With Jesus, there is no “both-and” but only “either-or”

Did I say that I love that book: [amazon_link id=”0802458408″ target=”_blank” locale=”UK” container=”” container_class=”” ]The Good News We almost Forgot[/amazon_link]. You should read it, really. Here is another quote from the book. I wish I could put the whole chapter:

Protestants don’t pray to saints, but we sure work hard to do what is right. Deep down, and sometimes we don’t even have to dig that deep, many of us feel confident before God because we haven’t royally messed up our lives, at least not lately. We don’t get drunk or do drugs. We show up on time for work. We keep our yard clean and get involved in church. I’d feel pretty good with a record like that. I do feel pretty good sometimes! And that’s my problem. I put trust in Kevin. The fact that when I sin I feel like I should earn my repentance before I come back to God tells me that I live too much of my life feeling good with God because I feel like I am good enough for God. I don’t need Pelagianism or semi-Pelagianism or liberalism or the power of positive thinking to make me full of myself. I was born full of myself, and every days needs to be emptied and filled with Christ.

There is nowhere else we ought to look for our salvation than in Christ. You cannot trust Christ truly unless you trust Christ alone. No matter how much you boast of Christ or talk of your love for Christ or passion for Christ, if you add anything to Christ, your boasting and love and passion are all in vain. There is no “both-and” with Jesus, only “either-or.” Either Jesus is the only Savior, the perfect Savior, and your only comfort in life and in death, or Jesus is for you no Savior at all.

Kevin DeYoung, The good news we almost forgot.

A day in Lannion

I was invited to preach in Lannion on Sunday. So we went along as a family and joined the church for Sunday worship. We had a warm welcome and a good time. I preached on Titus 2:11-14: we need the gospel daily because it is the foundation of all Christian life.

The service was followed by a fellowship lunch in a building that the church had borrowed for the occasion, just outside Lannion. It was great. The sun was shinning and it was like a summer day, in October.

Later, we went to the seaside with some friends from the church. Again, it felt like we were in June. the beach was packed with people. When we left around 6pm, there were still people in the water, and some people were still making their way to the beach. I have a few pictures on my phone and will try to post them for you to see.

Preaching in Lannion

I am preaching in Lannion tomorrow. Lannion is about 30 minutes drive from Guingamp, not far from the coast. It is an important center for new technologies. I will preach on Titus 2:11-15: The gospel is not only for salvation, but the foundation of the whole Christian life.

The whole family has been invited to come with me and to come to the fellowship lunch that will follow the service. We are looking forward to visiting this church. The forecast is for another sunny and hot day, so we may try to go to the seaside in the afternoon.