and with His Word.
Source: The Resurrection (Ligonier)
When judging ourselves, we must use the ultimate standard of the righteousness of God, not relative human comparisons.
Rather, we are to understand that goodness is ultimately defined by the character of God, whose character is made manifest in the law. When we judge ourselves against the ultimate standard of the righteousness of God, we will understand why at first the Psalmist and then the Apostle Paul in Romans say: “There is none righteous. There is none who does good, no, not one.”
Source: The Rich Young Ruler (Ligonier)
Widows are particularly vulnerable to exploitation because they are often frightened and not secure.
Widows are the number one targets of Ponzi schemes in our country because they are often frightened, not secure, and if somebody promises them the benefit of an extravagant return on their investment, they will often fall for it.
Source: The Scribes and the Widow (Ligonier)
Humans must fear God and His wrath, and Jesus saves people from this wrath.
We need to fear God. We need to fear His wrath. Jesus saves from what? From the wrath that is to come.
Source: The Sending of the Disciples (Ligonier)
Gentiles are likened to a wild olive branch grafted into the tree of Israel, receiving a gift that Israel originally refused.
Notice that, in the New Testament, we who are gentiles are the wild olive branch that has been grafted into the tree of Israel. In terms of redemptive history, we are the dogs. Those of Israel are the children, but because the children refused the gift of the Father to them, the Father gave that gift to us, who had no claim upon it originally.
Source: The Syro-Phoenician Woman (Ligonier)
The Second Coming involves the sun darkening, the moon losing its light, stars falling, and the Son of Man appearing with power and glory.
Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heaven will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Source: Transfiguration (Part 1) (Ligonier)
The light seen in Christ is not a reflection of God's glory, but an internal, inherent glory emanating from Christ Himself.
That’s not what happens at the Mount of Transfiguration. The intense brightness like the sun that transforms Jesus so that even His garments become whiter than snow, whiter than any fuller or launderer can possibly make them, indicates not a reflection, but that the source of the light the disciples are seeing is coming from within Christ Himself.
Source: Transfiguration (Part 2) (Ligonier)
The cloud that overshadowed the disciples, Jesus, Moses, and Elijah was the presence and weightiness of God.
Hear the language: the cloud of the presence and weightiness of God comes and creates a shroud around the disciples, Jesus, Moses, and Elijah, and covers them so that they can’t see past the rim of this cloud overshadowing them.
Source: Transfiguration (Part 2) (Ligonier)
The Spirit of God has historically been described as hovering or overshadowing in significant moments, such as creation and the Annunciation.
The Spirit of God hovered or brooded over the waters, and then God said, “Let there be light,” and the lights came on (Gen. 1:1–3). That word there was “overshadowing” the abyss. Later, the angel Gabriel appears to Mary and tells her that she will bear a Son whose name will be Immanuel. She says, “How can that be, for I know not a man?” And the angel says, “The Spirit of the Lord will overshadow you, so that that which is born unto you will be the child of the Most High God” (Luke 1:34–35).
Source: Transfiguration (Part 2) (Ligonier)
The Spirit of God is described as hovering or brooding over the waters in the creation account.
The Spirit of God hovered or brooded over the waters, and then God said, “Let there be light,” and the lights came on (Gen. 1:1–3).
Source: Transfiguration (Part 2) (Ligonier)
Human beings naturally desire significance, glory, and to be the greatest, which is described as the 'will to power.'
Every person among us is born with an aspiration for significance. We want our lives to count. We do not want to fail in whatever goals we pursue in our lives.
Source: Who Is the Greatest? (Ligonier)
The Protestant leaders were concerned that the veneration of Mary might violate biblical laws against idolatry.
the Protestant leaders were concerned that the veneration of Mary, even then, transgressed the biblical laws against idolatry by the elevation of creatures to such veneration.
Source: Mary's Fiat (Ligonier)
John the Baptist was a prophet who was considered greater than any prophet before him.
