THE MEASURE OF ALL THINGS

Sinclair Ferguson:

“When man became the measure of all things what was lost was man.”

CHRIST: THE ONE REAL SACRIFICE

Sinclair Ferguson:

“When I know that Christ is the one real sacrifice for my sins, that His work on my behalf has been accepted by God, that He is my heavenly Intercessor – then His blood is the antidote to the poison in the voices that echo in my conscience, condemning me for my many failures. Indeed, Christ’s shed blood chokes them into silence!” (In Christ Alone, 151)

God Governs

Sinclair B. Ferguson:

“The providence of God is the way in which He governs everything wisely, first for the glory of His own Name, and second for the ultimate blessing of His children.”

“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.” (A Heart for God, 1987)

The Center of the Bible

Sinclair B. Ferguson:

There is a center to the Bible and its message of grace. It is found in Jesus Christ crucified and resurrected. Grace must therefore be preached in a way that is centered and focused on Jesus Christ Himself, never offering the benefits of the gospel without the Benefactor Himself. (Feed My Sheep, Soli Deo Gloria Ministries, 2002)

Jesus Took Our Place

Sinclair B.Ferguson:

Christ’s death was substitutionary… Jesus was taking our place. That is why the charges brought against Him were blasphemy and treason, for these are the very charges we face before the judgment seat of God. We have made ourselves into gods, and thus blasphemed His holy Name; we have rebelled against His rightful rule over our lives, and we are guilty of high treason against his gracious majesty. (A Heart for God, 1987)

Worship

Sinclair B. Ferguson:

For worship is, essentially, the reverse of sin. Sin began (and begins) when we succumb to the temptation, “You shall be as gods.” We make ourselves the center of the universe and dethrone God. By contrast, worship is giving God his true worth; it is acknowledging Him to be the Lord of all things, and the Lord of everything in our lives. He is, indeed, the Most High God! (A Heart for God, 1987)

Preaching to the Heart

Sinclair B. Ferguson:

Preaching to the heart addresses the understanding first, in order to instruct it; but in doing so it also reaches through the mind to inform, rebuke, and cleanse the conscience. It then touches the will in order to reform and transform life and equip the saints for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:12).

In the last analysis, this is what preaching to the heart is intended to produce: inner prostration of the hearts of our listeners through a consciousness of the presence and the glory of God. This distinguishes authentic biblical, expository preaching from any cheap substitute for it; it marks the difference between preaching about the Word of God and preaching the Word of God. (Feed My Sheep, Don Kistler, Soli Deo Gloria Ministries, 2002)

Appearances can be Deceptive

Sinclair B. Ferguson:

Appearances can be deceptive. The fact that we cannot see what God is doing does not mean that He is doing nothing. The Lord has His own timetable. It is we who must learn to adjust to it, not vice versa. When God’s time comes nothing will stand in His way. We can therefore wait for Him with this happy confidence: “As for God, His way is perfect” (2 Samuel 22:31). (Discovering God’s Will)

Sinclair B. Ferguson: Abiding in Christ

Sinclair B. Ferguson:

In a nutshell, abiding in Christ means allowing His Word to fill our minds, direct our wills, and transform our affections. In other words, our relationship to Christ is intimately connected to what we do with our Bibles!

Sinclair B. Ferguson: God Loves Us

Sinclair B. Ferguson:

We may think that severity (as God leads His children) is inconsistent with what we know of God’s gentleness and compassion. But that is because we do not appreciate how seriously God loves us, and how determined He is that we should have His best, even if it means pain. (A Heart for God, 1987)

Knowledge of God

Sinclair B. Ferguson:

There is no such thing as genuine knowledge of God that does not show itself in obedience to His Word and will. The person who wants to know God but who has no heart to obey Him will never enter the sacred courts where God reveals Himself to the soul of man. God does not give divine knowledge to those who have no desire to glorify Him. (A Heart for God)

The Way in which God Leads Us

Sinclair B. Ferguson:

The way in which God leads us is the way of following Christ in bearing the cross. Any “guidance” which contradicts this principle will lack the familiar autograph of Christ. Any “voice” which beckons us to forsake this pathway we will silence. For we will have come to recognize the accents of our Master. There is no voice like the voice of the One who has been crucified. (Discovering God’s Will)

Law in the Life of the Christian

Sinclair B. Ferguson:

So what is the place of the Law in the life of the Christian? Simply this: We are no longer under the Law to be condemned by it; we are now “in-lawed” to it because of our betrothal to Christ! He has written the Law, and love for it, into our hearts! (“Tabletalk”)

Obedience

Sinclair B. Ferguson:

We must not think that obedience leads to an easier life, nor should we assume that when things fall apart it is always a sign of our specific disobedience – God’s ways with us in the Christian life are usually much more intricate and complex than that! (Healthy Christian Growth)

The Consequence of Regular Discipline

Sinclair B. Ferguson:

You do not become a master musician by playing just as you please, by imagining that learning the scales is sheer legalism and bondage! No, true freedom in any area of life is the consequence of regular discipline. It is no less true of the life of prayer. (Grow in Grace)