Practical Religion - Ryle - XVI - Chapter 15

Required reading
Practical Religion by JC Ryle (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Read Chapter 15 (The family of God).

My summary
Today Ryle commends the family of God to us.

Firstly Ryle defines the family of God as people who all:
(i) have one Father;
(ii) rejoice in one name;
(iii) share a family likeness.

Secondly Ryle says that although the family is divided by dwelling in either heaven or earth, the members share the same position of being:
(i) lovers of the same Saviour;
(ii) saints;
(iii) God's children;
(iv) God's soldiers;
(v) safe and secure.

Thirdly, Ryle talks of the future prospects of the family - they will be:
(i) brought safe home;
(ii) given glorious bodies;
(iii) gathered into one company;
(iv) united in mind and judgement;
(v) perfected in holiness;
(vi) eternally provided for.

What grabbed me
I enjoyed the illustration Ryle gave of the likeness that we share with other believers: 'Take a converted Englishman and a converted Hindu, and let them suddenly meet for the first time. I will ensure you, if they can understand one another's language, they will soon find common ground between them, and feel at home. The one may have been brought up at Oxford, and enjoyed every privilege of English civilization. The other may have been trained in the midst of gross heathenism, and accustomed to habits, ways, and manners as unlike the Englishman's as darkness compared to light. And yet now in half an hour they feel that they are friends! The Englishman finds that he has more in common with this Hindu brother than he has with many of his old college companions. Who can account for this? How can it be explained? Nothing can account for it but the unity of the Holy Spirit's teaching. It is "one touch" of grace (not nature) "that makes the whole world family." God's people are in the brightest sense "a family."'

It is wonderful how quickly you feel connected when you meet another solid Christian for the first time. 

God is very gracious in giving such a strong affection for our family.

Next week's reading
Read Chapter 16 (Heirs of God).

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