For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
Source: Message from John the Baptist (Part 1) (Ligonier)
It is possible for a prophet of God to experience a period of doubt or spiritual darkness, as evidenced by Old Testament figures like Jeremiah, Elijah, and Jonah.
Is it impossible for a prophet of God to go through a dark night of the soul, a time of doubt? Not if we consider the prophets of the Old Testament.
Source: Message from John the Baptist (Part 1) (Ligonier)
The statement that the least in the kingdom is greater than John the Baptist must be understood in terms of blessedness, not status or worldly importance.
The quantitative terms of great and small are defined in terms of blessedness.
Source: Message from John the Baptist (Part 2) (Ligonier)
The preparation for God's presence involves the spiritual humbling of the proud and the internal cleansing of sinful hearts.
The proud and the arrogant who have exalted themselves and appear as high mountains must be brought low. Those who have been abased and those who have been oppressed must be lifted up. All the thorns and rocks and stones and obstacles that fill our sinful hearts of stone must be changed.
Source: The Ministry of John the Baptist (Ligonier)
Believers should rejoice in the fact that their names are written in heaven, rather than in their earthly victories or spiritual powers.
Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.
Source: The Mission of the Seventy-Two (Ligonier)
The sober words spoken by Jesus are profoundly challenging and should cause people to fear.
The sober words that come from the lips of Jesus Himself—blessed Jesus, meek and mild—are words that should strike terror to our hearts.
Source: The Narrow Way (Ligonier)
When faced with the reality of hell, one must seek the means of grace and cling to Christ.
Beloved, what if Jesus was right? Then it is time for agony. It is time to do everything you can do to get yourself in the presence of the means of grace, and to latch hold of the saving Christ.
Source: The Narrow Way (Ligonier)
Salvation is offered to those who put their trust in the Son and honor Him alone.
But God still said: ‘If you put your trust in My only-begotten Son and honor Him, I will forgive every sin you’ve ever committed. I will give you everlasting life in a place where death is exiled, where there is no night, no sin, no pain, and no harm. I will give you joy and happiness like no creature has ever contemplated, and all you must do is honor My Son and Him alone.’"
Source: No Other Name (Ligonier)
Individuals with enough courage can challenge powerful regimes and bring them down, as demonstrated by historical figures.
Montesquieu said that it only takes one person—one Lech Wałęsa—with enough courage to withstand the tyrant to bring down their powerful regime. Throughout history, we have seen individuals who have swum against the current, who have stood against powerful obstacles, like Mahatma Gandhi.
Source: Obeying God or Man? (Ligonier)
He is deeply concerned that all people, both members and visitors, are truly and thoroughly converted to Jesus Christ.
I am profoundly concerned that everybody in this congregation and everybody who comes as a visitor is truly and thoroughly converted to Jesus Christ.
Source: The Parable of the Barren Fig (Ligonier)
Those who are born of the Spirit, redeemed by Christ, and adopted in His family are invited to the heavenly feast.
Like Mephibosheth, the crippled survivor in the Old Testament who was invited to the king’s table in the house of David, so are all who are born of the Spirit, redeemed by Christ, and adopted in His family invited to the heavenly feast God has prepared in all eternity, the marriage feast of the Lamb with His bride.
Source: The Parable of the Great Supper (Ligonier)
God views envy and jealousy with the same seriousness as greed and avarice.
They also protect those who have private property from the insidious evil of covetousness and jealousy, where people begin to be motivated by envy and covetousness of other people’s property. God takes as dim a view of envy and jealousy as He does greed and avarice.
Source: The Parable of the Minas (Ligonier)
The speaker encourages listeners to seriously question their spiritual status and commitment to God's Word.
If there is still a shield on your heart, take it off. If not, ask yourself, “Am I really a regenerate person?”
Source: The Parable of the Unjust Steward (Ligonier)
The phrase 'breathing threats' describes the intensity of Saul's hostility, suggesting he was passionately determined to persecute Christians.
