J.C. Ryle: The Works of a Professing Christian

"The works of a professing Christian are of great importance.  They cannot save your soul.  They cannot justify you.  They cannot wipe out your sins.  They cannot deliver you from the wrath of God.  But it does not follow because they cannot save, that they are of no importance.  Take heed and beware of such a notion.  The man who thinks so is fearfully deceived.

"I often think I could willingly die for the doctrine of justification by faith without the deeds of the law.  But I must earnestly contend, as a general principle, that a man's works are the evidence of a man's religion.  If you call yourself a Christian, you must show it in your daily ways and daily behavior.  Call to mind that the faith of Abraham and of Rahab was proved by their works (James 2:21-25).  Remember it avails you and me nothing to profess we know God, if in works we deny Him (Titus 1:16).  Remember the words of the Lord Jesus: 'Every tree is known by its own fruit' (Luke 6:44)."

Misusing Wealth

“John G. Wendel and his sisters were some of the most miserly people of all time.  Although they had received a huge inheritance from their parents, they spent very little of it and did all they could to keep their wealth for themselves.

“John was able to influence five of his six sisters never to marry, and they lived in the same house in New York for 50 years.  When the last sister died in 1931, her estate was valued at more than $100 million.  Her only dress was one that she had made herself, and she had worn it for 25 years.

“The Wendels had such a compulsion to hold on to their possessions that they lived like paupers.  Even worse, they were like the kind of person Jesus referred to ‘who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God’ (Luke 12:21).”  (Daily Walk, June 2, 1993)

How does the world view the purpose of wealth?  How should the disciple of Jesus Christ view the purpose of wealth?  Is our hope found in the wealth of the world or in Christ alone?  How can we determine where our hope is found?

This week we will explore how God desires for us as His disciples to handle our wealth.  May the Spirit of God move, teach, convict, and encourage us as we dig into His Word and gospel message.

J.C. Ryle: The Two Systems of Religion

In his book Holiness, J.C. Ryle provides us with his observations of the Church of England in his time.  His words can very easily be used to describe the state of the churches in America.

"The plains truth is, there are two distinct and separate systems of Christianity in England at the present day.  It is useless to deny it.  Their existence is a great fact and one that cannot be too clearly known.

"According to one system, religion is a mere corporate business.  You are to belong to a certain body of people.  By virtue of your membership of this body, vast privileges, both for time and eternity, are conferred upon you.  It matters little what you are and what you feel.  You are not to try yourself by your feelings.  You are a member of a great ecclesiastical corporation.  Then all its privileges and immunities are your own.  Do you belong to the one true visible ecclesiastical corporation?  That is the grand question.

"According to the other system, religion is eminently a personal business between yourself and Christ.  It will not save your soul to be an outward member of any ecclesiastical body whatever, however sound that body may be.  Such membership will not wash away one sin, or give you confidence in the day of judgment.  There must be personal faith in Christ, personal dealings between yourself and God, personal felt communion between your own heart and the Holy Spirit.  Have you this personal faith?  Have you this felt work of the Spirit in your soul?  This is the grand question.  If not, you will be lost.

"This last system is the system which those who are called evangelical ministers cleave to and teach.  They do so, because they are satisfied that it is the system of Holy Scripture.  They do so, because they are convinced that any other system is productive of most dangerous consequences, and calculated to delude men fatally as to their actual state.  They do so because they believe it to be the only system of teaching which God will bless, and that no church will flourish so much as that in which repentance, faith, conversion and the work of the Spirit are the grand subjects of the minister's sermon." 

What Does a Christ Follower Look Like?

This Sunday we have the privilege of having Dr. Dan Heringer, Regional Minister of the Central Plains Region of the North American Baptist Conference, bring the Word of God to us.  Dan will be exploring discipleship as Christ spoke of it through Matthew 28:18-20 and John 15:1-17.  Below he gives us a sneak peek into his words for us.

