When the New Testament speaks about the fullness of grace which we find in Christ, it does not mean only forgiveness, pardon and justification. Christ has done much more for us. He died for us, but he also lived for us. Now he has sent his own Spirit to us so that we might draw on his strength. He grew in grace, and when we draw on his power we shall likewise grow in grace.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes the comprehensive nature of grace found in Christ, highlighting that it involves more than just forgiveness.
Sinclair B. Ferguson's quote illustrates that the grace we receive through Christ is multifaceted. It not only encompasses forgiveness and justification but also entails the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, enabling us to grow in grace and strength just as Christ did during His earthly life. This reflects a deeper understanding of grace as an ongoing relationship that transforms us.
In practice
In a sermon on the importance of forgiveness, one might use this quote to illustrate the wider implications of grace.
We [should not] make the mistake of thinking that marriage will provide the ultimate satisfaction for which we all hunger. To assume so would be to be guilty of blasphemy. Only God satisfies the hungry heart. Marriage is but one of the channels He uses to enable us to taste how deeply satisfying His thirst-quenching grace can be.
It is God who gives us the spirit of worship (Psalm 133:3), and it is what we know of God that produces this spirit of worship. We might say that worship is simply theology, doctrine, what we think about God, going into top gear! Instead of merely thinking about Him, we tell Him, in prayer and praise and song, how great and glorious we believe Him to be!
Failure to deal with the presence of sin can often be traced back to spiritual amnesia – forgetting our new, true, real identity. As a believer, I am someone who has been delivered from the dominion of sin and who therefore is free and motivated to fight against the remnants of sin in my heart. You must know, rest in, think through, and act upon your new identity – you are in Christ
The fear of the Lord tends to take away all other fears... This is the secret of Christian courage and boldness.
When you look at the Cross, what do you see? You see God’s awesome faithfulness. Nothing – not even the instinct to spare His own Son – will turn him back from keeping His word.
Knowing God is your single greatest privilege as a Christian
Meditation means you start changing your inner world. You start removing dust from the inner world, you start removing all that is unnecessary in the inner world. You remove all that clutter, all the rubbish you are full of. Meditation means emptying yourself of all that the society has put inside you so that you can have a clean, clear vision, so that you can have a mirror-like quality.
I daresay one profits more by the mistakes one makes off one's own bat than by doing the right thing on somebody's else advice.
With parsimony a little is sufficient; without it nothing is sufficient; but frugality makes a poor man rich.
Look at life through the wrong end of the telescope.
If the Lord should give you power to raise the dead, He would give much less than He does when he bestows suffering. By miracles you would make yourself debtor to Him, while by suffering He may become debtor to you. And even if sufferings had no other reward than being able to bear something for that God who loves you, is not this a great reward and a sufficient remuneration? Whoever loves, understands what I say.
If standard of living is your major objective, quality of life almost never improves, but if quality of life is your number one objective, your standard of living almost always improves.
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