More technically, if we examine the word Luke uses in the original language, the verb used for “breathing” does not refer to breathing out but to breathing in. It may sound strange that somebody could breathe in threats of murder and destruction, but the idea is that Paul is so passionately determined to carry on his persecution against the nascent Christian community that he is like a wild beast who snorts before it attacks.
Source: Paul's Conversion (Ligonier)
Paul understood the term 'Lord' (kyrios) in the supreme, imperial sense, recognizing that he was addressing the Sovereign One of heaven.
Paul was not using the term kyrios in the lower sense of simple polite address, but rather in the supreme, imperial sense. He knew that he was being addressed by the Sovereign One of heaven, but he did not know exactly why, and he asked, “Who are You, Lord?”
Source: Paul's Conversion (Ligonier)
The ultimate spiritual desire should be to know the heart of God, which is exemplified by those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
David was not satisfied with just His Word or just His house: “I want to know the heart of God.” That should be what enflames our own souls. This is what Jesus had in mind in the Beatitudes when He said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness” (Matt. 5:6).
Source: Paul's Sermon at Antioch (Ligonier)
The event at Pentecost was marked by a sudden, powerful sound from heaven, like a rushing mighty wind.
“There came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.”
Source: Pentecost (Ligonier)
The Greek word pneuma means not only 'spirit' but also 'wind' and 'breath'.
The Greek word pneuma not only means “spirit,” but it is also the word for “wind.” And not only is it the word for “wind,” but it is the word for “breath.”
Source: Pentecost (Ligonier)
Fire has historically symbolized God's power and majesty, as seen in various biblical events.
The most common visible manifestation in the Old Testament was through fire. In the Midianite wilderness, it was a bush that was burning but not consumed, and out of this fire God spoke to Moses and changed the course of history.
Source: Pentecost (Ligonier)
Fire symbolizes the heavenly presence, which is the source of light and truth, and the Holy Spirit's work is to illuminate God's truth.
But for most of human history, homes were illumined in the darkness by some kind of flame, and our day is illumined by a star that is a ball of fire in the heavens. In that sense, we see the connection between light and fire, and one of the most important operations of God the Holy Spirit is to illumine the truth of God, to put a searchlight on it for our understanding.
Source: Pentecost (Ligonier)
The Holy Spirit initiates a consuming fire in the heart and soul, which intensifies as the believer grows in Christ.
When the Spirit comes upon a person, He kindles that spark. He starts a flame that consumes the heart and consumes the soul so that the affection born in us that hour increases in its intensity as we grow in Christ.
Source: Pentecost (Ligonier)
Pentecost was a pivotal moment in church history, giving the power of the Holy Spirit to all Christians throughout every age.
The day of Pentecost was the moment in redemptive history when God unlocked the power of the Holy Ghost and gave it to His church, not just to those gathered there that day but to the church of every age and to every Christian since.
Source: Pentecost (Ligonier)
God's grace should not be a surprise, but we should always maintain a sense of awe so that we never presume upon it.
On the one hand, we should never be amazed by grace because God is so gracious that when He pours His grace upon us, it should not come as a surprise. On the other hand, there is a certain sense in which we ought always to be amazed by grace, in the sense that we should never presume upon the grace of God.
Source: Peter in Prison (Ligonier)
Those who are ashamed of Jesus and His words will be ashamed of them when Jesus returns in His glory.
For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.
Source: Peter's Confession and Our Cross (Ligonier)
Jesus warned that being ashamed of him before men will result in being ashamed of by the Father.
Jesus warned us, “If you’re ashamed of me before men, I will be ashamed of you before my Father” (Luke 9:26).
Source: Peter's Denial (Ligonier)
The focus of the divine glory is on God glorifying His Servant Jesus, linking Christ to the Old Testament lineage.
The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus
Source: Peter's Second Speech (Ligonier)
Peter contrasts God glorifying His Servant with the actions of the listeners, who denied and delivered Him up.
