Quote of the Week: Ferguson
Saturday, May 1, 2010 at 06:00AM When I read this, it made me weep:
In the preface of the book, you write that grace is not a “thing.” What do you mean by this statement?
It is legitimate to speak of “receiving grace,” and sometimes (although I am somewhat cautious about the possibility of misusing this language) we speak of the preaching of the Word, prayer, baptism, and the Lord’s Supper as “means of grace.” That is fine, so long as we remember that there isn’t a thing, a substance, or a “quasi-substance” called “grace.” All there is is the person of the Lord Jesus — “Christ clothed in the gospel,” as John Calvin loved to put it. Grace is the grace of Jesus. If I can highlight the thought here: there is no “thing” that Jesus takes from Himself and then, as it were, hands over to me. There is only Jesus Himself. Grasping that thought can make a significant difference to a Christian’s life. So while some people might think this is just splitting hairs about different ways of saying the same thing, it can make a vital difference. It is not a thing that was crucified to give us a thing called grace. It was the person of the Lord Jesus that was crucified in order that He might give Himself to us through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Sinclair Ferguson, from an interview regarding his new book, By Grace Alone, published by Reformation Trust.
Reader Comments (1)
This sure makes the act of putting on Christ into an act of putting on grace, as well. I like the concept. It makes the amalgamation of Christ in you, the hope of glory another act of grace. Yes- this is very helpful.
Thanks, Kim, for the sharing of this nugget.