Elyse Fitzpatrick quotes (showing 1-18 of 18)

Everything that isn't gospel is law. Let us say it again: Everything that isn't gospel is law. Every way we try to make our kids good that isn't rooted in the good news of the life, death, ressurection, and assension of Jesus Christ is damnable, crushing, despair-breeding, Pharisee-producing law. We won't get the results we want from the law. We'll get either shallow self-righteousness or blazing rebellion or both (frequently from the same kid on the same day!). We'll get moralistic kids who are cold and hypocritical and who look down on others (and could easily become Mormons), or you'll get teens who are rebellious and self-indulgent and who can't wait to get out of the house. We have to remember that in the life of our unregenerate children, the law is given for one reason only: to crush their self-confidence and drive them to Christ. Elyse Fitzpatrick, Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus Believe that God is strong enough to save your children, no matter how you fail. Elyse Fitzpatrick, Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus The one encouragement we can always give our children (and one another) is that God is more powerful than our sin, and He's strong enough to make us want to do the right thing. Elyse Fitzpatrick, Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus And we neglect the glorious gospel when we fail to recognize his preeminence. How frequently we forget that everything is for him and about him. We forget that he is to be first, in our honor and in our worship. Whenever the gospel slips from our conscious thought, our religion becomes all about our performance, and then we think everything that happens or will ever happen isa bout us. When I forget the incarnation, sinless life, death, resurrection, and ascension, I quickly believe that I'm supposed to be the unrivaled supreme, and matchless one. It's at this point that I'm particularly in need of an intravenous dose of gospel truth. He is preeminent. Elyse Fitzpatrick, Because He Loves Me: How Christ Transforms Our Daily Life Most of us are painfully aware that were not perfect parents. Were also deeply grieved that we dont have perfect kids. But the remedy to our mutual imperfections isnt more law, even if it seems to produce tidy or polite children. Christian children (and their parents) dont need to learn to be nice. They need death and resurrection and a Savior who has gone before them as a faithful high priest, who was a child himself, and who lived and died perfectly in their place. They need a Savior who extends the offer of complete forgiveness, total righteousness, and indissoluble adoption to all who will believe. This is the message we all need. We need the gospel of grace and the grace of the gospel. Children cant use the law any more than we can, because they will respond to it the same way we do. Theyll ignore it or bend it or obey it outwardly for selfish purposes, but this one thing is certain: they wont obey it from the heart, because they cant. Thats why Jesus had to die. Elyse Fitzpatrick, Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus

The weaknesses, failures, and sins of our family are the places where we learn that we need grace too. It is there, in those dark mercies, that God teaches us to be humbly dependent. It is there that He draws near to us and sweetly reveals His grace. Paul's suffering teaches us to reinterpret our thorn. Instead of seeing it as a curse, we are to see it as the very thing that keeps us "pinned close to the Lord. Elyse Fitzpatrick, Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus

The only way that we can avoid the sin of idolatry is by immersing ourselves in Spirit-enlightened study of God through the Scripture. Elyse Fitzpatrick, Idols of the Heart: Learning to Long for God Alone

Pure, unadulterated, consistent love for God and pure, unadulterated, consistent love for others is the summation of all the law God has given us in both the Old and New Testaments. Of course, the problem is that we never obey these simple commands. We always love ourselves more than we love God or others. We are always erecting idols in our hearts and worshipping and serving them. We are always more focused on what we want and how we might get it than we are on loving Him and laying down our life for others. The law does show us the right way to live, but none of us obeys it. Not for one millisecond. Even though our children cannot and will not obey God's law, we need to teach it to them again and again. And when they tell us that they can't love God or others in this way, we are not to argue with them. We are to agree with them and tell them of their need for a Savior. Elyse Fitzpatrick, Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus We need days of failure because they help humble us, and through them we can see how God's grace is poured out on the humble. Elyse Fitzpatrick, Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus

