Sermon Quotes: "The Riotous Reality"

“But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” (Revelation 12:12)

“Historical Babylon was by this point a ruin of a place, a relatively small and certainly enfeebled center without significant influence. But Babylon had stood in Old Testament times for all that was pagan, powerful, self-promoting, and vile. Babylon was the city that had sent Judah and Jerusalem into exile (however much the people of God had earned the judgment). Now the ancient city's name is transferred to Rome, the new geopolitical center.” (D. A. Carson, For the Love of God, vol. 1)

“First-century Christians might have wondered, "How can Rome be so bad when she looks so good?" or, "How could Rome ever fall when she looks so strong?" Twenty-first-century Christians living in cultures confident in their affluence and technology may have the same questions. Jesus' answer is the vision of the harlot Babylon, her beauty, and her demise.” (Dennis Johnson, The Triumph of the Lamb)

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:15–17)

“These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.” (Hebrews 11:13–16)

“...the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.” (Psalm 19:9)

“Right fear falls on its face before the Lord, but falls leaning "toward the Lord." It is not as if love draws near and fear distances. Nor is this fear of God one side of our reaction to God. It is not simply that we love God for his graciousness and fear him for his majesty. That would be a lopsided fear of God. We also love him in his holiness and tremble at the marvelousness of his mercy. True fear of God is true love for God defined: it is the right response to God's full-orbed revelation of himself in all his grace and glory.” (Michael Reeves, Rejoice and Tremble)

“[The fear of the Lord] is the soul of godliness and the essence of the new life implanted by the Spirit. It is the ultimate affection and the very aroma of heaven. It is the affection that expels our sinful fears and our anxieties. It is the affection that expels spiritual lethargy. To grow in this sweet and quaking wonder at God is to taste heaven now.” (Michael Reeves, Rejoice and Tremble)