“The Great Commission encapsulates God’s primary purpose for his church, for his followers. It provides personal and practical directives for us as individuals and the church. We know this – nothing new here – right?

“We know Jesus’ final command to his disciples is to make disciples. The participles, going, baptizing, and teaching are all subordinate to the main verb: the single command to make disciples.

“The purpose of each person who claims to follow Christ, the purpose for the church seems quite clear. It comes to us not by our own choice, but by command of Christ. So, if we are to make disciples we must have clear understanding of two issues:

·         What are the key qualities of a disciple? Would you know one if you saw one?

·         What will it take to develop these character qualities in the lives of people? I’d like to suggest that process matters.”

Pray for Dan as he prepares to bring us God’s Truth to us this week and pray that God would use his words to move those listening into a deeper, more intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.  

JC Ryle: The Devil and the Security of the True Church

"The devil may cast some of the members of the true Church into prison.  he may kill and burn and torture and hang.  But after he has killed the body, there is nothing more that he can do.  He cannot hurt the soul.  When the French troops took Rome a few years ago, they found on the walls of a prison cell, under the Inquisition, the words of a prisoner.  Who he was, we know not.  But his words are worthy of remembrance.  'Though dead, he yet speaks.'  He had written on the walls, very likely after an unjust rial, and a still more unjust excommunication, the following striking words ' Blessed Jesus, they cannot cast me out of Your true Church.'  That record is true!  Not all the power of Satan can cast out of Christ's true Church one single believer.

"I trust that no reader of this message will ever allow fear to prevent his beginning to serve Christ.  He to whom you commit your soul has all power in heaven and earth, and He will keep you.  He will never let you be cast away.  Relatives may oppose.  Neighbors may mock.  The world may slander and ridicule and jest and sneer.  Fear not!  Fear not!  The powers of hell shall never prevail against your soul.  Greater is He that is for you, than all they that are against you.

"Fear not for the Church of Christ, when ministers die, and saints are taken away.  Christ can ever maintain His own cause.  He will raise up better servants and brighter stars.  The stars are all in His right hand.  Leave off all anxious thought about the future.  Cease to be cast down by the measures of statesmen, or the plots of wolves in sheep's clothing.  Christ will ever provide for his own Church.  Christ will take care that 'the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.'  All is going on well, though our eyes may not see it.  The kingdoms of this world shall yet become the kingdoms of our God, and of His Christ."

J.C. Ryle: The Security of the True Church

"There is a glorious promise given by the Builder, 'The gates of hell shall not prevail.'

"He who cannot lie has pledged His word, that all the powers of hell shall never overthrow His Church.  It shall continue and stand, in spite of every assault.  It shall never be overcome.  All other created things perish and pass away, but not the Church which is built on the rock.

"Empires have risen and fallen in rapid succession.  Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Tyre, Carthage, Rome, Greece, Venice - where are all these now?  They were all the creations of man's hand, and have passed away.  But the true Church of Christ lives on.

"The mightiest cities have become heaps of ruins.  The broad walls of Babylon have sunk to the ground.  The palaces of Nineveh are covered with mounds of dust.  The hundred gates of Thebes are only matters of history.  Tyre is a place where fishermen hang their nets.  Carthage is a desolation.  Yet all this time the true Church stands.  The gates of hell do not prevail against it.

"Has the true Church been oppressed in one country?  It has fled to another.  Has it been trampled on and oppressed in one soil?  It has taken root and flourished in some other climate.  Fire, sword, prisons, fines, penalties, have never been able to destroy its vitality.  Its persecutors have died and gone to their own place, but the Word of God has lived and grown and multiplied.  Weak as this true Church may appear to the eye of man, it is an anvil which has broken many a hammer in times past, and perhaps will break many more before the end.  He that lays hands on it is touching the apple of His eye (. 2:8)."
Zech

