“When you say, ‘Can God make me become a Christian?’ I tell you ‘yes,’ for herein rests the power of the gospel. It does not ask your consent; but it gets it. It does not say, ‘Will you have it?’ but it makes you willing in the day of God’s power. The gospel wants not your consent, it gets it. It knocks the enmity out of your heart. You say, I do not want to be saved; Christ says you shall be. He makes our will turn round, and then you cry, ‘Lord save, or I perish!’” – C. H. Spurgeon

“The preaching of the gospel is not mere man’s talk; it is Christ riding on his white horse, going forth conquering and to conquer.” – C. H. Spurgeon

“Missions, after all, is simply this: Every heart with Christ is a missionary, every heart without Christ is a mission field.” – Count Zinzendorf

“The Holy Spirit does not draw attention to himself. He does not draw attention to us. He does not draw attention, primarily, to particular results. He glorifies the Son. He, as it were, hides himself, even as the Son did when he was here in the world. Our Lord came incognito, in the likeness of a man. And, in a measure, that is true of the Spirit. He seems to hide himself, in order that everybody may look at the Son. Therefore, if you hear people talking perpetually about the Spirit and hardly ever about the Son, you have good reason for believing that they may well be the subjects of a delusion.” – D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

“The creation of the world seems to have been especially for this end, that the eternal Son of God might obtain a spouse, toward whom he might fully exercise the infinite benevolence of his nature, and to whom he might, as it were, open and pour forth all that immense fountain of condescension, love, and grace that was in his heart, and that in this way God might be glorified.” – Jonathan Edwards, ‘The Church’s Marriage to Her Sons, and to Her God,’ in The Works of Jonathan Edwards, Volume 25: Sermons and Discourses, 1743-1758 (ed. Wilson Kimnach; Yale University Press, 2006), 187

“All that we receive in time, all the streams that come to our souls, are but so many streams flowing from that inexhaustible fountain, God’s electing, God’s sovereign, God’s distinguishing, God’s everlasting love.” – George Whitefield, ‘The Righteousness of Christ an Everlasting Righteousness,’ in Lee Gatiss, ed., The Sermons of George Whitefield (2 vols; Crossway, 2012), 1:290

“To call a Christian a ‘theist’ is roughly equivalent to calling the space shuttle Atlantis a ‘glider.'” – R. C. Sproul

“Although fallen persons are capable of externally good acts (acts that are good for society), they cannot do anything really good, i.e., pleasing to God (Rom. 8:8). God, however, looks on the heart. And from his ultimate standpoint, fallen man has no goodness, in thought, word, or deed. He is therefore incapable of contributing anything to his salvation.” – John Frame

“I choose to believe the Bible because it’s a reliable collection of historical documents written by eyewitnesses during the lifetime[s] of other eyewitnesses. They report supernatural events that took place in fulfillment of specific prophecies and claim that their writings are divine, not human in origin. And oh, by the way- I tried it. Changed my life.” – Voddie Baucham

“This book… will simply be about growing in our enjoyment of God and seeing how God’s triune being makes all his ways beautiful. It is a chance to taste and see that the Lord is good, to have your heart won and yourself refreshed. For it is only when you grasp what it means for God to be a Trinity that you really sense the beauty, the overflowing kindness, the heart-grabbing loveliness of God. If the Trinity were something we could shave off God, we would not be relieving him of some irksome weight; we would be shearing him of precisely what is so delightful about him. For God is triune, and it is as triune that he is so good and desirable.” – Michael Reeves, Delighting in the Trinity: An Introduction to the Christian Faith (IVP, 2012)

“We need again Luthers, Calvins, Bunyans, Whitefields — men fit to mark eras—whose names breathe terror in our enemies’ ears. We have dire need of such! Where are they? From where will they come to us? We cannot tell in what farmhouse or village smithy, or schoolhouse such men may be, but our Lord has them in store. They are the gifts of Jesus Christ to the Church and will come in due time. He has power to give us back, again, a golden age of preachers, a time as fertile of great Divines and mighty ministers as was the Puritan age which many of us account to have been the golden age of theology! He can send, again, the men of studious heart to search the Word and bring forth its treasures! The men of wisdom and experience rightly to divide it! The golden-mouthed speakers who, either as sons of thunder or sons of consolation, shall deliver the message of the Lord which the Holy Spirit sent down from Heaven. When the Redeemer ascended on high He received gifts for men and those gifts were men fit to accomplish the edification of the Church, such as evangelists, pastors and teachers. These He is still able to bestow upon His people! It is their duty to pray for them, and when they come, to receive them with gratitude. Let us believe in the power of Jesus to give us valiant men, and men of renown, and we little know how soon He will supply them!” – C. H. Spurgeon, Sermon #1200, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, The Power of the Risen Saviour, October 25, 1874.

