Photo: Chattanooga, TN

“It is an understanding of God’s grace that makes a person a Christian and not merely a moral person or a religious person or a nice person.

This is a truth that, when it is grasped, is electrifying.

When Martin Luther finally understood it, he went from being an anxious, guilt-ridden seminary professor to a lion ready to take on the whole world by himself.

He wrote: Faith is a living, bold trust in God’s grace, so certain of God’s favor that it would risk death a thousand times trusting in it.

Such confidence and knowledge of God’s grace makes you happy, joyful and bold in your relationship to God and all creatures.

The Holy Spirit makes this happen through faith.

Because of it, you freely, willingly and joyfully do good to everyone, serve everyone, suffer all kinds of things, love and praise the God who has shown you such grace.”

– Tim Keller, The Prodigal Prophet, location 1774