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Legalistic remorse says, “I broke God’s rules,” while real repentance says, “I broke God’s heart.”

Timothy Keller

Religion operates on the principle ‘I obey-therefore I am accepted by God.’ But the operating principle of the gospel is ‘I am accepted by God through what Christ has done-therefore I obey.’
TIMOTHY KELLER

Accept Acceptable God Gospel Obey Operate Principle Religion
Yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.
TIMOTHY KELLER

Accept Christ Dare Jesus Love More Same Time Yet
God’s grace does not come to people who morally outperform others, but to those who admit their failure to perform and who acknowledge their need for a Savior.
TIMOTHY KELLER

Acknowledge Admit Christian Come Failure God Grace Morally Other Outperform People Religious
In religion, you obey because God is useful. In Christianity, you obey because God is beautiful.
TIMOTHY KELLER

Beautiful Christianity God Obey Religion Useful
To fear the Lord is to be overwhelmed with wonder before the greatness of God and his love.
TIMOTHY KELLER

Fear Greatness Lord Love Overwhelmed
Legalistic remorse says, “I broke God’s rules,” while real repentance says, “I broke God’s heart.”
TIMOTHY KELLER

Broke Christian God Heart Heartbreak Legislation Remorse Repentance Rule Say
If the church does not identify with the marginalized, it will itself be marginalized. This is God’s poetic justice.
TIMOTHY KELLER

Church Identity Itself Justice Poetic
This is why so many churches quench the motivation of people for ministry. In our shoes, Paul would say: Remember the grace God has showered on you—what does living out and enjoying that grace look like in this situation?
TIMOTHY KELLER

Church Country Enjoy Look Love Motivation People Person Quench Remember Shoe Situation
…the essence of gospel-humility is not thinking more of myself or thinking less of myself, it is thinking of myself less.
TIMOTHY KELLER

Essence Gospel Humility Less More Myself Religious Think
Jesus Christ was treated as we deserved so that when we believe in Jesus, God treats us as Jesus deserves.
TIMOTHY KELLER

Believe Christ Deserve God Jesus Treat
When we worry we are saying, ‘I know the way my life is supposed to go, and God’s not getting it right’.
TIMOTHY KELLER

Get God Know Right Say Suppose Way Worry
If you don’t feel like praying, pray to God to give you the desire.
TIMOTHY KELLER

Desire Feel God Pray
No one is too bad for Jesus. A lot of people think they are too good for Jesus.
TIMOTHY KELLER

Bad Good Jesus Lot One People Think
So we find messages of self-salvation extremely attractive, whether they are religious (Keep these rules and you earn eternal blessing) or secular (Grab hold of these things and you’ll experience blessing now).
TIMOTHY KELLER

Bless Eternal Experience Many People Promise Succes Thing Time
The basic premise of religion– that if you live a good life, things will go well for you– is wrong. Jesus was the most morally upright person who ever lived, yet He had a life filled with the experience of poverty, rejection, injustice, and even torture.
TIMOTHY KELLER

Basic Good Jesus Life Live Morality Most Person Premise Religion Upright Wrong
It’s impossible to have met the real Jesus and be indifferent. You either bow down in wonder OR go away offended.
TIMOTHY KELLER

Away Down Impossible Indifferent Jesus Met Offended Real Wonder

Legalistic remorse says, “I broke God’s rules,” while real repentance says, “I broke God’s heart.”

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Legalistic remorse says, “I broke God’s rules,” while real repentance says, “I broke God’s heart.”

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Popular Authors

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