Our God is glorifying His Servant. But you did not glorify Him. You delivered Him up, and then you denied Him in the presence of Pontius Pilate when Pilate was determined and resolute to let Him go. You denied the Holy One.
Source: Peter's Second Speech (Ligonier)
Preachers must include warnings about God's judgment, otherwise, they risk incurring God's wrath.
But beloved, every page of the New Testament gives that warning, and if I do not remind you of that warning, then the wrath of God is on my head.
Source: Peter's Sermon - Part 2 (Ligonier)
The affirmation that Christ ascended into heaven means He is placed in the seat of cosmic authority, above all earthly rulers.
That means He is placed in the seat of cosmic authority, where God elevates Christ to His right hand and gives Him all authority on heaven and earth. This is a powerful political statement. It is a statement of cosmic authority, that above every emperor, governor, king, and president is the One whom God has placed at His right hand, calling Him not just King, but King of the kings, and not just Lord, but Lord of the lords.
Source: Peter's Sermon - Part 3 (Ligonier)
Human hearts are often hardened and resistant to ultimate demands, requiring divine power to penetrate them.
I also know that our hearts are calcified like stone, and it takes nothing less than the power of God to cut through them.
Source: Peter's Sermon - Part 3 (Ligonier)
God-fearers were non-Jewish people who believed in the Most High God and were faithful followers of Yahweh, the God of Israel, even though they did not practice circumcision.
Those gentiles were called “God-fearers” because even though they were gentiles, they did not believe in the gods and goddesses of Rome, the pantheon of deities of Greece, or any of the Oriental religions of the day. Rather, they believed in the Most High God and were faithful followers of Yahweh, the God of Israel.
Source: Peter's Vision (Ligonier)
Jesus' parable contrasted the highly respected Pharisee with the despised tax collector.
In this parable, Jesus contrasted the most respected with the most despised, the Pharisee and the tax collector.
Source: The Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Ligonier)
Despite being regarded as spiritual leaders, the Pharisees were hostile to Jesus and were counterfeit.
They were zealous for obedience to God, and they were regarded in the community as the spiritual leaders for the entire nation, yet it was this group of people who were most hostile to Jesus. The Pharisees conspired together to kill Jesus because they were counterfeit, and nothing exposes the counterfeit more quickly than the authentic.
Source: The Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Ligonier)
Some people resist improvement because being better presents a threat they are unable to handle.
On that point, I think we do learn that some folks do not want to get better, because being better represents a threat they cannot handle.
Source: The Pool of Bethesda (Ligonier)
Salvation and being loved by God is a privilege granted by God's sheer grace, not based on any inherent righteousness of the individual or their neighbor.
it is not because of any righteousness that can be found in you that is lacking in your neighbor or any righteousness that can be found in me; it is by the sheer grace of God alone.
Source: Present Condition of Israel (Ligonier)
Humans attempt to justify themselves before other people, but God knows their true hearts and what is truly esteemed.
You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
Source: Pressing into the Kingdom (Ligonier)
The religious authorities hated Jesus because they were intensely jealous of his popularity and association with the common people.
The Pharisees could not stand it because they were jealous. The second reason I think the rulers hated Jesus was because He exposed them.
Source: Render Unto Caesar (Ligonier)
The true righteousness and holiness of Christ made it impossible for people to ignore the difference between the real and the counterfeit.
When Jesus walked the earth and manifested true righteousness and holiness before the eyes of the people, it did not take brilliance to discern the difference between the real and the counterfeit.
Source: Render Unto Caesar (Ligonier)
The Pharisees opposed Jesus not only because of his actions but also because they were afraid of the consequences of welcoming him.
The third reason I think the Pharisees hated Jesus is because they were afraid. They were afraid not so much of what He would do in His wrath to them, but afraid of the consequences of welcoming Him in their midst.
Source: Render Unto Caesar (Ligonier)
The religious authorities feared the Romans and worried that Jesus might instigate an uprising, leading to a massacre.
