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How to think, feel and act as those who are both perfect saints and wicked sinners
How am I meant to feel as a Christian?
You can go to an evangelical church on a Sunday and be told: "Christian, you are loved by God, no matter what you've done. God could not love you more than he does." You can go to another evangelical church and be told: "You're a wretched sinner". The emphasis can feel very different, and yet both churches are teaching truth.
Holding both truths together in balance can be tricky but it's essential for healthy Christian living. Overemphasizing one at the expense of the other causes all sorts of problems.
Perfect Sinners will help us keep the balance, as we distinguish between our "status" before God and our "walk" with him.
Intro: What does God think of me?
1. How can God love me when he hates sin?
2. How strong does my faith need to be?
3. Does God only love me because he has to?
4. Does God's love for me vary?
5. Will God still love me if I never obey him?
6. Should I ever feel guilty?
7. Does God reward us differently?
7.5. But does God really still love me?
8. Why is change so slow?
9. Why are believers warned not to fall away?
10. How do I enjoy greater assurance of God's love?
Final Word: Perfection is eternal – sin is not
| Contributors | Matt Fuller |
|---|---|
| Format | Audiobook |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Tantor Media |
Sometimes, Christians get confused about how God thinks of them. The questions get phrased like this:
Q: I'm a Christian: God loves me in Jesus – is there really nothing I can do to make him love me more or love me less? Errm, yes and no.
Q: Does God love all Christians the same? Errm, yes and no.
Q: Do some Christians get greater reward in heaven? Yes! How come? Where does grace fit in?
Q: Should I ever feel guilty? Is that appropriate?
Q: If I'm always forgiven, what's going on when I confess sin? Am I even more forgiven?
The idea that we are constantly sipping saltwater is an extremely helpful image which is then carefully applied to our battle with sin. It is beautifully honest, packed with stories, and ultimately full of hope in Christ.
Our lives get more busy yet more empty. Steve gets this—he gets us. He describes what you feel, why you feel like that, and walks with you to a better way. And, somehow, he does it in a way that makes you feel heard, even befriended. Within two pages you will be drawn in by Steve's honesty and how he seems to speak to you. Then you read the entire book—hope rising with each chapter. Since one chapter will be uniquely yours, you will double back, re-read that chapter, and act on that hope.
In Sipping Saltwater, Steve grabs your attention from the very first sentence. He sheds unique insight into idolatry through vivid imagery and solid biblical instruction. He powerfully points you to the only One who can and will quench your thirst. I will be sharing this book with those I counsel—both professing Christians and those who profess no faith at all.
If you are unfamiliar with the category of heart idolatries, you will not do much better than Sipping Saltwater as an introduction. And even if it is a familiar category, this book may serve as a valuable refresher. I highly recommend it.... continue reading
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i found this book very easy to read, enjoyed the humour and light touch and found the subject very informative and thought provoking
I have had Sipping Saltwater in my possession for several years and have come back to read it several times. There are SO many good nuggets in this book and it is the type you can read a few pages at a time and pray through the day as God reveals further truth in your heart. I really appreciate Steve’s candidness in this book and so many examples and scenario’s. It has been a joy to read and convicting for my soul time. It helps me draw closer to God And examine my life every time I read it. Bravo Steve Hoppe! Praying this book touches many lives in years to come as it has mine.
I think this is the first time I've ever read a christian book which I couldn't put down. It's so well written - simple but punchy. It challenges even the most dry and weary heart to drink deep from Jesus, who satisfies more than anything else. Its so relatable - each chapter convicted me in new ways and showed how what I 'drink' plays out, and how idols suck me dry, in ways I'd never thought of before.
Steve Hoppe's gripping real-life stories firmly ground what he says about idolatry in day-to-day reality. He shows how we all sip saltwater idols instead of the life-giving water of Jesus. But he's also honest enough to point out that we tend only to sip that freshwater too. This book will help you spot idols in your heart and will lead you simultaneously away from false fixes and towards quenching in Christ.
We all long to be truly satisfied but so often look in the wrong places to have our desire met. We look to the good things God has generously given us - people, money, food, comfort, etc - rather than to the giver himself. And we are left unsatisfied. Thirsty. Steve Hoppe understands this. He writes compassionately as a friend who struggles with the same idols we do, gently encouraging us to find our hope and fulfillment in Jesus - the source of living water. I thought I knew my idols well but Steve has exposed a couple more. He has also reminded me of the good news I often forget - the gospel has power to bring about real change in my heart. It is possible to know true joy and lasting satisfaction. I will be recommending this book to everyone I know!
I found this book encouraging. We all have struggles in life but this book is must if you are struggling or know someone who is.
Steve writes candidly about our (and his) need to find lasting satisfaction and value, but in the wrong things, or in the wrong way. The book is filled with real life examples, including his own struggles. I found it easy to identify with a number of them. The analogy of sipping salt water, which looks like it would quench our thirst, to believing that achievement, or money, or sex, etc will give lasting satisfaction is a great comparison. Steve uses many examples from scripture to help us see things from God's perspective. For instance, in Chapter 8 on money, Steve clearly points out that money is not evil by itself, although we can demonize it. Nor is it to be loved and hoarded. It is only when we put money in its proper place by earning, using it for living, saving and giving, as God intended, that we quit sipping the saltwater of money. We try so hard to find permanent value and satisfaction in money and other things, when God alone will satisfy us. The basic message of how to drink God's living water, finding salvation thru Jesus alone, is clearly presented throughout the book. A very good and "must read" book.
Thank you, Steve, for writing with such transparency and vulnerability. We all have our struggles - Steve courageously walks us through his with the hope that it would encourage us in ours and deepen our relationship with the Lord. Steve uses powerful and relatable examples of how just about anything can be received as a gift or become an idol. Even behavior praised by society can be displeasing to the Lord. This is the best book I've read this year!
As a scholar I am drawn towards literature that presents arguments that are accessible yet challenging, relevant while innovative, grounded in supporting evidence, and stimulating to engender productive reflection and rich discussion. Sipping Saltwater not only exhibits these qualities but has significantly impacted me by illuminating areas of struggle, inviting reflection and application, and providing a clear path to experiencing freedom from these struggles. The author's stories, Biblical underpinnings, inclusion of a breadth of idols permeating our culture, and practical implications will captivate any audience.
