Book review

Proof: Finding Freedom Through the Intoxicating Joy of Irresistible Grace by Daniel Montgomery

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


In a world that stresses and rewards performance the idea of God's free, unmerited, irresistible grace flies in the face of our self-centered, self improvement culture. Using the acronym PROOF (Planned Grace; Resurrecting Grace; Outrageous Grace; Overcoming Grace; Forever Grace)authors Montgomery and Jones have written a delightful little book that "liberates (us) from the tyranny of trying to please others ... empowers us to pursue authentic holiness." "... proclaiming anew the intoxicating joy of grace."
The book is great, but I found the footnotes to be indispensable.
My advice is to buy the book and upon its arrival immediately sit down and read it!



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For The Lord's Day - the first Sunday of Christmastide:

The people walking in darkness
Have seen a great light
On those living in the land of the shadow of death
A light has dawned.
Jesus Christ is our life and light.
In his name and in his power, let us worship God!

Christmastide, literally “Christmas time,” refers to the Twelve Days of Christmas, from Christmas eve to the eve of Epiphany, January 5, the same season celebrated in the Christmas song of the same name. Epiphany, January 6, is celebrated in Liturgical churches as the time when the Magi brought their gifts to the Christ child.

For The Lord's Day - The Third Sunday of Advent

Hark, the glad sound! The Savior comes,

The Savior promised long;

Let every heart exult with joy,

And every voice be song!

Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace,

Thy welcome shall proclaim;

And heavens exalted arches ring

With Thy most honored Name.

 --Philip Doddridge

Advent – We use the Advent Wreath as a reminder of the promise of the one who said “I am the Light of the world,” and whose return we anticipate. Today’s candle is the Shepherd’s candle, colored pink to symbolize joy. “When they saw this, the shepherds made known what had been told them about this child.” Luke 2:17. The Shepherds heard a message too good to be true… and then went to see it anyway. But they didn’t stop there. They witnessed it… then witnessed to it, sharing the news with those whom they met. And so should we.

For The Lord's Day: First Sunday in Advent

“The Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, being very and eternal God, of one substance and equal with the Father, did, when the fullness of time was come, take upon Him man's nature, with all the essential properties, and common infirmities thereof, yet without sin; being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the virgin Mary, of her substance. So that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures, the Godhead and the manhood, were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion. Which person is very God, and very man, yet one Christ, the only Mediator between God and man."

Chapter VIII, Section 2, “Of Christ the Mediator”

Westminster Confession of Faith (1647)

For The Lord's Day

“Grace makes sense to us only in light of the sin to which it provides the remedy. Consequently, the more sensitive we are to sin, misery and danger, the more clearly we will grasp the wonder of God’s salvation. Grace is only ‘amazing’ when we see that it is ‘a wretch like me’ it saves. Only sinners seek Jesus as a Savior!"

Dr. Sinclair Ferguson in Puritans – Ministers of the World

For The Lord's Day

“Tragically, most of us have been taught that duty, not delight, is the way to glorify God. We have not been taught that delight in God is our duty! Being satisfied with God is not an optional add-on to the real stuff of Christian duty. It is the most basic demand of all. ‘Delight yourself in the LORD’ (Psalm 37:4 is not a suggestion, but a command. So are: ‘Serve the LORD with gladness’ (Psalm 100:2) and, ‘Rejoice in the LORD always’ (Philippians 4:4).”   – John Piper, The Godward Life

For The Lord's Day

“The difference between authentic faith and counterfeit faith must be understood if the assurance we possess is to be valid. In our day, many people have been evangelized with techniques that convince them if they make a profession of faith they are therefore saved. It is critical, however, to understand that justification is not by mere profession of faith, but by the actual possession of that faith we profess. Assurance based merely upon action taken at an evangelistic meeting or upon signing a commitment card is an unstable kind of assurance that must be examined carefully to validate its foundation. Full assurance of faith comes from the Holy Spirit through the Word of God.” 

- R. C. Sproul in the foreword to Assured by God

For The Lord's Day

"The most experienced psychologist or observer of human nature knows infinitely less of the human heart than the simplest Christian who lives beneath the Cross of Jesus.  The greatest psychological insight, ability, and experience cannot grasp this one thing: what sin is."   ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer

“It costs God nothing, so far as we know, to create nice things; but to convert rebellious wills costs Him crucifixion.”  ~ C.S. Lewis

Today is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Pray with us for our brothers and sisters that the might stand fast against  all forms of persecution.