Spurgeon Gems

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

“Think not of the sinner or of the greatness of his sin, but think of the greatness of the Savior!”–1895, Sermon 2434

“We are not saved by obedience, for obedience is the result of salvation! We are saved by faith because faith leads us to obey! Faith is weakness clinging to strength and becoming strong through so doing.”–1891, Sermon 2209

salvation is all of the grace of God; damnation is all of the will of man.”–1895, Sermon 2411

There is no question that confession is here required. And again it is clearly stated, ‘He that believes and is baptized’—which is the confession that Christ requires—‘shall be saved.’

Romans 10:9-10 talks about confession "with the mouth," not by an act of baptism. It means agreeing with God (Greek homologeo means saying the same thing) that Jesus is Lord and believing that God raised Him from the dead. According to Romans 6:3-6, baptism is a way of identifying with Christ's death and resurrection, after we are saved.

we breathe in the air by prayer, and we breathe it out by praise! This is the holy respiration[33] of a Christian’s life!

Beware, then, of having a form of faith which does not purify your lives, a profession of belief in Christ which allows you to live in sin with impunity, for if you have this, however near you may seem to be to the people of God—even if you are counted in with them—yet God will not reckon you as His, for He is the same Lord who ‘afterward destroyed them that believed not.’

“If there are any difficulties in the faith of Christ, they are not one-tenth as great as the absurdities in any system of unbelief which seeks to take its place! I do not hesitate to say that the whole doctrine of Evolution, with which many men are fascinated today, is ten thousand times more absurd than the most ridiculous travesty of what is taught in the Word of God, and that it requires more faith, and also far greater gullibility, than to believe any doctrine which is deduced from Holy Scripture.”–1893,

the trees outlive us and beneath their shade, we are reminded that man is far more frail than the tree which he fells with the axe. Yes, the very grass that he mows outlives the mower! Man is a mere shadow—we have scarcely time to say that we are before we are not!

“In the greatness of our troubles there may often be space for the greater display of the goodness of God!”–1895,

cultivate a brave personality. In the service of God, things cannot go by the counting of heads. You must follow the Lord’s will wherever it leads you, whether you go alone or not.”–1891,

God had one Son without sin, but He never had a son without sorrow, and He never will while the world stands.

The Lord will have the prayers of His people to go with the proclamation of His Gospel if it is to be the power of God unto salvation; and there is no change in this matter since Paul’s day!

“No man has such need to pray as the man who does not care to pray. When you can pray and long to pray—why, then, you will pray! But when you cannot pray and do not wish to pray—why, then, you must pray, or evil will come of it!

Believe that God will save your children! Be not content to sow principles in their minds that may possibly develop in later years, but be working for immediate conversion! Expect fruit in your children while they are children! Pray for them that they may not run into the world, fall into the evils of outward sin, and then come back with broken bones to the Good Shepherd. But that they may, by God’s rich Grace, be kept from the paths of the Wicked One and grow up in the fold of Christ, first as lambs of His flock, and then as sheep of His hand.”–1887,

Seek such faith even now, I beseech you, ‘even now’ ” (Joh 11:22).–1892,

This Scripture isn't about God giving us what we ask. It's a statement of faith by Mary, the sister of Lazarus, that God the Father would give Christ His Son whatever Jesus asked.

The most effective ministry from a pulpit is that which is supported by godliness from the pew!

He has chosen you to know Christ that you may make Him known to others!”–1887,

there are many more sinners brought to Christ by happy Christians than by doleful[52]

Let us resolve that come what will, we will keep back nothing of the truth of God which the Lord has entrusted to us.”–1891,

God does not need your strength; He has more than enough power of His own! He asks for your weakness.”–1891,

“It is God’s Word that saves souls, not our comment upon it,

You can hear some very smart sermons and very clever sermons and, as a rule, I may say that the cleverer they are, the worse they are! Where you see so much of the man, you will see very little of His Master.”–1893,

It is a sad affliction when in our solemn assemblies the brilliance of the Gospel Light is dimmed by error. The clearness of the testimony is spoiled when doubtful voices are scattered among the people, and those who ought to preach the Truth, the whole Truth, and nothing but the Truth, are preaching doctrines which are the imaginations of men and the inventions of the age!”–1887,

Some sermons which I have heard, though faultlessly orthodox, have contained nothing that could convert anybody; for there has been nothing to touch the conscience or heart. Others, though very clever and profound, have had no possible bearing on the needs of the hearers and so it was little wonder that they were without result.”–1891,

We are not to make up a Gospel as we go along, as I have heard some say. We are not to shape it to the times in which we live, and suit it to the congregations to which we speak. God forbid! Let this be true of every one of us, ‘He shall not speak of Himself; but whatever He shall hear, that shall He speak.’

Firmness of purpose should be adorned with gentleness of manner in carrying it out.”–1893,

“We need to have a Church in which all the members do something, in which all do all they can, in which all are always doing all they can; for this is what our Lord deserves to have from a living, loving people bought with His precious blood! If He has saved me, I will serve Him forever and ever. And whatever lies in my power to do for His glory, that shall be my delight to do, and to do at once!”–1892,

If the devil never roars, the Church will never sing! God is not doing much if the devil is not awake and busy. Depend upon it: a working Christ makes a raging devil! When you hear ill reports, cruel speeches, threats, taunts and the like, believe that the Lord is among His people and is working gloriously.”–1891,

the wealth of the Church lies in the power of intercession!”–1892,

oh, for a grand spring tide, a mighty flood that shall bring many to Christ and to the Church! Then it shall be that God will get to Himself a glorious and an everlasting name.”–1891,

If we add to our Churches by becoming worldly, by taking in persons who have never been born again; if we add to our Churches by accommodating the life of the Christian to the life of the worldling, our increase is worth nothing at all; it is a loss rather than a gain! If we add to our Churches by excitement, by making appeals to the passions rather than by explaining the truth of God to the understanding. If we add to our churches otherwise than by the power of the Spirit of God making men new creatures in Christ Jesus, the increase is of no worth whatever!

“What an ornament to a Church her converts are! These are our jewels! We care nothing for gorgeous architecture or grand music in the worship of God! Our true building is composed of our converts; our best music is their confession of faith. May God give us more of it!”–1892,

c.f.--1 Peter 2:5