What can Christianity offer?

Posted at Reformation Scotland:

What can Christianity offer? In the last few years, an increasing number of younger people, especially young men, are turning to church in a trend some are calling the ‘quiet revival.’ For the age groups labelled Gen Z and Millennials, atheism is not such a cool or edgy option as openness to religion, including Christianity. There is a feeling that life is unsatisfactory, and whereas in the past few decades it would have felt silly to turn to God for help, people here and there are increasingly trying Christianity to see whether God can help with the emptiness and inexplicable miserableness they are experiencing. But can our churches compete with everything else on offer from other religions, alternative forms of spirituality and secularist scams which counterfeit true happiness? In the following updated extract, James Durham acknowledges the spiritual bankruptcy in human experience and the gnawing thirst for something more and better than what we have. Identifying sin as the root problem, Durham presents salvation from sin through Jesus Christ as what will comprehensively meet our need. If the free forgiveness of sins is on offer, will there be any takers?

God the Father and God the Son have made a good and grace-filled bargain, which is wholly mercy, and they bring it to market and put it on sale on exceedingly easy terms, suited to bankrupt sinners. It is set out in Isaiah 55:1–3: “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.”

The offer

May we briefly and in a few words sum up what is in this bargain?

1. All things that contribute to peace with God, and remove the quarrel between God and the sinner.

2. All things that relate to or are needful for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:4).

3. All things that belong to the comfort and consolation of believers (“strong consolation,” it is called in Hebrews 6:18). There is no need so great, but there is a supply for it here, no situation so sad, but there is a comfort for it here, when you flee to Christ for refuge.

4. All that is needful for the joy and complete happiness of those who heartily accept it.

If God and Christ, grace and mercy are in it, is anything missing? May I not very confidently ask you, is it not a good bargain? If the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, grace, heaven and glory are a good bargain, then this is most certainly a wonderfully good, matchless, and unique bargain.

Is not this gospel, which brings all these great things to the market, good news? Take heed then that you do not receive this grace in vain. These wares are worthy of all possible acceptance and welcome — do not leave them there unbought!

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