The Most Important Day Of My Life - A Personal Tribute to R.C Sproul

It feels a bit strange admitting this, because I know that I'd be expected to say that the most important day of my life was a sentimental milestone—like my wedding day or the birth of my daughter. But for me, it has to be the day I learned about the doctrine of imputed righteousness.

I remember stumbling upon this explanation of justification by R.C. Sproul at a time when, as a young Christian, I was fashioning myself into a pretty good Pharisee. 

I didn't grow up in church, so when I became a Christian as a student, there was lot of learning to do. There had been a lot of good input from leaders on the doctrines of grace but the rest of my personal understanding of doctrine was a bit of a mish-mash. And this is what I lived out. 

It turns out that when I became a Christian, all my avenues for pride just got re-routed into spiritual self-righteousness. Being seen to be righteous became very important, and it was a disaster, especially for my poor wife. I remember driving home from church one Sunday and articulating the notion to her that I did not struggle with sin in the way I felt my peers did. The irony was completely lost on me—although not to her.

But as I continued to search out teaching from other guys in the reformed evangelical circle I eventually "got the gospel" properly. The day I watched that video wasn't the first time I heard the gospel, but I'd never had it explained to me like this before. Something broke inside me that day which set me on a path towards Christian maturity.

That's why I want to pay my own modest tribute to R. C. It was his infectious enthusiasm for life-changing doctrines which the Holy Spirit used to actually get through to a hard-hearted, proud sinner like me. He showed me that, far from being dusty head knowledge, understanding sound doctrine was heart warming, life giving, and truly nurturing to our walk with God.