Boasting In Our Arrogance

“Hudson Taylor had definite convictions about how God’s work should be done.  We can make our best plans and try to carry them out in our own strength.  Or we can make careful plans and ask God to bless them.  ‘Yet another way of working is to begin with God; to ask His plans, and to offer ourselves to Him to carry out His purposes.”  (W. Wiersbe, Wycliffe Handbook of Preaching and Preachers, p. 243)

How often do we bring God into our decisions of where and when to vacation?  How much is God thought of when we plan for our retirement and 401k?  How are we fitting God into our plans for tomorrow let alone a year from now?  If we were honest with ourselves we would have to admit that much of our planning does not involve God.  Obviously any plans we make that involve church, bible studies, mission trips, or even budgeting may thoroughly involve God.  But overall, for much of our daily life and future planning, God is more of a footnote rather than a heading.

In James 4:13-17, God tells us that leaving Him out of the equation for any planning is a big mistake.  In fact, he calls it boastful, arrogant, and sinful.  Those are very strong words for something that we probably don’t think a whole lot about.  But this is God’s view of the issue nonetheless. 

How can we bring God into our planning?  What does it look like to bring God into our planning for the future?  Why should we bring God into our planning for the future?  May God give us wisdom and understanding as we study this passage and may we be open to God’s movements in our own life and heart as he teaches us His truth on this subject.

J.C. Ryle: Spiritual Warfare and the Christian

"Warfare with the powers of hell is the experience of every individual member of the true Church.  Each has to fight.  What are the lives of all the saints, but records of battles?  What were such men as Paul and James and Peter and John and Polycarp and Chrysostom and Augustine and Luther and Calvin and Latimer and Baxter, but soldiers engaged in a constant warfare?  Sometimes the people of the saints have been assailed, and sometimes their property.  Sometimes they have been harassed by [lies] and slanders, and sometimes by open persecution.  But in one way or another the devil has been continually warring against the Church.  The 'gates of hell' have been continually assaulting the people of Christ.

"We who preach the gospel can hold out to all who come to Christ 'exceeding great and precious promises' (2 Peter 1:4).  We can offer boldly to you, in our Master's name, the peace of God which passes all understanding.  Mercy, free grace and full salvation are offered to everyone who will come to Christ, and believe on Him.  But we promise you no peace with the world, or with the devil.  We warn you, on the contrary, that there must be warfare, so long as you are in the body.  We would not keep you back, or deter you from Christ's service.  But we would have you 'count the cost,' and fully understand what Christ's service entails (Luke 14:28)."

J.C. Ryle: Spiritual Warfare and the Church

"The history of Christ's true Church has always been one of conflict and war.  It has been constantly assailed by a deadly enemy, Satan, the prince of this world.  The devil hates the true Church of Christ with an undying hatred.  He is ever stirring up opposition against all its members.  He is ever urging the children of this world to do his will, and to injure and harass the people of God.  If he cannot bruise the head, he will bruise the heel.  If he cannot rob believers of heaven, he will vex them by the way.

"Warfare with the powers of hell has been the experience of the whole body of Christ for six thousand years.  It has always been a bush burning, though not consumed, a woman fleeing into the wilderness, but not swallowed up (Ex. 3:2; Rev. 12:6, 16)  The visible Churches have their times of prosperity and seasons of peace, but never has there been a time of peace for the true Church.  Its conflict is perpetual.  Its battle never ends."

J.C. Ryle: Salvation

"Look to your foundation, if you would know whether or not you are a member of the one true Church.  It is a point that may be known to yourself.  Your public worship we can see; but we cannot see whether you are personally built upon the rock.  Your attendance at the Lord's table we can see; but we cannot see whether you are joined to Christ, and one with Christ, and Christ in you.  Take heed that you make no mistake about your own personal salvation.  See that your own soul is upon the rock.  Without this, all else is nothing.  Without this, you will never stand in the day of judgment.  Better a thousand times in that day to be found in a cottage 'upon the rock,' than in a palace upon the sand!"

