Bulletin 2.2.25

At the moment of Jesus’s death, the veil of the temple will be torn from top to bottom, a dramatic demonstration that the old Jewish religion is abolished win the bride groom was taken away.

That is why the appropriate response to Jesus is not more religion, nor is it the construction of a new religion. The proper response to Jesus is something completely non-religious. With the coming of the bride groom, along with the abolition of religion comes Faith. 

– Peter G. Bolt, The Cross From a Distance: Atonement in Mark’s Gospel (2004; p. 30) 

It should be the thing that greets your mind and fills your heart as you wake each morning. It should be your final thought as you settle in for a night of sleep. It should define how you face your day, and it should shape your self-reflections. It should be the thing that directs how you respond to others. It should be at the forefront of your thoughts in times of trouble and disappointment. It should alter how you think about finances, possessions, decisions, relationships, and everything else. It should be a central theme of your existence. It is so huge, so gorgeous, and so glorious that once it gets hold of you, you will never be the same again.

You don’t need to be an expert at riddles for this one. I am talking about grace.

– Paul Tripp, Broken Down House: Living Productively in a World Gone Bad (2009)

Consider this situation: a contemptuous husband has received some advice to change his ways toward his wife. Instead of criticizing her, he is to give his wife flowers every day for a week. The implication is that as he does this, his heart will change. He will become a better person and his marriage will improve. The husband will readily agree to this plan… he wants the easy way out, “Give me something to do, so I don’t have to repent.” Anyone can do sacrifices. We suspect that this husband would only become worse. He would just incorporate his “doing” into his life of disobedience and would become more proud. This husband is still in ‘god-mode”: You must serve me; I must control my circumstances; I have a right to judge. When challenged about his life, he now replies to his wife, “Look what I have been doing for you.” If this wife had a choice, what do you think she would prefer: flowers or a repentant heart; roses or humility? When I consider my own heart, I will think of every excuse in the book before I will repent before my wife. I would rather spend a month’s salary on gifts than humble myself.  

– Gospel Transformation (a workbook on the Christian life) produced by Serge

The Second Letter of Peter (Ch 2)

Therefore, putting aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. 

And coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of God,  you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For this is contained in Scripture: 

"Behold I lay in Zion a choice stone, 

a precious corner stone, 

And he who believes in Him shall not be disappointed."  

(Prayer)