J.C. Ryle: To Not Have the Holy Spirit's Work Seen in Our Life is to be Without Christ

There is a problem within the church.  I used to think it was an isolated issue, one that only affected the church in the United States.  But reading these words of J.C. Ryle from over a hundred years ago is a reminder that this issue is not an American "thing."  It is a sin "thing."  There are many within the walls of our churches (perhaps even those reading these words) who are fooling ourselves. We believe with all our hearts that we are God's children, that our place in the heavenly mansion is set and reserved, but when others look at our life and actions in more detail they begin to question our "conversion."  The words below are not meant to guilt anyone into submission to Christ.  Only the Holy Spirit can convict.  But do we who profess to be children of the High and Holy God live out the holy calling to which we were called and do those around us see this calling being lived out?  May the words of J.C. Ryle shake us to our core.

"A man is 'without Christ' when the Holy spirit's work cannot be seen in his life.  Who can avoid being, if he uses his eyes, that myriads of professing Christians know nothing of inward conversion of heart?  They will tell you that they believe the Christian religion; they go to their places of worship with tolerable regularity; they think it a proper thing to be married and buried with all the ceremonies of the church; they would be much offended if their Christianity were doubted.  But where is the Holy Spirit to be seen in their lives?  What are their hearts and affections set upon?  Whose is the image and superscription that stands out in their tastes and habits and ways?  Alas, there can only be one reply!  They know nothing experimentally of the renewing, sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.  They are yet dead to God.  And of all such only one account can be given.  They are 'without Christ.'

"I am well aware that few will admit this.  The vast majority will tell you that it is extreme and wild and extravagant to require so much in Christians, and to press on everyone conversion.  They will say that it is impossible to keep up the high standard which I have just referred to, without going out of the world, and that we may surely go to heaven without being such very great saints.  To all this, I can only reply, 'What says the Scripture?  What says the Lord?'  It is written, 'Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.'  ' Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.'  'He that says he abides in Christ, ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.'  ' If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His' (John 3:3; Matt. 18:3; 1 John 2:6; Rom. 8:9).  The Scripture cannot be broken.  If Bible words mean anything, to be without the Spirit is to be 'without Christ'" (Holiness, J.C. Ryle).

Every Knee Will Bow

A number of years ago a documentary on the rise and fall of the infamous Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein showed video of him taking power over elected officials.  Anyone resisting his rise in power was summarily rushed out of the room and executed.  This coerced those left to pledge their allegiance to Saddam.  He ruled with a mighty, murderous hand until Coalition Forces ended his stint as President of Iraq.

Whereas Saddam Hussein forcibly ruled over people, our Savior and King, Jesus Christ, does no such thing.  No force is necessary in the people bowing before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Philippians 2:5-11 speaks of every knee bowing and tongue confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord.  There is no need to coerce because He truly is the King and Lord of all.

How and why will every knee bow before Him?  Who is this Jesus that the people of Jerusalem celebrated as he road in on a donkey?  What does Jesus as our King mean for us today?  Join us this Palm Sunday as we look into what God’s word has to say about Jesus Christ as King and invite those you know to hear of the life He provides.

Striving to know Christ and make him known!

J.C. Ryle: To Have No Heart-Faith is to be Without Christ

There are disciples of Christ who refuse to judge whether those around them are true believers of Jesus Christ.  Their fear of hurting others, receiving backlash, or even severing friendships with such individuals prevents them from seeing the spiritual condition of so many, even within the walls of the church.  With "Who am I to judge!" as their mantra, a lack of understanding of the Word of God and a fear of man is revealed.

These words of J.C. Ryle are as true today as they were one hundred years ago.  Let them sink in and may the true church of Jesus Christ stand firmly on the foundation of Christ, speaking the truth of the gospel message, and calling everyone (including many within our own churches) to KNOW Christ with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength.

"A man is 'without Christ' when he has no heart-faith in Him as his Savior.  It is quite possible to know all about Christ, and yet not to put our trust in Him.  There are multitudes who know every article of the belief, and can tell you glibly that Christ was 'born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried.'  They learned it at school.  They have it sticking fast in their memories.  But they make no practical use of their knowledge.  They put their trust in something which is not Christ.  They hope to go to heaven because they are moral and well-conducted, because they say their prayers and go to church, because they have been baptized and go the Lord's table.  But as to a lively faith in God's mercy through Christ - a real, intelligent confidence in Christ's blood and righteousness and intercession - they are things of which they know nothing at all.  And of all such people I can see but one true account.  They are 'without Christ.'

