Holiness - Ryle - VIII - Chapter 7

Required reading
Holiness by J C Ryle (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Read Chapter 7, 'Assurance'.

My summary
In today's reading Ryle examines assurance.

Firstly Ryle shows that an assured hope is a true and scriptural thing.

Secondly, he makes clear that a believer may never arrive at this assured hope, and yet be saved.

Thirdly, Ryle gives four reasons why an assured hope is exceedingly to be desired:
(i) because of the present comfort and peace it affords;
(ii) because it tends to make a Christian an active working Christian;
(iii) because it tends to make a Christian a decided Christian;
(iv) because it tends to make the holiest Christians.

Finally Ryle tentatively gives three probable causes why an assured hope is so seldom attained:
(i) a defective view of the doctrine of justification;
(ii) slothfulness about growth in grace;
(iii) an inconsistent walk in life.

What grabbed me
I liked the point at the very end of the Chapter that Ryle made about the fact that the most assured believer may still have doubts: '...you must not be surprised if you have occasional doubts after you have got assurance. You must not forget you are on earth, and not yet in heaven. You are still in the body and have indwelling sin; the flesh will lust against the spirit to the very end. The leprosy will never be out of the walls of the old house until death takes it down. And there is a devil, too, and a strong devil—a devil who tempted the Lord Jesus, and gave Peter a fall, and he will take care you know it. Some doubts there always will be. He who never doubts has nothing to lose. He who never fears possesses nothing truly valuable. He who is never jealous knows little of deep love. But be not discouraged: you shall be more than conqueror through Him that loved you.'

This was followed by the words: 'Assurance is a most delicate plant. It needs daily, hourly watching, watering, tending, cherishing. So watch and pray the more when you have got it.'

No one should be neglecting assurance, no matter how much they may have it.

Next week's reading
Chapter 8, 'Moses - an example'.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.