“Although fallen persons are capable of externally good acts (acts that are good for society), they cannot do anything really good, i.e., pleasing to God (Rom. 8:8). God, however, looks on the heart. And from his ultimate standpoint, fallen man has no goodness, in thought, word, or deed. He is therefore incapable of contributing anything to his salvation.” – John Frame

“A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves.” – Henry Ward Beecher

“I believe that very much of current Arminianism is simply ignorance of gospel doctrine; and if people began to study their Bibles, and to take the Word of God as they find it, they must inevitably, if believers, rise up to rejoice in the doctrines of grace.” – C. H. Spurgeon

“Let us resolve to talk more to believers about the Bible when we meet them. Alas, the conversation of Christians, when they do meet, is often sadly unprofitable! How many frivolous, and trifling, and uncharitable things are said! Let us bring out the Bible more, and it will help to drive the devil away, and keep our hearts in tune. Oh, that we may all strive so to walk together in this evil world; that Jesus may often draw near, and go with us, as He went with the two disciples journeying to Emmaus!” – J.C. Ryle

“‘Love covers a multitude of sins.’ In other words, it protects the scope of who has knowledge about another’s sin. This literally means that genuine love will shut up and not gossip about someone else. Are you showing Christ-like love today? Are you part of someone’s restoration and repentance or are you content to savor the sin of others and just talk about them?” – Steve Camp

“If you love anything better than God you are idolaters: if there is anything you would not give up for God it is your idol: if there is anything that you seek with greater fervor than you seek the glory of God, that is your idol, and conversion means a turning from every idol.” – C. H. Spurgeon

“To say that we are able by our own efforts to think good thoughts or give God spiritual obedience before we are spiritually regenerate is to overthrow the gospel and the faith of the universal church in all ages.” – John Owen

“There’s probably no concept in theology more repugnant to modern America than the idea of divine wrath.” – R. C. Sproul

“In this spiritual espousal or marriage relation between Christ and his people, on the one hand, gives himself unto the soul. ‘I will be yours,’ says he to the soul, ‘yours to love you, to save you, to make you happy in me and with me. I, with all my riches and treasures, will be fully and forever yours.’ . . . And Oh, how sweet is this language! What can Christ give to poor souls like himself? In giving himself, he gives the best gift that either heaven or earth affords! In giving himself, he gives life, he gives peace, he gives grace, he gives righteousness, he gives the favor of God, he gives heaven, he gives all. Oh, sweet gift! On the other hand, the soul, by way of return, gives itself to Christ. ‘I will be thine,’ says the soul to Christ. ‘I will be for thee and not for another. . . . Sweet Jesus, such as I am and have I give to thee. I am a poor, a sorry gift,’ says the soul, ‘infinitely unworthy of thine acceptance. My best is too bad, my all is too little for thee; but seeing it is thy pleasure to call for and accept of such a gift at my hands, I do, with my whole soul, give myself, my strength, my time, my talents, my all, forever to thee.’” – Edward Pearse, The Best Match, or, The Soul’s Espousals to Christ (Morgan, 1994 reprint), pages 5-6.

“Prayer is one of the necessary wheels of the machinery of providence.” – C. H. Spurgeon

“The fatuous idea that a person can be holy by himself denies God the pleasure of saving sinners. God must therefore first take the sledge-hammer of the Law in His fists and smash the beast of self-righteousness and its brood of self-confidence, self wisdom, and self-help. When the conscience has been thoroughly frightened by the Law it welcomes the Gospel of grace with its message of a Savior Who came–not to break the bruised reed nor to quench the smoking flax–but to preach glad tidings to the poor, to heal the broken-hearted, and to grant forgiveness of sins to all the captives.” – Martin Luther

“By his cross, divine holiness and justice were exalted, and through his triumph, grace and mercy are poured out to the full. In glorious thoughts of this let my soul live, and in believing it let my soul die. And let the present wonder of this glory make way for the eternal enjoyment of it in its beauty and fullness.

