Puritan Quotes

Do not think on the comforts you lack, but on the mercies you have. Look rather at God's end in afflicting, than to the measure and degree of your affliction! 

[Christopher Love]

The humble Christian studies his own unworthiness. He looks with one eye upon grace to keep his heart cheerful; and with the other eye upon sin to keep it humble. 

[Thomas Watson]

If Satan's darts have wounded us, then faith cools the scalding heat of sin by applying to us the precious balm of Christ's blood!  

[Christopher Love]

Sin is a leprous spot. It makes everything we touch unclean! 

[Thomas Watson]

A man with God is always in the majority! 

[John Knox]

The tongue exists to reveal our heart! 

[John Calvin]

The human heart is a factory of idols! 

[John Calvin

God does not need your good works, but your neighbor does! 

[Martin Luther]

Whatever your heart clings to and confides in, that is really your God! 

[Martin Luther]

The bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me! 

[Martin Luther]

It is certain that a man must completely despair of himself, in order to be fit for the grace of Christ! 

[Martin Luther]

Faith is the wedding ring in which we have pledged ourselves to Christ! 

[Martin Luther]

Ministerial work is to make saints out of sinners, living souls out of the dead,
children of God, out of servants of the Devil! 

[Martin Luther]

Ministers should make it their business not to set forth new notions, but to press on Christians old truths, and known duties. 

[Thomas Gouge]

✫❤•°*”˜˜”*°•❤✫...•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫...•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫

Simultaneously Righteous, and a Sinner

"Simul justus et peccator". This insightful principle means:  "Simultaneously righteous, and a sinner."

That is a genuine believer in Jesus is simultaneously: 

1. RIGHTEOUS (justus) in the sight of God through faith in Christ, having received His imputed righteousness. This is our identity in Christ. "For we maintain that a man is justified by faith, apart from observing the law." (Romans 3:28) "However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness." (Romans 4:5) "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1) 

2. A SINNER (peccator) in his own sinful flesh, which remains unchanged even after conversion. "I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do this I keep on doing." (Romans 7:18-19) "For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want." (Galatians 5:17) Hence every believer daily experience the constant battle between the flesh and the spirit the new spiritual nature in Christ. Though we are genuinely converted, our sinful flesh remains with us until we receive our resurrection bodies. "He will transform our lowly bodies, so that they will be like His glorious body!" (Philippians 3:21) 

 "Simultaneously righteous, and a sinner." What I am in Christ: RIGHTEOUS. What I am in my flesh: SINNER. 

In justification, God credits Christ's perfect righteousness to our account, while our sinful flesh remains with us. We live in constant tension: legally righteous before God, yet we have an ongoing struggle with our sinful flesh. Therefore, we are to be continually confessing our sins and failures, while at the same time continually clinging to God's grace and forgiveness. Our every sin has been imputed to Jesus, and His perfect righteousness has been imputed to us. As we are fully aware of our continual battle with sin so we must ever face our sinfulness. In ourselves, we remain greatly marred by our sinful flesh our indwelling corruption. Yet at that same moment, we are clothed in Christ's perfect righteousness. 

When our spotless Substitute hung on Calvary, He bore our sin and fully satisfied Divine justice. "God made Him who had no sin, to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21) This dual reality delivers us from both despair and self–reliance. We no longer strive to earn acceptance with God, for it is already ours in Christ. And we no longer revel in sin, for we love Him who first loved us. Thus, we confess sin and flee to the cross.

As we reflect on Luther's profound insight, we must understand that our flesh is far more sinful than we can ever know. We are likewise far more righteous in Christ, than we could ever imagine. These twin truths will humble us, comfort us, and give us great hope for what we soon will be when we will inhabit glorious, Christ-like bodies. Luther's profound principle will save us from a thousand theological and practical pitfalls, as it concisely explains the true Christian's continual paradox: Why do I have this constant battle with sin and so often fall into sin? 

 

"Simultaneously righteous, and a sinner." Think about it and commit it to memory.

[Martin Luther]

✫❤•°*”˜˜”*°•❤✫...•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫...•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫

Godly Women

Women who adorn themselves with a gentle, gracious, selfless attitude are women who shine with the incorruptible beauty of Jesus.

[Leslie Ludy]

There is nothing sweeter in this world than a woman in whose heart Christ dwells.

[Martin Luther]

ƸӜƷ•°*”˜˜”*°•.ƸӜƷ✫...•°*”˜˜”*°•.ƸӜƷ✫...•°*”˜˜”*°•.ƸӜƷ✫ 

Proverbs 31:10 ... Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

1 Peter 3:3-4 ... Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;  But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

One Moment

I would not give one moment of heaven for all the joys and riches of the world, even if it lasted for thousands and thousands of years.

[Martin Luther]

Matthew 16:26 …  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?❤

Seeing The Gospel

God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars.

[Martin Luther]

Romans 1:20 ... For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:❤

Luther Quotes

Prayer is climbing up into the heart of God!

God does not need your good works but your neighbor does!

I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands that I still possess.

Many have passed for saints on earth whose souls are now in Hell.

The most damnable and pernicious heresy that has ever plagued the mind of man, was the idea that somehow he could make himself good enough to deserve to live with an all-holy God!

When Satan tells me I am a sinner he comforts me immeasurably, since Christ died for sinners.

[Martin Luther]

✫❤•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫...•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫...•°*”˜˜”*°•.❤✫

Where The Battle Rages

If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at the moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved and to be steady on all the battle front besides, is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point!

[Martin Luther]

1 Timothy 6:12 ... Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.


Ephesians 6:12 ...  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.


1 Corinthians 16:13 ... Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.❤

The Best Name

The best name by which we can think of God is Father. It is a loving, deep, sweet, heart-touching name, for the name of Father is in its nature, full of inborn sweetness and comfort.

Therefore, also, we must confess ourselves to be His children, for by this name we deeply touch our God, since there is not a sweeter sound to the father than the voice of the child.

[Martin Luther]

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Matthew 6:9 ... After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Psalm 89:26 ... He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.


Romans 8:15 ... For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.❤