“While I regarded God as a tyrant I thought my sin a trifle; But when I knew Him to be my Father, then I mourned that I could ever have kicked against Him. When I thought God was hard, I found it easy to sin; but when I found God so kind, so good, so overflowing with compassion, I smote upon my breast to think that I could ever have rebelled against One who loved me so, and sought my good.” C. H. Spurgeon
That is fantastic! I’ve felt the same way. I’ve struggled with assurance for most of my life and as I’ll shift back and forth between hope and insecurity, my view of God seems to shift with it. When I’m insecure and feel like I’ve got to measure up, I start measuring sins, “Well, that’s not such a big deal. God wouldn’t get upset about that.” or I’ll get so hopeless that it seems pointless to try. A great environment for sin to grow.
But, when I’m “graced-up” and feel secure, then God seems so wonderful and I hate my sin and every one seems horrible. Also, not only do I want to not sin, I don’t even get tempted as much. It’s like, without God I have to sin to get by, but with God, I not only want to resist sin more, I don’t even feel the need to bother with it.
Limiting God’s grace and love really does make it easier for people to sin. After all, if God’s love is conditional, then mine can be too. If He limits His forgiveness, only loves those who love Him, does good to those who do good for Him and gives only to those who can give Him something in return, then I only have to love as much as the world does. The standards of holiness are much easier to achieve if God is brought down to our level, but God doesn’t seem to be impressed with that kind of love.
Great quote! Thanks for sharing it.
Thank you for posting this,
This is now one of my favorite all time quotes. It serves as a great reminder of the great freedom that the believer has available to them. The freedom to be who we are, who God created us to be, even with all of our problems and failures. This security can only come from a true understanding of the character of God and who we are in Him.
Those who confuse identity with performance do not have this peace. Performance-based Christianity grows out of a fundamental misunderstanding of God’s person and attributes.
I keep this quote in the inbox of my email because it reminds me that even though I sin He still loves me. And if he loves me like that then why wouldn’t I want to follow Him?