Category Archives: J. C. Ryle
Do You Think God Is an Angry Being?
Beware of the common idea that God the Father is only an angry Being, whom sinful man can only regard with fear, and from whom he must flee to Christ for safety. Cast it aside as a baseless and unscriptural notion. Contend earnestly for all the attributes of God, — for His holiness and His justice, as well as for His love. But never allow for one moment that there is any want of love towards sinners in any Person in the Blessed Trinity. Oh! no! Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father loves, and the Son loves, and the Holy Ghost loves. The cross is the effect of the Father’s love, and not the cause. Redemption is the result of the compassion of all three Persons in the Trinity. To place the Father and the Son in opposition one to another, is weak and crude theology. Christ died, not because God the Father hated, but because He loved the world.
J. C. Ryle, Do You Believe?
“Speak, Lord, for Thy Servant Heareth.”
Beware of being wise above that which is written. Beware of forming fanciful theories of your own, and then trying to make the Bible square in with them. Beware of making selections from your Bible to suit your taste —refusing, like a spoilt child, whatever you think bitter, — seizing, like a spoilt child, whatever you think sweet. What is all this but taking Jehoiakim’s penknife? What does it amount to but telling God, that you, a poor short-lived worm know what is good for you better than He. It will not do. It will not do. You must take the Bible as it is. You must read it all, and believe it all. You must come to the reading of it in the spirit of a little child. Dare not to say “I believe this verse, for I like it. I reject that, for I do not like it. I receive this, for I can understand it. I refuse that, for I cannot reconcile it with my views.” Nay! but O man, who art thou that repliest against God? By what right do you talk in this way. Surely it were better to say over every chapter in the Word, “speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth.”
J. C. Ryle (1816-1900), Wheat or Chaff?
Christ Ought to Be All in a Ministry
I might tell you how Christ ought to be all in a ministry. The great work which ordained men are intended to do, is to lift up Christ. We are to be like the pole on which the brazen serpent was hung. We are useful so long as we exalt the great object of faith, but useful no further. We are to be ambassadors to carry tidings to a rebellious world, about the King’s Son, and if we teach men to think more about us and our office than about Him, we are not fit for our place. The Spirit of Christ, will never honor that minister who does not testify of Christ —who does not make Christ “all.”
original emphasis, J. C. Ryle (1816-1900)
Jesus Christ Was Conceived by the Holy Spirit, and Born of the Virgin Mary
[Commenting on Mt. 1:18-25]
These verses begin by telling us two great truths. They tell us how the Lord Jesus Christ took our nature upon Him, and became man. They tell us also that His birth was miraculous. His mother Mary was a virgin.
These are very mysterious subjects. They are depths, which we have no line to fathom. They are truths, which we have not mind enough to comprehend. Let us not attempt to explain things which are above our feeble reason. Let us be content to believe with reverence, and not speculate about matters which we cannot understand. Enough for us to know, that with Him who made the world nothing is impossible. Let us rest in the words of the Apostles’ Creed:
“Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary.”
J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on Matthew
HT: Reformed Quotes
The Minister’s Mistaken Calling
The minister who does not strive to live up to this name, has mistaken his calling.
J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on Mark (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 2012), 8.
Our Prayers May Be Weak…
Our prayers may be weak, stammering, and poor in our eyes. But if they come from a right heart, God understands them. Such prayers are His delight.
Do You Know Christ, or Do You Just Know a Lot about Him?
It is well to be acquainted with all the doctrines and principles of Christianity. It is better to be acquainted with Christ Himself. It is well to be familiar with faith, and grace, and justification, and sanctification. They are all matters pertaining to the King. But it is far better to be familiar with Jesus Himself, to see the King’s own face, and to behold His beauty.
Jesus Offers an Everlasting Salvation
Some people fancy they may be justified one year and condemned another, —children of adoption at one time, and strangers by and by, —heirs of the kingdom in the beginning of their days, and yet servants of the devil in their end. I cannot find this in the Bible…. It seems to me to overturn the good news of the Gospel altogether, and to tear up its comforts by the roots. I believe the salvation Jesus offers is an everlasting salvation, and a pardon once sealed with His blood shall never be reversed.
Christ Offers No Hothouse Christianity
True holiness does not make a Christian evade difficulties, but face and overcome them. Christ would have His people show that His grace is not a mere hot-house plant, which can only thrive under shelter, but a strong hardy thing which can flourish in every relation of life.
J. C. Ryle, Holiness (Carlisle, PA: Evangelical Press, 2011), 25.
Life Is Worship 