"I am aware that many do not admit the truth of what I have just said.  Some tell us that all baptized people are members of Christ by virtue of their baptism.  Others tell us that where there is a head knowledge we have no right to question a person's interest in Christ.  To these views I have only one plain answer.  The Bible forbids us to say that any man is joined to Christ until he believes.  Baptism is no proof that we are joined to Christ.  Simon Magus was baptized, and yet was distinctly told that he had 'no part or lot in this matter' (Acts 8:21).  Head-knowledge is no proof that we are joined to Christ.  The devils know Christ well enough, but have no portion in Him.  God knows, no doubt, who are His from all eternity.  But man knows nothing of anyone's justification until he believes.  The grand question is: 'Do we believe?'  It is written, 'He that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him.'  'He that believes not shall be damned' (John 3:36; Mark 16:16).  If Bible words mean anything, to be without faith is to be 'without Christ'" (Holiness, J.C. Ryle).

J.C. Ryle: To be Ignorant of Christ is to be Without Christ

The American culture today has become one of tolerance and safety in that one cannot be critical or judge another for fear of receiving a "scarlet letter."  It is no different within the walls of the churches.  The misuse of Matthew 7:1 is rampant throughout so called "church circles."  It has even come to the point where once respected ministers of the Word have removed the narrow road of the gospel message and replaced it with a universalism that will mislead souls and tickle ears.  How is the true church of God to combat such falsehood?  J.C. Ryle (1816-1900) dealt with this same issue in his home country of England.  See his words below.

"You were without Christ" (Ephesians 2:12).

"Let us consider when it can be said of a man that he is 'without Christ' . . . A man is 'without Christ' when he has no head-knowledge of Him.  Millions, no doubt, are in this condition.  They neither know who Christ is, nor what He has done, nor what He taught, nor why He was crucified, nor where He is now, nor what He is to mankind.  In short, they are entirely ignorant of Him.  The heathen, of course, who never yet heard the gospel, come first under this description.  But unhappily they do not stand alone.  There are thousands of people living in England at this very day, who have hardly any clearer ideas about Christ than the very heathen.  Ask them what they know about Jesus Christ, and you will be astounded at the gross darkness which covers their minds.  Visit them on their deathbeds, and you will find that they can tell you no more about Christ than about Mohammad.  Thousands are in this state in country parishes, and thousands in towns.  And about all such people but one account can be given.  They are 'without Christ.'

"I am aware that some modern divines do not take the view which I have just stated.  They tell us that all mankind have a part and interest in Christ, whether they know Him or not.  They say that all men and women, however ignorant while they live, shall be taken by Christ's mercy to heaven when they die!  Such views, I firmly believe, cannot be reconciled with God's Word.  It is written 'this is life eternal, that they might know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent' (John 17:3).  It is one of the marks of the wicked, on whom God shall take vengeance at the last day, that they 'know not God' (2 Thess. 1:8).  An unknown Christ is no Savior.  What shall be the state of the heathen after death; how the savage who never heard the gospel shall be judged; in what manner God will deal with the helplessly ignorant and uneducated - all these are questions which we may safely let alone.  We may rest assured that 'the judge of all the earth will do right' (Gen. 18:25).  But we must not fly in the face of Scripture.  If Bible words means anything, to be ignorant of Christ is to be 'without Christ'"  (Holiness, J.C. Ryle).

Every Society Seems to Be in the Same Boat

In the end, every society finds itself in the same boat.  Below are the words of the apostle Paul in Romans 1:18-32.  We could say they are prophet for us today, but he is only describing what he sees with his own eyes in the society and time in which he lived.  Let these words sink into the heart of every believer and be reminded that God is still God, sin is still sin, and the Way is truly narrow.

Romans 1:18-32 (ESV)

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,[a] in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

²⁸ And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. ²⁹ They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, ³⁰ slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, ³¹ foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. ³² Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

J.C. Ryle: An Illustration of Why a True Christian Loves Christ

"If you love Christ, never be ashamed to let others see it and know it.  Speak for Him.  Witness for Him.  Live for Him.  Work for Him.  If He has loved you and washed you from your sins in His own blood, you never need shrink from letting others know that you feel it, and love Him in return.

"'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.'

"If we know anything of love to Christ, may we have the mind of this North American Indian!  May we never think that we can love Christ too well, live to Him too thoroughly, confess Him too boldly, lay ourselves out for Him too heartily!  Of all the things that will surprise us in the resurrection morning, this I believe will surprise us most: that we did not love Christ more before we died" (Holiness, JC Ryle).

J.C. Ryle: The True Church Desires to Always be with Christ

"Finally, if we love a person, we like to be always with him.  Thinking and hearing and reading and occasionally talking are all well in their way.  But when we really love people we want something more.  We long to be always in their company.  We wish to be continually in their society, and to hold communion with them without interruption or farewell.  Well, it is just so between the true Christian and Christ!  The heart of a true Christian longs for that blessed day when he will see his Master face to face, and go out no more.  He longs to have done with sinning and repenting and believing and to begin that endless life when he shall see as he has been seen, and sin no more.  He has found it sweet to live by faith, and he feels it will be sweeter still to live by sight.  He has found it pleasant to hear of Christ and talk of Christ and read of Christ.  How much more pleasant will it be to see Christ with his own eyes, and never to leave him any more!  'Better,' he feels, 'is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire' (Eccl. 6:9).  And why is all this?  Simply because he loves him.

