A book club to encourage reading of Reformed Christian Classics at around 10-20 pages a time.
June 4, 2010
Practical Religion - Ryle - II - Chapter 2
Required reading Practical Religion by JC Ryle (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example)- Read Chapter 2 (Self-exertion). My summary Today's reading is an exposition of Luke 13:24 ' Strive to enter in at the strait gate'.
Firstly, Ryle shows how the way of salvation is described. It is a gate that is: (i) made for sinners by Christ; (ii) strait; (iii) the only gate to heaven; (iv) ever ready to open; (v) one through which thousands have gone and been saved; (vi) a privilege to have; (vii) making us thankful.
Secondly, we look at what we are commanded to do when Jesus says 'Strive to enter'. 'Strive' teaches that: (i) a man must use means diligently; (ii) man is a free agent; (iii) man must expect many adversaries and a hard battle; (iv) it is worth while to seek salvation; (v) laziness in religion is a great sin; (vi) all outside the strait gate are in great danger.
Thirdly, we consider the awful prophecy which Jesus delivers when he says 'Many will seek to enter in, and shall not be able'.
What grabbed me A great rebuke against laziness: 'I do not know in what state of soul many readers of this paper may be. But I warn you to take heed that you do not perish forever because you did not "make every effort." Do not suppose that it needs some great scarlet sin to bring you to the pit of destruction. You have only to sit still and do nothing, and you will find yourself eventually in the pit of Hell. Yes! Satan does not ask you to walk in the steps of Cain, and Pharaoh, and Ahab, and Belshazzar, and Judas Iscariot. There is another road to Hell that is guaranteed to get you there--the road of spiritual sluggishness, spiritual laziness, and spiritual sloth. Satan has no objection to you being known as a respectable member of the Christian Church. He will let you give your offerings; he will allow you to sit comfortably in church every Sunday that you live. He knows full well, that so long as you do not "make every effort," you must come at last to the place where the destroying maggot never dies, and the fire that is never quenched. Be careful that you do not come to this end. I repeat it, "you have only to do nothing, and you will be lost."'
Sitting on the fence is just as sure a way to hell as being on the wrong side of the fence.
Next week's reading Read Chapter 3 (Reality).
Now it's your turn Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
1 comment:
Margo
said...
In Chapter 1 (Self-inquiry), I found the teaching on self-examination very useful. I like Ryle’s signs and evidences which always accompany conversion: ‘sense of sin and deep hatred to it faith in Christ and love to Him delight in holiness and longing after more love to God’s people distaste for the things of the world’ We all have the need for the new birth: ‘as ducks take naturally to water, so do children to selfishness, lying and deceit.’
In Chapter 2 (Self-exertion), Ryle emphasizes the need for all people to strive to enter the narrow gate, and as he says, that gate is not elastic!
The following section is a timely warning to myself and all Christians to keep striving: ‘Watch out for the slightest inclination to be careless about such things as reading the Bible, going to church, praying, and the taking of the Lord's Supper. Beware of shortening your prayers, Bible reading, your private communion with God. Be careful that you do not give way to a thoughtless, lazy manner of using weekly services of the Church. Fight against any rising disposition to be sleepy, critical, and fault-finding, while you listen to the preaching of the Gospel. Whatever you do for God, do it with all your heart, mind and strength. In other things be moderate, and dread running into extremes. In matters of the soul fear moderation just as you would fear the plague. Don't care what men may think of you. Let it be enough for you that your Master says, "make every effort."’
I especially liked his statement about mercy: that there is a gate of salvation, but a still greater mercy is when we are taught to enter in by it and be saved!
1 comment:
In Chapter 1 (Self-inquiry), I found the teaching on self-examination very useful. I like Ryle’s signs and evidences which always accompany conversion:
‘sense of sin and deep hatred to it
faith in Christ and love to Him
delight in holiness and longing after more
love to God’s people
distaste for the things of the world’
We all have the need for the new birth: ‘as ducks take naturally to water, so do children to selfishness, lying and deceit.’
In Chapter 2 (Self-exertion), Ryle emphasizes the need for all people to strive to enter the narrow gate, and as he says, that gate is not elastic!
The following section is a timely warning to myself and all Christians to keep striving:
‘Watch out for the slightest inclination to be careless about such things as reading the Bible, going to church, praying, and the taking of the Lord's Supper. Beware of shortening your prayers, Bible reading, your private communion with God. Be careful that you do not give way to a thoughtless, lazy manner of using weekly services of the Church. Fight against any rising disposition to be sleepy, critical, and fault-finding, while you listen to the preaching of the Gospel. Whatever you do for God, do it with all your heart, mind and strength. In other things be moderate, and dread running into extremes. In matters of the soul fear moderation just as you would fear the plague. Don't care what men may think of you. Let it be enough for you that your Master says, "make every effort."’
I especially liked his statement about mercy: that there is a gate of salvation, but a still greater mercy is when we are taught to enter in by it and be saved!
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