The authorities feared the Romans. They feared that Jesus would lead an insurrection, cause another uprising, and consequently bring a bloodbath on the people.
Source: Render Unto Caesar (Ligonier)
Jesus praised God for concealing truth from the wise and prudent, who are characterized by their intellectual arrogance and lack of fear of God.
Jesus said: “I thank You, Father. You’ve kept truth from people who are wise in their own conceits, who set their own minds above the wisdom of God, who have no fear of God in their hearts. Thank you, Father, for hiding these things from them and revealing them to babes.”
Source: The Return of the Seventy-Two (Ligonier)
The parable of Lazarus is particularly difficult for people to accept.
Now we have the parable of Dives and Lazarus, which of all the parables of Jesus is probably the most difficult for us to accept.
Source: The Rich Man & Lazarus (Ligonier)
Our difficulty understanding the awfulness of sin stems from our lack of understanding regarding the depth and breadth of God's perfection and holiness.
The first is that we do not really understand who God is. We have hardly a clue about the depth, breadth, and height of His perfection and holiness. Consequently, we do not have a clue about the sinfulness of sin.
Source: The Rich Man & Lazarus (Ligonier)
Wearing purple dye, which was nearly priceless and reserved for royalty, symbolized a kingly status.
Purple dye was nearly priceless in antiquity and reserved almost exclusively for royalty, so much so that to be a king was to be “of the purple.”
Source: The Rich Man & Lazarus (Ligonier)
The narrative contrasts the lavish display of Dives with the extreme poverty and suffering of Lazarus.
In stark contrast to Dives, there was another person in the drama, a beggar named Lazarus. He was a man without a penny to his name.
Source: The Rich Man & Lazarus (Ligonier)
Jesus used the metaphor of a camel and a needle to illustrate that it is extremely difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.
He remarked by saying: “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
Source: The Rich Young Ruler (Ligonier)
A Christian cannot be completely free from the struggle with their fallen nature, nor can they be entirely dominated by it.
There is no such thing as a carnal Christian who is completely carnal. If someone is completely carnal, that person is not a Christian. Nor is there such a thing as a Christian who is carnal-less, who is so Spirit-filled that he does not still have to struggle with the remnants of his own carnality.
Source: Sin's Advantage in the Law (Ligonier)
While humans are naturally averse to the concept of righteousness due to fears of self-righteousness, it is essential for entering the kingdom of God.
But God forbid that anyone ever accuse us of righteousness . Righteousness is so closely linked to the idea of self-righteousness that we want to distance ourselves as far as we can from the very idea.
Source: From Slaves of Sin to Slaves of God (Ligonier)
The Father and the Son are equal in being, power, and glory, meaning there is no eternal subordination.
In orthodox Christianity, we say that from all eternity, the Son is equal to the Father in power and in glory and in being.
Source: The Son of the Father (Ligonier)
The phrase 'lifted up' in John's Gospel carries multiple meanings, but the primary understanding in Scripture is exaltation and glorification.
All through Old Testament liturgy and worship, exaltation and glorification are communicated along with the idea of being lifted up.
Source: The Son of Man Must Be Lifted Up (Ligonier)
God can reveal His glory to a person, even one facing imminent death and hostility.
God, in His grace, gave Stephen a taste of heaven. God peeled back the curtain for just a moment for a man on trial for his life before a hostile kangaroo court. God showed Stephen His glory.
Source: Stephen on Trial (Ligonier)
Sin can only bring pleasure, never true happiness.
Not once in the history of the human race has sin brought happiness. It has brought pleasure, but never happiness.
Source: Suffer the Little Children to Come Unto Me (Ligonier)
The suffering of this present time is not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in believers.
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Source: From Suffering to Glory (Part 1) (Ligonier)
Human presence causes fear and distress among animals, preventing them from rejoicing in their natural domain.
But let them know that man is present and a pall of fear falls over the bird, the squirrel, the deer, and the turkey. It was not supposed to be like that.
