Francis Schaeffer, in one of my all-time favorite books, True Spirituality, says:

“I'm convinced…that this is when we begin to make our forward steps as Christians: When I know through experience that I can lay hold of Christ's blood by faith to cover my sins this morning, and then to cover my sins this afternoon, even if they're the same sins—when I know this, the preciousness of Christ's blood becomes a tremendous reality, I begin to live in the light of His presence and in the light of His work—not just in the past or in the future, but in the present.”

This is what it means to live by faith. This is what it means to make progress in the Christian life as a disciple of Jesus.

This is the Creekstone message from Jan. 29, "Substantial Healing," from Romans 6:15-23.

Romans_6.15-23.substantial_healing.mp3

(download)

Click here to download:

Romans_6.15-23.substantial_healing.mp3 (34.02 MB)

In The Letters of Francis Schaeffer, he writes to a woman named Sharon:

"Christianity is not a religion for the mentally healthy. Rather, ever since the Fall, none of us are totally mentally healthy, any more than any of us are totally physically well... Christianity is for weak people just as we are... We must honor Christ and his finished work by bringing our failure [and weakness] under the work of Christ and leaving them there. When we do less than this, we are dishonoring Christ and his finished work—as though his finished work is enough for some things, but not enough for my weakness and sin."

I find this helpful. May we take our sin and brokenness to the cross and leave it there, going on with a heart full of praise and thanksgiving for the Savior, knowing that his atonement as our substitute is full and complete—more than enough for every aspect of weakness and sin.

In his classic book, True Spirituality, Dr. Francis Schaeffer describes the redemptive change that we can expect to take place in the life of a believer. He called this change "substantial healing," which covers all areas of life, including human identity, sexuality, relationships, etc. Most of us struggle to experience this substantial healing—and some have given up. But the gospel is the power of God to save and to sanctify! So if you would like to explore what substantial healing might look like in your life, join us this Sunday at Creekstone as we continue our study in Romans — Extreme Makeover: How Grace Changes Our Lives. 

Francis Schaeffer, in one of my all-time favorite books, True Spirituality, says,

“I'm convinced…that this is when we begin to make our forward steps as Christians: When I know through experience that I can lay hold of Christ's blood by faith to cover my sins this morning, and then to cover my sins this afternoon, even if they're the same sins—when I know this, the preciousness of Christ's blood becomes a tremendous reality, I begin to live in the light of His presence and in the light of His work—not just in the past or in the future, but in the present.”