God Loves… Himself

“The various attributes of God shine upon different occasions.  There are, as it were, several theaters in which their glory is revealed.  In creation there was, most of all, power; in governing the world, wise providence; in hell, justice in punishing sinners.”

“But now to man in a lapsed state, what attribute shines most and is most glorious?  Oh, it is mercy and free grace.  If grace and mercy were hidden, our state being as it has been since the fall, what would all other attributes be but a cause for terror?  To think of the wisdom and power and justice of God would add to the terror.  He is the wiser and more powerful and can take revenge on us.  But grace is the glorious attribute by which God sets himself to triumph over the greatest evil that can be, over sin.  That which is worse than the devil himself could not prevail over his grace.  There is more height and depth and breadth, there are greater dimensions in love and mercy in Christ, than there are in our sins and miseries.  And all this is gloriously revealed in the gospel.”

“Do you wonder why the grace of God has found such enemies as it always has, especially in religions in which works are mingled with grace?  It is because the contrary heart of man, being in a frame of enmity to God, sets itself most against that which God will be glorified in.  Therefore we should labor to vindicate nothing so much as grace.  A dangerous encroaching sect has risen up, enemies to the grace of God, who cover their plot cleverly and closely; but they set nature against grace.  Let us vindicate that upon all occasions.  For we live by grace, and we must die by grace and stand at the day of judgment by grace – not in our own righteousness, but in the righteousness of Christ, being found in him.”

Richard Sibbes, Glorious Freedom: The Excellency of the Gospel Above the Law, 73-74.

The glass of the gospel is excellent and eminent above all other glasses.  It is a mirror that changes us.  When we see ourselves and our corruptions in the glass of the law, we see ourselves dead.  The law finds us dead and leaves us dead; it cannot give us any life.  But when we look into the gospel and see the glory of God, the mercy of God, and the gracious promises of the gospel, we are changed into the likeness of Christ, whom we see in the gospel.  This excellent glass has a transforming power to make beautiful.  Such a glass would be much prized in this proud world; such a glass is the gospel.

Richard Sibbes, Glorious Freedom: The Excellency of the Gospel Above the Law, 125

The adversaries of the grace of God quarrel with us, because we preach justification by the free mercy and love of God in Christ.  They say this is to deaden the spirits of men, so that they do not care about good works.  But can there be any greater incentive and motive in the world to sanctification, to express Christ and to study Christ, than to consider what favour and mercy we have in Christ; how we are justified and freed by the glorious mercy of God in Christ?  There cannot be any greater.  We see here that they depend upon one another.  By seeing in the glass of the gospel the glory of God, we are transformed from glory to glory.  An excellent glass the gospel is: by seeing God’s love in it we are changed.

Glorious Freedom: The Excellency of the Gospel Above the Law, 128

This was taken from the Monergism site. There is a lot of great reading there as well as some great material to purchase.

The following is a quote from James Smith who lived in the 1800’s and was the predecessor to Charles Spurgeon at New Park Street. This was found at Grace Gems,    http://gracegems.org/C/Smith.htm

                                                                                             The God of All GRACE

GRACE is the free favor of Jehovah, sovereignly fixed upon his people, and righteously communicating all spiritual and eternal blessings to them, for his own glorification. Every spiritual blessing flows from grace. Jehovah, the all-gracious God, is the fountain of all grace. His favor being fixed, he freely communicates to the unworthy and ill-deserving. He delights to give — as he delights to glorify himself. Grace is enthroned, and reigns “through righteousness unto eternal life — by Jesus Christ our Lord.”
When coming to God for grace . . .
no recommendation is necessary;
every fear is groundless, and
all your doubts are sinful.
God must run counter to his word, act contrary to his nature, and dishonor his name — if he refuses his grace to any sincere seeker. “The Lord will give grace.” “He gives more grace.” He “gives to all men liberally, and upbraids not.”
The grace that converts the sinner flows from him;
the grace that comforts the saint is his gift; and
the grace to serve him acceptably must be received from his hand.
He will be gracious to every praying soul — but he will not sell his grace. You must not bring your duties, your endeavors, or your feelings to procure it — or you will be surely disappointed. He gives grace freely to every empty, hungry, willing soul. If you are made willing to receive — that is one evidence that God is willing to give. You may ask immediately, and expect confidently — nor shall you be disappointed.
The God of all grace, has grace suited to all your needs, and adapted to all your circumstances.
Are you weak? Here is grace to strengthen you.
Are you sinful? Here is grace to sanctify you.
Are you oppressed? Here is grace to deliver you.
He has grace . . .
for all comers,
at all times, and
for all circumstances.
Come boldly then to the throne of grace, plead with “the God of all grace” — and you shall obtain grace to help you in every time of need. He waits to be gracious.
“But may I come just as I am, and at this moment?” Yes, just as you are — without money, and without price. Come at this moment, for there is no time for delay. His ear is open, he is at liberty to attend to you, and will surely do you good.
Grace is for the unworthy. Grace must be freely given — or it ceases to be grace. Grace is . . .
God’s antidote for your miseries,
his answer to your objections,
his reply to your fears, and
his encouragement for your comfort, joy, and peace.
“For by grace are you saved through faith.” “Justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,” you are made an heir according to the hope of eternal life. To grace you are indebted for all that you possess, for all that you expect, and for all that you will enjoy in this world or that which is to come. Free grace will be . . .
your support in trials,
your comfort in afflictions, and
your antidote in death!
To “the God of all grace,” you will remain an eternal debtor — happy under a sense of your obligations.
Beloved, have you ever felt the power of grace . . .
renewing your nature,
comforting your heart, and
consecrating your life to the Lord’s service?
Do you now feel that you need grace, and desire to possess it? If so, you may obtain it. It is free to the vilest! It flows from God’s throne like a river — and whoever will, may come and take of it freely.
Rich grace, free grace, most sweetly calls,
Directly come who will,
Just as you are, for Christ receives
Poor helpless sinners still!
‘Tis grace each day that feeds our souls:
Grace keeps us inward poor;
And O that nothing else but grace
May rule for evermore!