Francis Schaeffer Quotes

Death is not more certainly a separation of our souls from our bodies than the Christian life is a separation of our souls from worldly tempers, vain indulgences, and unnecessary cares.

By the life we live through the grace of Christ, the character is formed. The original loveliness begins to be restored to the soul. The attributes of the character of Christ are imparted, and the image of the Divine begins to shine forth.

I have decided to follow in my sinful ways, and have largely abandoned the increasingly religious life I was leading over the previous months, including several hours of Talmudic study a day.

The mystery of the Christian life is that Christ expects us to flee sin and the devil, but does not expect us to rid ourselves of either on this side of glory. Repentance is a way of life, and so is the pursuit of godliness. I wish every Christian could be reminded of these two things.

The 'kingdom of Heaven' is a condition of the heart - not something that comes 'upon the earth' or 'after death.'

The bottom line in the Christian life is obedience and most people don't even like the word.

What the purpose of my life is about is I want to become the kind of person that God wants me to become, and through my study of the scriptures, I can articulate the kind of person that God would be happy if I become.

Developing Christlike attributes in our lives is not an easy task, especially when we move away from generalities and abstractions and begin to deal with real life. The test comes in practicing what we proclaim.

I'm trying to lead a good Christian life, so there ain't too much spicy to tell about me.

I feel like if I live the Christian life, then the people should be able to see it in my everyday actions.

You don't become a saint until you lead a good life whether in Tibet or Italy or America.

Whether this was explicitly taught or implicitly caught, I grew up with the impression that when it comes to the Christian life, justification was step one and sanctification was step two and that once we get to step two there's no reason to revisit step one.

And that's the great thing about living the Christian life and trying to live by faith, is you're trying to get better every day. You're trying to improve.

The Epistle is a correction of profession without life, and most valuable in this respect.

I'm not perfect. I'm never going to be. And that's the great thing about living the Christian life and trying to live by faith, is you're trying to get better every day. You're trying to improve.

Sin is whatever obscures the soul.

Sanctification consists of the daily realization that in Christ we have died, and in Christ we have been raised.

What sometimes goes on in all sorts of Christian institutions is not formation of people in the character of Christ; it's teaching of outward conformity. You don't get in trouble for not having the character of Christ, but you do if you don't obey the laws.

Why the Christian life is so difficult to many is because they have a divided heart. They are double-minded, which makes them unstable in all their ways.

As we lay hold upon the truth of God, its influence must affect us. It must elevate us. It must remove from us every imperfection.

One of the hardest jobs in ministry is keeping your own relationship with God where it needs to be.

Sin leads to wickedness and to hearts that become hardened to things of the Spirit.

I'm just like you - I want to be a good human being. I'm doing my best, and I'm working at it. And I'm trying to be a Christian. I'm always amazed when people walk up to me and say, 'I'm a Christian.' I always think, 'Already? You've already got it?' I'm working at it. And at my age, I'll still be working at it at 96.

I have been told that I misrepresent being a Christian. And that has been soul-crushing.

Let not that man think he makes any progress in holiness who walks not over the bellies of his lusts. He who doth not kill sin in this way takes no steps toward his journey's end.