A book club to encourage reading of Reformed Christian Classics at around 10-20 pages a time.
April 23, 2010
Holiness - Ryle - XVI - Chapters 15 and 16
Required reading
Holiness by J C Ryle (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Read Chapter 15 ('Lovest thou me') and Chapter 16 ('Without Christ'). My summary Today we read two short chapters.
In Chapter Fifteen we are instructed on what it means to love Christ. There must be a peculiar feeling towards Christ that is marked by:
(i) thinking about him;
(ii) hearing about him;
(iii) reading about him;
(iv) pleasing him;
(v) liking his friends;
(vi) jealousy for his name and honour;
(vii) talking about him;
(viii) being always with him.
Then in Chapter Sixteen we examine what it is to be without Christ. A person is without Christ when they have no knowledge of him, no faith in him, and no work of the Holy Spirit in his life. To be in such a state means the person is:
(i) without God;
(ii) without peace;
(iii) without hope;
(iv) without heaven.
What grabbed me The section on the marks of love for Christ was encouraging. I particularly liked the point that those who love someone, love to read about that person: 'If we love a person, we like to read about him. What intense pleasure a letter from an absent husband gives to a wife, or a letter from an absent son to his mother. Others may see little worth notice in the letter. They can scarcely take the trouble to read it through. But those who love the writer see something in the letter which no one else can. They carry it about with them as a treasure. They read it over and over again. Well, it is just so between the true Christian and Christ! The true Christian delights to read the Scriptures, because they tell him about his beloved Savior. It is no wearisome task with him to read them. He rarely needs reminding to take his Bible with him when he goes a journey. He cannot be happy without it. And why is all this? It is because the Scriptures testify of Him whom his soul loves, even Christ.'
To read about someone you love is not a burden. It is a joy.
Next week's reading Read Chapter 17 (Thirst relieved).
Now it's your turn Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
1 comment:
Margo
said...
Chapter 15 & 16 There is a great contrast between these 2 chapters.
In ch.15, I love Ryle’s saying, ‘True saving Christianity is in essence knowing, trusting and loving a certain living Person, who died for us – even Christ, the Lord.’
I found Ryle’s list (‘the peculiar marks by which love to Christ makes itself known’) thought provoking. And the illustration about the American Indian convert is great:
"Man," said a thoughtless, ungodly English traveler, to a North American Indian convert, "Man, what is the reason that you make so much of Christ, and talk so much about Him? What has this Christ done for you, that you should make so much ado about Him?" The converted Indian did not answer him in words. He gathered together some dry leaves and moss and made a ring with them on the ground. He picked up a live worm and put it in the middle of the ring. He struck a light and set the moss and leaves on fire. The flame soon rose, and the heat scorched the worm. It writhed in agony, and after trying in vain to escape on every side, curled itself up in the middle, as if about to die in despair. At that moment the Indian reached forth his hand, took up the worm gently and placed it on his bosom. "Stranger," he said to the Englishman, "do you see that worm? I was that perishing creature. I was dying in my sins, hopeless, helpless and on the brink of eternal fire. It was Jesus Christ who put forth the arm of His power. It was Jesus Christ who delivered me with the hand of His grace, and plucked me from everlasting burnings. It was Jesus Christ who placed me, a poor sinful worm, near the heart of His love. Stranger, that is the reason why I talk of Jesus Christ, and make much of Him. I am not ashamed of it, because I love Him."
Chapter 16 gives the reader a good push towards evangelism.
1 comment:
Chapter 15 & 16
There is a great contrast between these 2 chapters.
In ch.15, I love Ryle’s saying, ‘True saving Christianity is in essence knowing, trusting and loving a certain living Person, who died for us – even Christ, the Lord.’
I found Ryle’s list (‘the peculiar marks by which love to Christ makes itself known’) thought provoking. And the illustration about the American Indian convert is great:
"Man," said a thoughtless, ungodly English traveler, to a North American Indian convert, "Man, what is the reason that you make so much of Christ, and talk so much about Him? What has this Christ done for you, that you should make so much ado about Him?"
The converted Indian did not answer him in words. He gathered together some dry leaves and moss and made a ring with them on the ground. He picked up a live worm and put it in the middle of the ring. He struck a light and set the moss and leaves on fire. The flame soon rose, and the heat scorched the worm. It writhed in agony, and after trying in vain to escape on every side, curled itself up in the middle, as if about to die in despair. At that moment the Indian reached forth his hand, took up the worm gently and placed it on his bosom. "Stranger," he said to the Englishman, "do you see that worm? I was that perishing creature. I was dying in my sins, hopeless, helpless and on the brink of eternal fire. It was Jesus Christ who put forth the arm of His power. It was Jesus Christ who delivered me with the hand of His grace, and plucked me from everlasting burnings. It was Jesus Christ who placed me, a poor sinful worm, near the heart of His love. Stranger, that is the reason why I talk of Jesus Christ, and make much of Him. I am not ashamed of it, because I love Him."
Chapter 16 gives the reader a good push towards evangelism.
Post a Comment