The Bible Is Primarily Not About You

If so, then what is it all about?

Dr. Tim Keller at The Gospel Coalition (2007)

"There is more of His glory in the Word than there is in the whole creation of heaven and earth" (Burroughs, Gospel Worship, 226).

Why is Christ the only answer to our problem of sin?

"Of all the great founders of  religions, Christ is the only one who will come alongside us, claiming to be our Creator incarnate, come to deal with the problem of guilt of our sin by means of His sacrifice on the cross so that we can receive forgiveness and peace with God. To ask why we must think that Christ is the only way to God is to miss the point completely. For Christ does not, in that sense, compete with anyone for the simple reason that no one else claims to deal with this fundamental problem. He is the only one in the running. How can it be narrow-minded or arrogant to accept from Christ when no one else offers?”
- Dr. David Gooding

The Humility of Calvin's Calvinism by Burk Parsons

The following is an excerpt from John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine & Doxology edited by Burk Parsons

As the surest source of destruction to men is to obey themselves, so the only haven of safety is to have no other will, no other wisdom, than to follow the Lord wherever he leads. Let this, then, be the first step, to abandon ourselves, and devote the whole energy of our minds to the service of God. By service, I mean not only that which consists in verbal obedience, but that by which the mind, divested of its own carnal feelings, implicitly obeys the call of theSpirit of God.1? —John Calvin

It has not been my habit to refer to myself as a Calvinist; if memory serves, I have never done so, primarily because I don't think John Calvin would want me to. In fact, whenever another Christian asks me what I am (with the seeming hope of determining my particular denominational affiliation), I respond simply, "I am a Christian." Nevertheless, if I were ever truly pressed on the matter of being a Calvinist, I suppose I would respond by saying, "Yes, I am a Calvinist because I am a Christian, and I am a Christian because I believe the gospel."?

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Thanks to Monergism ministry for providing and hosting the article. 

And Can It Be That I Should Gain?

Written by Charles Wesley and first published in 1738.

“Expressing an inexpressible wonder,
I long to be released, so that I may cry;
”Holy is the LORD, who causeth hearts to thunder”,
and that I may be free, to express the oversupply.”
- C. Varthoumlien

And can it be that I should gain An interest in the Saviors blood? Died He for me, who caused His pain— For me, who Him to death pursued? Amazing love! How can it be, That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me? Amazing love! How can it be, That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me? Tis mystery all: thImmortal dies: Who can explore His strange design? In vain the firstborn seraph tries To sound the depths of love divine. Tis mercy all! Let earth adore, Let angel minds inquire no more. Tis mercy all! Let earth adore; Let angel minds inquire no more. He left His Fathers throne above So free, so infinite His grace— Emptied Himself of all but love, And bled for Adams helpless race: Tis mercy all, immense and free, For O my God, it found out me! Tis mercy all, immense and free, For O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay, Fast bound in sin and natures night; Thine eye diffused a quickening ray— I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; My chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed Thee. My chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed Thee. Still the small inward voice I hear, That whispers all my sins forgiven; Still the atoning blood is near, That quenched the wrath of hostile Heaven. I feel the life His wounds impart; I feel the Savior in my heart. I feel the life His wounds impart; I feel the Savior in my heart. No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in Him, is mine; Alive in Him, my living Head, And clothed in righteousness divine, Bold I approach theternal throne, And claim the crown, through Christ my own. Bold I approach theternal throne, And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Forgiven Little?

A Sinful Woman Forgiven

[36] One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and took his place at the table. [37] And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, [38] and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. [39] Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” [40] And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”

[41] “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. [42] When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” [43] Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” [44] Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. [45] You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. [46] You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. [47] Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” [48] And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” [49] Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” [50] And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
(Luke 7:36-50 ESV)

The desire to love God even more is a blessing to a Christian, and many times people (including myself) have sought to see this emanating from their lives. But why is it difficult to grow in love for God? Jesus’ parable to Simon provides a clear solution: we need to learn and see the gravity of our sins by the foot of the cross. Hence, unless we learn that we are forgiven of much, much of our love will not be towards Christ our redeemer. For if we love little towards God, we have settled to be forgiven of little.

- C. Varthoumlien