We forget the gospel when we neglect our adoption and think that we're still just a hired servant. The Father doesn't let us come to him on those terms. We will either come as sons or we will stay with the pigs. He won't let us earn anything from him because there will be no boasting in his sight. It will either be that Jesus and his glorious gospel has the preeminence or we will go it on our own. Elyse Fitzpatrick, Because He Loves Me: How Christ Transforms Our Daily Life The sinful heart is never transformed by conformity to the imperatives but only by relationship with the One who cleanses hearts. Elyse Fitzpatrick Real progress in the Christian life is not gauged by our knowledge of scripture, our church attendance, time in prayer, or even our witnessing (although it isn't less than these things) Maturity in the Christian life is measured by only one test: how much closer to his character have we become? the result of the Spirit's work is more not more activity. No, the results of his work are in in our quality of life, they are "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, selfcontrol. Elyse Fitzpatrick, Because He Loves Me: How Christ Transforms Our Daily Life Let us be so taken up with the knowledge of God's goodness and the desire to fellowship with Him that our emotions are warmed and our outer man reflects great love. Although we must not seek emotional experiences for their own sake, we must not shun them merely because others misuse them or ignore God's instructions on worship. Elyse Fitzpatrick, Idols of the Heart: Learning to Long for God Alone Our faith works because we love, and we love because he has first loved us. Our faith is then emboldened by this responsive love; we've been loved, we've been assured of our justification; our Father speaks of our sanctification as if it had already occurred. By faith, then, we can courageously pursue growth into our true identity. Elyse Fitzpatrick, Because He Loves Me: How Christ Transforms Our Daily Life The gospel frees us from demanding our own way, because nothing we desire to obtain is worth sinning against such love and kindness. Elyse Fitzpatrick, Because He Loves Me: How Christ Transforms Our Daily Life God created us to be worshipers because it is right that he be known, loved and worshiped. This isn't because he is needy and wishes someone would tell him how special he is. No, it's because he is

perfect and the worship of his perfection is holiness in action. Elyse Fitzpatrick, Because He Loves Me: How Christ Transforms Our Daily Life Our obedience has its origin in God's prior action, and forgetting that truth results in selfrighteousness, pride, and despair. Elyse Fitzpatrick, Because He Loves Me: How Christ Transforms Our Daily Life The declarations of the gospel are unavoidably tied to the obligations of the Gospel. Elyse Fitzpatrick, Because He Loves Me: How Christ Transforms Our Daily Life

Although God does discipline or train us as the Master Teacher he is (Heb. 12:5 ff), his work in our lives is never punitive; it is always redemptive. This means that he doesnt punish us for our sin; but rather that, because of his great love, he gently and lovingly frees us from the lies, misconceptions, and idolatries that captivate and enslave our hearts. He never punishes us in wrath because he has no wrath left. Every drop of his wrath was allpoured out on his Son.
Elyse Fitzpatrick, Because He Loves Me: How Christ Transforms Our Daily Life

Employ his promise that the days of weeping and gnashing of teeth for you will indeed end. Your enemy and your faithless heart are lying when they tell you that your circumstances will never change. An endless day of joy is coming and nothing can avert its dawning. You could as easily stop the revolution of the earth around the sun as you could stop the dawning of that day!
Elyse Fitzpatrick, Because He Loves Me: How Christ Transforms Our Daily Life

..I can prepare my heart by thanking God that I accomplished all he had for me that day, even if I wasnt as productive as I would have liked; I can offer my day and all my work to him and ask him to use it for his glory;.
Elyse Fitzpatrick, Because He Loves Me: How Christ Transforms Our Daily Life

