John R. Rice Quotes of the Week

But another question will answer this one: How can the Lord Jesus in Heaven be happy? Surely He knows all things here. He looked into Hell and heard the cries of the rich man tormented in flame. And He, with God the Father, knows the fall of every sparrow and numbers every hair on every head. He looks at the heart of every unrepentant sinner and grieves at the mistakes and failures of every Christian. Can Jesus be happy in Heaven? The Scripture answers: "He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied" (Isa. 53:11). We know that Jesus on earth looked forward to the joy in Heaven, for we are told: "Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Heb. 12:2). Yes, Jesus, knowing all the wickedness of this world, is happy in Heaven. So are the saints in Heaven.
― John R. Rice, Bible Facts About Heaven

The rich man in Hell looked with the deepest concern upon the affairs of the earth and said, "I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldst send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment." He knew that his brethren had not repented. Abraham in Heaven knew more about it than the rich man did and said, "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." How strange that both Heaven and Hell look on with such intense concern for the conversion of the wicked here on earth while we who have an opportunity to warn them do so little about it!
― John R. Rice, Bible Facts About Heaven

Reader, do you know the difference between salvation by work and salvation by grace? Then remember that "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us" (Titus 3:5). Remember that Ephesians 2:8, 9, tells us, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Praise God for salvation already finished, a salvation purchased by the blood of Christ and not by works of man. - John R. Rice [Revival Appeals, pg. 158-159]

When Jesus died, "By one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified." Christ paid for all my sins of the past (it was before I was born, before I ever sinned). But that offering also paid for all the sins of the future. Christ will never die again. He will never need to die again for MY sins. And I will never need to die for them either, because when He died once, that settled the matter for ever. Here is a perfect salvation, already provided, already paid for, offered free to all who will have it. - John R. Rice [Revival Appeals, pg. 159]

What must I do to be saved then? The jailor asked it in Acts 16:30. Paul and Silas answered in Acts 16:31, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Trust the matter with Jesus! And when you turn your soul over to Jesus for salvation, "It is finished!" There is nothing more to pay, nothing more to do. Let Jesus give you this free salvation which He finished when He died on Calvary. - John R. Rice [Revival Appeals, pg. 159]

God is not trying to sell salvation. He is offering it free. God is not trying to get you to save yourself. He is offering to save you Himself, to give you the perfect salvation based on the finished work of Christ. - John R. Rice [Revival Appeals, pg. 159]

This salvation that is already finished is of God's grace, not of man's works. - John R. Rice [Revival Appeals, pg. 159]