J.C. Ryle: The Foundation Upon Which the Church is Built

"The Lord Jesus Christ tells us, 'Upon this rock will I build My Church.'  This is the Foundation upon which the Church is built.  What did the Lord Jesus Christ mean, when He spoke of this foundation?  Did He mean the apostle Peter, to whom He was speaking?  I think assuredly not.  I can see no reason, if He meant Peter, why He did not say, 'Upon you will I build My Church.'  If He had meant Peter, He would surely have said, 'I will build My Church on you,' as plainly as He said, 'To you will I give the keys.'  No, it was not the person of the apostle Peter, but the good confession which the apostle had just made!  It was not Peter, the erring, unstable man, but the mighty truth which the Father had revealed to Peter.  It was the truth concerning Jesus Christ Himself which was the rock.  It was Christ's mediatorship, and Christ's Messiahship.  It was the blessed truth that Jesus was the promised Savior, the true Surety, the real Intercessor between God and man.  This was the rock, and this the foundation, upon which the Church of Christ was to be built."

Judge Your Neighbor . . .

“At a pastor’s conference in Spokane, Chuck Swindoll told of being at a California Christian camp.  The first day there a man approached him and said how greatly he had looked forward to hearing Dr. Swindoll speak and his delight at now finally being able to realize that desire.  That evening Swindoll noticed the man sitting near the front.  But only a few minutes into the message the man was sound asleep.  Swindoll thought to himself that perhaps he was tired after a long day’s drive and couldn’t help himself.  But the same thing happened the next few nights, and Dr. Swindoll found his exasperation with the man growing.  On the last night the man’s wife came up and apologized for her husband’s inattention to the messages.  She then explained that he had recently been diagnosed as having terminal cancer and the medication he was taking to ease the pain made him extremely sleepy.  But it had been one of his life-long ambitions to hear Dr. Swindoll speak before he died, and now he had fulfilled that goal” (Source Unknown).

 

In James 4:11-12, James again warns us against sins with which we all wrestle: slander and judgment.  What are slander and judgment?  How are slander and judgment connected?  How do we judge others?  What does Scripture tell us in other places about judging others?  Does the Bible contradicting itself?

These are but a few questions we will deal with on Sunday morning.  Join us and may the Spirit prepare us to hear the truth of God’s Word, allowing it to fill us, change us, and transform us more into His Son.  

Grace for the Humble

“When Billy Graham was driving through a small southern town, he was stopped by a policeman and charged with speeding.  Graham admitted his guilt, but was told by the office that he would have to appear in court.

“The judge asked, ‘Guilty, or not guilty?’  When Graham pleaded guilty, the judge replied, ‘That’ll be ten dollars – a dollar for every mile you went over the limit.’

“Suddenly the judge recognized the famous minister.  ‘You have violated the law,’ he said.  ‘The fine must be paid – but I am going to pay it for you.’  He took a ten dollar bill from his own wallet, attached it to the ticket, and then took Graham out and bought him a steak dinner! ‘That,’ said Billy Graham, ‘is how God treats repentant sinners!’”  (Progress Magazine, December 14, 1992)

In the first three chapters of James we are told about our sinfulness.  It is not that we have great potential to be sinful, but that we are completely sinful by nature.  In fact, the words that James uses for our sinfulness is adultery.  We cheat on God when we disobey him, no matter how small or large we may think of our disobedience.  Adultery is adultery.  A sickness of sin permeates every pore of our body, mind, and soul.

But James does not leave us hanging in our own realization of our dark hearts.  There is hope and joy.  All this sinfulness and darkness within us has a cure: grace.  More specifically, God’s grace.  What a beautiful picture of God’s love for us.  But to whom is this grace given?  Where does repentance and humility come into play?

Join us this week at First Baptist Church in Emery, SD

as we explore God’s grace for us and His call for us as his children to humble ourselves and repent.