When I look through all the closets of my soul and all I find is lovelessness, I know that I don't have any claim to God's love on my own. The only truth that can assuage is this: I know that God loves his Son. Even though there are times when I wonder how God can love me, I know that he loves his Son, and because he has made a formal, legal declaration that I'm in him, then I must continue to tell myself and believe that he loves me because of him. My only other option is to say that he doesn't love his Son at all. But the truth is that the pronouncement he made over him, "This is my beloved... #
Elyse M. Fitzpatrick
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It's essential for us to think about God's love today because it is only his love that can grant us the joy that will strengthen our hearts, the courage that will embolden us in our fight against sin, and the assurance that will enable us to open up our lives to him so that he might deal powerfully with our unbelief and idolatry. #
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Our Redeemer has taken our sinful identity so that we might receive his righteous one! Can you see how it has to be Christ alone who defines everything we were, are, or ever will be? He is our life! He is our identity! #
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The Wonderful News The gospel really is good news, isn't it? It's not simply that we've been saved from hell by a God who is tolerating us, keeping us at arm's length, granting us a salvation that didn't cost him much. He sent his "one and only" Son to die in our place that he might bring us to himself. That's how intent he was on transforming you. On the night he was betrayed, he prayed that we would know that we've been loved by the Father with the same intensity of love he has for his beloved Son (John 17:23). #
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Jesus' death cleanses us from sin, but it also guarantees our ultimate transformation into his image. This transformation occurs, Paul writes, while we gaze upon him, think about him, and muse on him as he has revealed himself to us in the gospel. "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another" (2 Cor. 3:18). Behold his glory in the gospel and be transformed. #
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Yes, God is sovereign over our sanctification, but recognition of that truth doesn't excuse us from zealously pursuing it. #
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Our fundamental problem is not our history, our environment, our brain chemicals, or even our bad choices. Our problem is that we've got a functional identity that flies in the face of gospel truth. We've ignored and disregarded the fact that Christ has given us his identity: he is our life. #
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Our problem is that if we don't continually remind ourselves of how he has chosen, renamed, and remade us, the struggle to grow in Christian character will become nothing more than another attempt at self-improvement, and self-improvement always results in self-loathing or pride.2 #
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walk in the compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience that characterized Jesus' life. We can walk in this new life because through the Spirit he lives in us. We can bear with one another and forgive each other because he has forgiven us. "And above all these [we're to] put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony" (Col. 3:12-14). #

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"But now thus says the Lord, he who created you . . . he who formed you . . . 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine'" (Isa. 43:1). He has engraved our name on the palms of his hands (Isa. 49:16). He knows our heart and our thoughts (Psalm 139). You're not just one in millions, a face lost in the crowd. In the heart of God you're unique, a distinct person with a particular name, chosen from before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4). #
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The purpose of our life is to reveal to others how wonderful he is and to glorify and enjoy him eternally. #
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Everything that needed to be done for us has been done. We don't need to fight to gain his love and acceptance. #
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Our obedience has its origin in God's prior action, and forgetting that truth results in selfrighteousness, pride, and despair. #
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For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith. . . . For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 2 Peter 1:5, 9 #
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When it seems as though I've wasted an afternoon waiting for a repairman, I can temper my response in light of heavenly realities: - Christ is overwhelmingly patient with me. His gracious patience with my irresponsibility is a truth that I need to be reminded of over and over again. The irresponsibility of this repairman is nothing in contrast to mine, and yet I've been chosen and loved by God, so I can be merciful and patient with others. Responding graciously to this repairman is not simply a decision of my will, but it is also a recognition of Jesus' gracious response to me. When my children... #
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The questions that occupy our hearts should not be why don't my kids respect me? Why do I have to wait for this stupid worker? Why can't I get a better job? Why doesn't my spouse or children or parents or boss or friend appreciate me? The questions we should ask are: Why would God send his Son to die for me, his wretched enemy? (Rom. 5:8, 10); Why would he make

him who knew no sin to be sin so that I might reap all the benefits of his righteousness? (2 Cor. 5:21); Why would I, who was dead in trespasses and corruption, who carried out every wicked desire of my body and mind and who was, by nature,... #
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3) "The acceptance of the believer with God is perfect the moment he believes because Christ and his work are perfect. The status of the believer can never be improved upon-he possesses all the riches of Christ." #
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The truth that many of us have lost and desperately need to find is that Christianity isn't essentially a program to help moral people be better. No, it's a relationship based on the premise that we aren't good now and will never be good enough in this life. We need someone to be good in our place, to suffer what we deserve to suffer, and to live the righteous life we should have lived. Our Redeemer has taken our sinful identity so that we might receive his righteous one! #
Elyse M. Fitzpatrick

True Christianity is not a program of self-improvement; it's an acknowledgment that something more than self-improvement is needed. What's needed is death and resurrection: gospel words, gospel constructs, gospel motives, gospel power-a loving Redeemer. #