One view of Christ’s glory by faith will scatter all the fears, answer all the objections and disperse all the depressions of poor, tempted, doubting souls. To all believers it is an anchor which they may cast within the veil, to hold them firm and steadfast in all trials, storms and temptations, both in life and in death.” – John Owen, The Glory of Christ

“Can true repentance exist without faith? By no means. But although they cannot be separated, they ought to be distinguished.” – John Calvin

“If you had eyes to see, you would perceive a bodyguard of angels always attending every one of the blood-bought family.” – C. H. Spurgeon

“If you find a professing Christian indifferent to his Bible, you may be sure that the very dust upon its cover will rise up in judgment against him.” – C. H. Spurgeon

“If a commission by an earthly king is considered an honor, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?” – David Livingstone

“The fear of punishment, the desire of reward, the sense of duty, are all useful arguments, in their way, to persuade people to holiness. But they are all weak and powerless, until a person loves Christ.” – J.C. Ryle

“None can know their election but by their conformity to Christ; for all who are chosen are chosen to sanctification.” – Matthew Henry

“Child of God… Christ loved you before all worlds; long ere the day star flung his ray across the darkness, before the wing of angel had flapped the unnavigated ether, before aught of creation had struggled from the womb of nothingness, God, even our God, had set his heart upon all his children. Since that time, has he once swerved, has he once turned aside, once changed? No; ye who have tasted of his love and know his grace, will bear me witness, that he has been a certain friend in uncertain circumstances… You have often left him; has he ever left you? You have had many trials and troubles; has he ever deserted you? Has he ever turned away his heart, and shut up his bowels of compassion? No, children of God, it is your solemn duty to say ‘No,’ and bear witness to his faithfulness.” – Charles Spurgeon, ‘A Faithful Friend,’ in Sermons of C. H. Spurgeon (New York: Sheldon, Blakeman & Co., 1857), 13-14

“As stewards of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we do no service to men by making light of sin, skirting around the issue, or avoiding it altogether. Men have only one problem: they are under the wrath of God because of their sin. To deny this is to deny one of the most foundational doctrines of Christianity. It is not unloving to tell men that they are sinners, but it is the grossest form of immorality not to tell them! In fact, God declares that their blood will be on our hands if we do not warn them of their sin and the coming judgment. To seek to preach the gospel without making sin an issue is like trying to heal the brokenness of people superficially, saying, “Peace, peace,” when there is no peace.” – Paul Washer

“If someone claims that the Greek says something that none of the translations say, dismiss their idea and walk away. Perhaps if they are commentary writers or scholars, their argument might have some validity; but I am always suspect of someone who bases their interpretation on any basis that you are not able to check… Beware of people who claim authoritative knowledge based on something you can’t check. If they can cite a well-known translation or commentary writer, or if they make a sensible contextual argument, that is one thing. But to dismiss interpretations to the contrary that are held by all translations, be suspicious.” – Bill Mounce

“Character may be manifested in the great moments, but it is made in the small ones.” – Phillips Brooks

“…while Judas betrayed Christ, and woe to him for doing so, it was God’s plan that Christ was thus betrayed. Evil by its very nature opposes the purposes of God, but God, in his sovereignty, can make even this evil serve his purposes.” – David Wells

“In a way, the futile excuses many people use to cover their superstitions are demolished. They think it is enough to have some sort of religious fervor, however ridiculous, not realizing that true religion must be according to God’s will as the perfect measure – that He can never deny Himself and is no mere spirit form to be changed around according to individual preference.” – John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion

“The opposite of retaliation is to entrust ourselves to God, who judges justly.” – Jerry Bridges

“The way to eliminate shame associated with sin is to admit sin, be confident that God forgives sin, and engage in battle against it.” – Ed Welch

“If his first coming does not give you eternal life, his second coming will not. If you do not hide in his wounds when he comes as your Saviour, there will be no hiding place for you when he comes as your Judge.” – C. H. Spurgeon

“Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is knowing the difference between right and almost right.” – C. H. Spurgeon