Knots Untied by JC Ryle (Available from Amazon or free here)
Today we start the third and last book we will read from Ryle this year.
To begin the book Ryle discusses what is Evangelical religion.
Firstly Ryle explains that Evangelical religion is marked by the following leading features;
(i) the absolute supremacy it assigns to of Holy Scripture;
(ii) the depth and prominence it assigns to the doctrine of human sinfulness and corruption;
(iii) the paramount importance it attaches to the work and office of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the nature of the salvation which He has wrought out for man;
(iv) the high place which it assigns to the inward work of the Holy Spirit in the heart of man;
(v) the importance which it attaches to the outward and visible work of the Holy Ghost in the life of man.
Secondly Ryle teaches that Evangelical religion does not undervalue:
(i) learning;
(ii) the church;
(iii) the Christian ministry;
(iv) the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper;
(v) the English Prayer-book;
(vi) Episcopacy;
(vii) handsome churches;
(viiii) unity;
(ix) Christian holiness and self-denial.
Thirdly Ryle examines what it is that makes much religion appear to us not Evangelical. He claims that you may spoil the gospel by:
(i) substitution;
(ii) addition;
(iii) interposition;
(iv) disproportion;
(v) confused and contradictory directions.
Ryle's unashamed declaration that Evangelicalism is gospel centred was excellent: 'In one word I wind up this last part of my subject by saying, that a religion to be really “Evangelical” and really good, must be the Gospel, the whole Gospel, and nothing but the Gospel, as Christ prescribed it and expounded it to the Apostles; the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth; the terms, the whole terms, and nothing but the terms,—in all their fulness, all their freeness, all their simplicity, all their presentness.'
Pervert the gospel and you are no longer evangelical.
Next week's reading
Read Chapter 2 (Only one way of salvation).
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
1 comment:
There was so much that was excellent and timely in this section! I think this struck me most though:
"Popularity obtained by pandering to the senses or the sentiment of the hearers is not worth anything. Worshippers who are not content with the Bible, the cross of Christ, simply prayer and simple praise are worshippers of little value. It is useless to try to please them because their spiritual taste is diseased."
As the Preacher said, " ... there is no new thing under the sun," and Ryle's warnings, and exhortation to stand firm in the faith once for all delivered against any and all attempts to adulterate the glorious gospel is just as applicable today as it was then.
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