Thursday, January 21, 2016

Keller: praying without and with the gospel

...the Christian who understands the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit seeks God not primarily to gain reward or avoid punishment (since both are guaranteed in Christ anyway). Christians seek God for themselves.  Without the gospel we may come and ask for things. Without the gospel, we may conceive of a holy God who is intimidating and who can be approached with petitions only if we are very good.  Or we may conceive of a God whose "love" just means he regards everyone positively.  To approach the first kind of 'God' is fearsome; to approach the second kind of God is no big deal.  Thus without the gospel, there is no possibility of passioon and delight to praise and approach the true God.

Prayer, p79

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