Source: From Suffering to Glory (Part 1) (Ligonier)
The great numbers gathered at Mount Sinai were attracted by idolatry, not by the truth of God.
What attracted the great numbers on that occasion was not the truth of God, but idolatry.
Source: The Team of Barnabas and Saul (Ligonier)
The radiant glory seen on Moses' face after meeting God was merely a reflection of divine glory, not an inherent quality of Moses.
In that episode in the Old Testament, the refulgent glory coming from the face of Moses was simply a reflection. It was not the glory of Moses. It did not come from inside of Moses, but was bouncing off of Moses. The glory reflected there was a heavenly glory, a divine glory.
Source: The Transfiguration (Ligonier)
God possesses a unique and eternal glory (kavod) that belongs only to Him and is not shared with any creature.
There is a glory, a kavod of weightiness that belongs uniquely and singularly to God Himself. It is His eternal glory, which is made manifest throughout history in different times through the appearance of the shekinah , the cloud of radiance and brightness that blinds those who look at it.
Source: The Transfiguration (Ligonier)
The glory seen on Jesus' face during the transfiguration was not a reflection, but the divine glory emanating from the Second Person of the Trinity.
The difference between what happened with Moses and the transfiguration of Christ is that, in the transfiguration, the radiance on the face of Jesus was not a reflection. It was not a glory from outside of Him that was refracted and bounced back by His human nature. It was the divine glory coming from the second person of the Trinity, who shares in the fullness of the divine glory.
Source: The Transfiguration (Ligonier)
The glory of the Son of God is the divine nature that bursts forth from Him, visible on His face and clothes.
As we sing, “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and forever shall be,” the eternal glory of the Son of God hidden by the frame of His humanity burst out. They saw it on His face and on His clothes.
Source: The Transfiguration (Ligonier)
The apostles' accounts of Christ's glory were based on their direct eyewitness experience of His majesty.
For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’
Source: The Transfiguration (Ligonier)
Peter, like many people, was tempted to remain in the moment of glory and resist his destined calling.
Peter says: “Let’s pitch three tents. Let’s have three houses. I don’t want to leave. This is a mountaintop experience I’m never going to get over. I have no interest in going to Jerusalem. I have no interest in going back and preaching. I have no interest in doing anything but to stand here and bask in this glory.”
Source: The Transfiguration (Ligonier)
When believers experience the glory of God, they will see Jesus Christ in the blinding glory of God.
When we enter into glory, and our mortal eyes are overwhelmed by the brilliance of the light which we enter, and we try to peer into that light and try to find the source of that light, we will see Jesus, not for a moment, but forever, in the blinding glory of God.
Source: The Transfiguration (Ligonier)
God speaks audibly from the heavens on significant occasions, such as the baptism of Jesus and the transfiguration.
Only three times in the New Testament are we told that God speaks audibly from the heavens. The first time was at the baptism of Jesus, when the dove descended, the heavens opened, and the Father spoke, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Source: The Transfiguration (Ligonier)
The blood of the innocent, whether historically (like Abel) or currently (like infants), cries out to God and Christ.
But his blood cries out to Me from the earth.
Source: The Triumphal Entry (Ligonier)
The cries of the martyrs and the infants are heard by God.
whose cries are heard by God Himself and by His King?
Source: The Triumphal Entry (Ligonier)
Peter denied knowing Jesus three times during his trial, but later affirmed his love for Christ three times after meeting the risen Christ.
As he had denied Jesus three times earlier, now he affirmed his love for Christ three times: “Lord, you know that I love You.”
Source: The Twelve Apostles (Part 1) (Ligonier)
James and John were known as 'the sons of thunder' because they desired Jesus to bring fire from heaven.
James and John were known as the sons of Zebedee and were also known by the nickname “the sons of thunder,” because they wanted Jesus to bring down fire from heaven.
