John R. Rice Quotes of the Week

 The angel's message was "tidings of great joy." So we do not wonder that the Gospel is the "Good News," as the Greek word literally means. Then the preacher, the Sunday school teacher, the personal soul winner, the seminary professor, ought always to remember this is not dry-as-dust theology, but this is a glorious, heart-warming, soul-rejoicing thing we deal with when we teach the Word of God and preach the Gospel. Oh, shame that for some preachers and teachers the glow has gone, the honeymoon is over, the thrill has long since given way to the routine matter-of-factness which is far less than the "good tidings of great joy." - John R. Rice [Luke, pg. 71-72]

This message is "to all people." Not to an elite group included, some suppose, in a "limited atonement." No, the "whosoever" in the Gospel is an honest one and the love and grace of God is not limited not is His invitation limited. So, it is "to all people." - John R. Rice [Luke, pg. 72]

This good news is that a Saviour is born! The angel does not announce that this Baby Jesus will change the course of human history. That is incidental. He does not mention that the art, the literature, the education, the benevolences of the whole world will be colored, influenced, and formed by this same Baby Jesus. The angel does not mention that slavery will tend to disappear, that monogyny will take the place of plural wives, that schools, hospitals, orphanages and relief programs around the world will flow forth from the influence of the Child born that day in Bethlehem. Oh, no, all these are incidental to the one great end-the Lord Jesus came to be a Saviour. Christian workers should put first what God puts first. This is why the human name, Jesus, was given Him by the angel, both in speaking to Mary (Luke 1:31) and to Joseph (Matt. 1:21,25), because JESUS means "Saviour." And we miss the whole point of the Scriptures and of the incarnation of the Saviour and His work, if we do not remember that the one thing dearest to the heart of God is to save sinners, and the one principal work of Christians is to win souls to know the Saviour. So one lost sheep is to get more attention than ninety-nine that are safe in the fold, and one sinner repenting brings more joy in Heaven than ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance (Luke 15:1-8). - John R. Rice [Luke, pg. 72-73]

Actually the Scripture does not even discuss Pentecost as the time of "the founding of the church." And we believe that the church which will be called out at the rapture, when Christ comes, will include all the saints of all ages to be called out and assembled in Heaven and so a true ecclesia, a true "church." - John R. Rice [Luke, pg. 105]

Christ turned down [Luke 4:9-13] the invitation, the temptation to "the pride of life," and answered Satan's false use of Scripture with another Scripture, "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God" (Deut. 6:16).

Let us remember then that no one ought ever try to demonstrate supernatural powers in order to impress men. Those who would talk in tongues or work miracles or take up snakes, or those who would have some other marvelous spiritual successes to gain the applause of men, thus fall to the temptation where Jesus did not succumb. - John R. Rice [Luke, pg. 122-123]

Jesus said, "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

Note carefully the one great overpowering aim of the Lord Jesus Christ is "to save sinners." So in I Timothy 1:15 Paul tells of that good and worthy proverb that was going around, "This is a faithful saying...that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." Do not ever mistake it: Jesus did not come into the world to improve society, to establish benevolent institutions, to raise the standards of womanhood, to do away with slavery and polygamy, to refine the arts and cultures. No. It is true that all things things stem from Christ and His influence and from Christianity. If you take out the impact of Christ on literature, art, public morals, and laws and government, you would strike out the very best of our civilization. But that is not what Jesus came for. These things are the incidental by-products. What He really came for is to save sinners! So the Great Commission is all centered on this one main thing-getting people saved and getting them committed, and teaching them to win others. - John R. Rice [Luke, pg. 147-148]

There is no spiritual virtue in fasting itself but only in the attitude of mind that seeks to find God's will and blessing, and thus gladly for a time leave off normal enjoyments and comforts. - John R. Rice [Luke, pg. 151]