CHRISTIAN BELIEFS STUDY GUIDE: 20 LIFE TRANSFORMING TRUTHS

W AY N E G R U D E M

Understand what you believe! In this ground breaking DVD series, Dr. Wayne Grudem teaches the 20 main doctrines of the faith with biblical depth, spiritual passion and a freshness that makes this series unique in the Christian world. This Study Guide, written by Clear Cut Media, accompanies the DVD series. The aim of the course is to provide a good understanding of all the main doctrines of the Bible in an accessible and enjoyable format, securing and grounding Christians in the faith. Each session lasts approximately 40 minutes, with optional discussion breaks, and finishes with a questions and answers section. It is suitable for both group or individual use.

Contents 1. What is the Bible? - The authority, necessity, clarity, and sufficiency of scripture. 2. What is God like? - The attributes of God. God's holiness, love, justice, omniscience, and much more. 3. What is the Trinity? - Exploring the beauty, complexity and roles within the Godhead. 4. What is creation? - The origin and purpose of creation, and the implications for us today. 5. What is prayer? - Understanding our relationship with the Lord and how it works out in prayer.

6. What are angels and demons? - How the activities of both angels and demons affect us today. 7. What is man? - Understanding the implications of being made in God's image. 8. What is sin? - The origin and effects of sin. 9. Who is Christ? - The humanity and deity of Christ and its implications for salvation and worship. 10. What is atonement? - The cause, necessity, nature and results of Christ's atonement. 11. What is the resurrection? - Understanding the effects of the resurrection for us today. 12. What is election (or predestination)? - What election does and does not mean, and its implications for faith and worship. 13. What does it mean to become a Christian? - The process of calling, regeneration and conversion. 14. What are justification and adoption? - The central role of justification by faith and its result in adoption. 15. What are sanctification and perseverance? - Christian growth and God's preservation of the saints. 16. What is death? - The death and resurrection of Christians and non-Christians. 17. What is the church? - The power, purposes, purity, unity and consistency of the church. 18. What will happen when Christ returns? - The timing, signs, tribulation, and millennial views of Christ's return and reign. 19. What is the final judgement? - The purpose and events of the final judgement and the scriptural teaching about hell. 20. What is heaven? - The renewed heavens and earth, what we will do, and how it will glorify God. Each session is designed to be accessible from different levels. New Christians will be grounded in their faith, established believers will grow in their knowledge of God and understand the Bible much better, potential leaders will be trained, established leaders will be equipped for ministry. The study guide includes a Going Deeper section suitable for those wanting to pursue a fuller understanding of these truths. Dr. Grudem, in his unique and warm style, provides essential teaching for all Christians. Having completed this course, Christians will not only be enabled to better love God and live for Him, but also gain a secure understanding of the faith, learning how to handle secondary issues with humility, and primary issues with clarity. This course is unique, a world first, in the combination of its scope, content and format. "Wayne Grudem is one of those very rare pastor-theologians who speaks and writes with equal clarity and faithfulness. That's why listening is often even more satisfying than reading. I am glad his voice (and heart) is now available in this way." --John Piper, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis "Formal theological training was never a privilege I enjoyed. But had I attended seminary, I would have wanted to learn theology in Wayne Grudems classroom. This DVD series now makes this possible for meand for you." --C. J. Mahaney, Sovereign Grace Ministries "This is a great resource from one of the world's best theology teachers." --Mark Driscoll, Mars Hill Church, Seattle "These truly are twenty basic beliefs that every Christian should know. Wayne Grudem is a master teacher with the ability to explain profound truths in simple language. He is a man of deep conviction and theological passionand those who watch these DVDs will be both educated and encouraged in the faith." --Dr. Al Mohler, President, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary About Wayne Grudem Wayne Grudem is Professor of Theology and Biblical Studies at Phoenix Seminary in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. As well as being an international conference speaker, Grudem is the author of several books including the widely-used Systematic Theology. He served as General Editor for the ESV Study Bible,

and is a past president of the Evangelical Theological Society. He has degrees from Harvard, Westminster Seminary, and the University of Cambridge.