Source: The Twelve Apostles (Part 1) (Ligonier)
The book of Revelation contains a vision of Christ's triumph over all His enemies and the triumph of His people.
In the book of Revelation, we have the marvelous vision of Christ’s triumph over all His enemies and the triumph of His people, who will participate in Christ’s triumph.
Source: The Twelve Apostles (Part 1) (Ligonier)
The judgment of God is far greater on those who tempt others to sin than on those who merely sin themselves.
It is one thing, He said, for you to sin, but the judgment of God will come even greater on those who tempt others to sin.
Source: Unprofitable Servants (Ligonier)
Seeking honor by sitting in the lowliest place will ultimately lead to divine recognition and greater glory.
Rather, when you come in, sit in the lowliest place, and then the host will come to you and say: ‘My friend, don’t demean yourself like this. I have a higher place for you. Come forward, I have a place for you at seat number four.’ Then, before the watching group, you will receive honor and glory.
Source: The Way of Humility (Ligonier)
Human ambition and quest for recognition should be directed toward heaven, not the earthly plane.
Jesus was saying: “Your gaze is in the wrong place. Your gaze is fixed on the terrestrial plane. You need to lift up your eyes unto heaven.”
Source: The Way of Humility (Ligonier)
Jesus's miracle of making wine is interpreted by some as symbolizing the abundance of God's grace when the new era arrives.
Most commentators indicate that it is a sign of the abundance of God’s grace—that when the new comes, it comes with the abundance of God’s blessing.
Source: The Wedding Feast (Ligonier)
Jesus's message is a new and greater blessing that requires a new understanding or capacity, symbolized by new wineskins.
Jesus is saying, “I’m bringing something new, something greater than water, something that gives you a blessing you have never imagined.”
Source: The Wedding Feast (Ligonier)
John the Baptist pointed to a superior figure who was coming after him, whom he considered unworthy to serve.
I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.
Source: Who Are You? (Ligonier)
The word 'woe' is the strongest verbal form of judgment and warning that God gives through His prophets.
Anytime you see the word “woe” in sacred Scripture, you need to take notice, because this is the strongest verbal form of judgment and warning that God gives by His prophets.
Source: Woes to Hypocrites (Ligonier)
People can be unaware of spiritual dangers or truths, much like unwhitewashed graves.
Jesus said: “You’re just like these graves, the ones that haven’t been whitewashed. Nobody can see them, and people walk over them without being aware.”
Source: Woes to Hypocrites (Ligonier)
Hypocrisy is a danger that can lead believers to become enemies of Christ, similar to the Pharisees.
Otherwise, we are just like the scribes. We are just like the Pharisees. Instead of being friends of Christ, we would be His enemies.
Source: Woes to Hypocrites (Ligonier)
The average New Testament Christian struggles to fully understand the doctrine of the Trinity.
I don’t think the average New Testament Christian is able to gain a complete understanding of the Trinity.
Source: Did believers in the Old Testament have a complete understanding of the Trinity? (Ligonier Q&A)
The term 'being filled with the Holy Spirit' can refer to being equipped for ministry or having a keen awareness of the Spirit's powerful presence.
Other times the term “being filled with the Holy Spirit” is used in the same way as being filled with love or filled with joy—there’s this sensation of superabundance of the presence of God. I think that sometimes the Scripture is speaking of something more than simply being equipped for ministry, but having an awareness, a keen awareness and consciousness, of the powerful presence of the Spirit.
The biblical concept of fearing God emphasizes a sense of awe and respect for God's majesty.
The focus here is on a sense of awe and respect for the majesty of God.
Source: Throughout the Bible we are told to fear God. What does that mean? (Ligonier Q&A)
The phrase 'stewards of the mysteries of God' is critical, indicating a ministry instituted by God's call that no one can claim for themselves.
The phrase “stewards of the mysteries of God” is critical. Hebrews 5:4 tells us, “No one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.”
Source: Who can administer the sacraments? (Ligonier Q&A)