"Such are the marks by which true love may be discovered.  They are all plain, simple and easy to be understood.  There is nothing dark, abstruse and mysterious about them.  Use them honestly, and handle them fairly, and you cannot fail to get some light on the subject of this message" (Holiness, JC Ryle).

Guard Your Heart

This Sunday morning Pastor Mark Bendell will be bringing us the Word of God from the book of Proverbs.  Pray for Pastor Mark that God would use him as a vessel for His glory and praise.  Below is a preview of what will be brought through his message.



We've probably all heard the expression "Where did THAT come from?".  Someone says or does something awkward, inappropriate or wrong and everyone wonders about the unseen cause.

Or you receive a warm thank you or compliment from someone who was touched by an expression of your love and kindness.  What prompts your acts of concern and care for another person?

The Bible teaches that our lives tell the story of the condition of our heart - that center of our being from which flow all the thoughts, words, emotions and choices of life.  Proverbs 4:23 urges us to "...guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life".  Jesus promised that the pure in heart will see God (Matt. 5:8) and declared  that the heart is the source of either the good or the evil in a person's life (Luke 12:45).

Join us this Sunday for worship and a time to learn about guarding your heart from Proverbs 4:20-27.  Prayerfully prepare your heart to hear God's Word and identify next steps in following Jesus.

For God's glory-

Pastor Mark Bendell

J.C. Ryle: The True Church and Talking to Christ

"If we love a person, we like to talk to him.  We tell him all our thoughts, and pour out all our heart to him.  We find no difficulty in discovering subjects of conversation.  However silent and reserved we may be to others, we find it easy to talk to a much-loved friend.  However often we may meet, we are never at a loss for matter to talk about.  We have always much to say, much to ask about, much to describe, much to communicate.  Well, it is just so between the true Christian and Christ!  The true Christian finds no difficulty in speaking to his Savior.  Every day he has something to tell Him, and he is not happy unless he tells it.  He speaks to Him in prayer every morning and night.  He tells Him his wants and desires, his feelings and his fears.  He asks counsel of Him in difficulty.  He asks comfort of Him in trouble.  He cannot help it.  He  must converse with his Savior continually, or he would faint by the way.  And why is this?  Simply because he love Him" (Holiness, JC Ryle).

J.C. Ryle: The True Church Is Jealous About Christ

"If we love a person, we are jealous about his name and honor.  We do not like to hear him spoken against, without speaking up for him and defending him.  We feel bound to maintain his interests and his reputation.  We regard the person who treats him ill with almost as much disfavor as if he had ill-treated us.  Well, it is just so between the true Christian and Christ!  The true Christian regards with a godly jealousy all efforts to disparage his Master's word, or name, or church, or day.  He will confess Him before princes, if need be, and be sensitive of the least dishonor put upon Him.  He will not hold his peace, and suffer his Master's cause to be put to shame, without testifying against it.  And why is all this?  Simply because he loves Him" (Holiness, J.C. Ryle).

J.C. Ryle: The True Church Loves the Friends of Christ

"If we love a person, we like his friends.  We are favorably inclined to them, even before we know them.  We are drawn to them by the common tie of common love to one and the same person.  When we meet them we do not feel that we are altogether strangers.  There is a bond of union between us.  They love the person that we love, and that alone is an introduction.  Well, it is just so between the true Christian and Christ!  The true Christian regards all Christ's friends as his friends, members of the same body, children of the same family, soldiers in the same army, travelers to the same home.  When he meets them, he feels as if he had long known them.  He is more at home with them in a few minutes than he is with many worldly people after an acquaintance of several years.  And what is the secret of this?  It is simply affection to the same Savior and love to the same Lord" (Holiness, JC Ryle).

Do Not Be Ashamed of the Gospel

In Matthew 26:69-75 we read the well-known passage of Peter’s denial of Jesus.  After Jesus was arrested, Peter followed him to the courtyard of the high priest.  Three times Peter was identified as a disciple of Jesus and three times he denied the charge.  Why would Peter, such a strong-willed and ardent disciple, do such a thing?  It could be that he was attempting to avoid the same fate as Christ.  It could be that the situation was so overwhelming to him that he didn’t know what to do but deny knowing Jesus.  Whatever the reason one thing is clear.  In that moment, Peter was ashamed to know Jesus and confess his allegiance to Him.

In 2 Timothy 1:8, Paul encourages Timothy to not be ashamed of the testimony that he has confessed.  In other words, do not be ashamed of the gospel in which you have believed and do not hesitate to share with others the truth of the gospel message.  No matter the consequences.

Join us this week as we look more deeply into why we should not be ashamed of the gospel message and what Paul’s own life teaches us about perseverance despite any persecution for our faith.  May we be prayerfully prepared to hear his word of truth which has the power to changes lives.