That’s a question we should be able to answer for ourselves and for anyone who asks. It’s a yes or no question, and on the basis of Scripture we must say, “Yes! There is a way to God, and that way is Christ.”

Here’s R.C. Sproul’s answer to the question:

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HT: JT

Hear and don’t forget this reflection by Matt Chandler on Ephesians 1:7-8,

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us . . .

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HT: Justin Taylor

The doctrine of justification by faith was the subject of much of Sunday’s sermon, “The Gospel of Abraham.”

Paul wrote in Galatians 3:7, “And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘In you shall all the nations be blessed.’” Just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness,” so it is with all those who believe. Our salvation is owing to God’s free gift of righteousness and no work of our own. Even our faith is merely a receiving of this gift, and not a work performed in exchange for God’s favor.

This doctrine is a comfort for us in death, for sure. We will stand before God, “dressed in his righteousness alone, faultless to stand before his throne,” as the old hymn goes.

But the doctrine of justification by faith is a comfort in life as well as it makes possible the assurance that we are safe with God. Here’s how Martin Luther put it:

“So when the devil throws your sins in your face and declares that you deserve death and hell, tell him this: “I admit that I deserve death and hell, what of it? For I know One who suffered and made satisfaction on my behalf. His name is Jesus Christ, Son of God, and where He is there I shall be also!”

And here’s how this doctrine is expressed as our comfort in life in the song, “Before the Throne,” written by Charitie L. Bancroft, 1863:

When Satan tempts me to despair
and tells me of the guilt within,
upward I look and see Him there,
who made an end to all my sin;
Because the sinless Savior died
my sinful soul is counted free,
for God the just is satisfied
to look on Him and pardon me.

To explore the doctrine of justification by faith further, listen to the audio from Clarus ’09, Galatians and the Problem of Self Justification, and especially D.A. Carson’s talk, “Justification/Righteousness and the Cross of Christ.” Then, consider reading, Justified by Faith Alone, by R.C. Sproul, available on Amazon.

We are now just one month away from the start of Ryan’s new sermon series through 1 Peter, “Between Two Worlds.” We announce a new series ahead of time for several reasons, but perhaps especially so that you can orient yourself with the book before the series starts.

As you read through 1 Peter, keep in mind the title of our series, “Between Two Worlds.” No, this is not a way of saying that Earth is between Venus and Mars. I’m sure that was obvious to you. It’s a way of capturing what Paul has said so famously in Philippians 3:20, “our citizenship is in heaven.”

In his letter, Peter encourages Christians in their life here in preparation for life in the new heavens and the new earth. In doing so, Peter will address a number of issues, including how women can please the Lord in a world addicted to fashion, how Christians should relate to this world’s institutions and to governments, how the church’s leaders should lead as they look forward to meeting the Chief Shepherd.

One recurring theme, however, is that of suffering – a theme common in life and common to every Christian person in this age. Suffering truly is where the rubber of our other-worldly theology meets the road of this world; where what we believe about who God is and what is eternal meets the cold but temporary realities of loss, pain, and persecution in this life.

Want an idea for how to prepare yourself for this upcoming series? Consider memorizing 1 Peter 1:3-9. If you do, you will spend this life and eternity glad you did:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

In Sunday’s sermon, “Jesus’ Plan for Your Growth,” Ryan unpacked Ephesians 4:1-16, one of the New Testament’s most intricate and beautiful passages on the nature of the church and its growth. Verses 1-3, which concern our shared calling and attitude together, reach into every one of our relationships with rich application:

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

To help all of us better reflect this spirit, Ryan mentioned a book by Sam Crabtree, titled, Practicing Affirmation: God-Centered Praise to Those Who Are Not God. The book is about exactly what it sounds like: using our words to affirm the good we see in others. This is an important book for the home, for the work place, and certainly for the church.

Here are some helpful quotes to whet your appetite:

“God is glorified in us when we affirm the work he has done and is doing in others.”

“To fail to commend the character of Christ in people is to fall into the same lackluster indifference of a person who never exclaims what a beautiful morning it is, thereby robbing the Creator of glory he deserves for making that sky, that volcano, that character.”

“Good affirmations are God-centered, pointing to the image of God in a person.”

“When our mouths are empty of praise for others, it is probably because our hearts are full of love for self.”

“The affirmation ratio is at work, even when your rationale for making the corrections you are making is completely justified. The dynamics in play don’t go away just because you have taken the right position on the issue.”

“We must leave room in our thinking for the possibility of being pleased with someone, yet without being satisfied entirely.”

“Salvation will not happen in the absence of preaching, but salvation is not guaranteed in the presence of preaching. Similarly, affirming people will save no one. But lack of affirmation may bring hindrances and obstacles into play,making it less likely that they will give the gospel a hearing, especially when the good news comes from someone who is predominantly bad news.”

“It was a sandwich all right, and he boasted about his method, but his employees began to call it the baloney sandwich. Let affirmations stand alone, separated from correction.”

“It seems easier to practice affirmation early in relationships, and it can get harder later. Have you ever noticed in a restaurant that some couples are talkative and some are not? What happened? Generally, new relationships are still predominately affirming, but as relationships endure the years, they also endure a lot of correction. More specifically, affirmation didn’t keep up. Not enough affirmation was dished out compared with all the other.”

“This is where we get in trouble: affirmations tend to evaporate over time. Meanwhile, corrections keep piling up. Corrections tend to out-number affirmations, and by doing so, corrections sabotage or undercut the value of affirmations.”

“The absence of affirmation for God’s handiwork in his people is also a kind of sacrilege . . . It is disobedience to God’s command: ‘A woman who fears the Lord is to be praised’ (Prov. 31:30).”

“A fire not stoked goes out. A refrigerator unplugged rots the eggs, which were perfectly good not too long ago.A garden not tended erupts with weeds,not vegetables. Affirmation is the fire-stoking,refrigerator-electrifying, garden-tending side of relationships.”

Buy Practicing Affirmation online here, or pick up or order a copy at our newly revamped Resource Center starting Sunday, September 16.