This year my plan is to highlight inspiring quotes from twelve of my favorite theologians, featuring a different theologian each month, along with a short commentary about each quote.
J.C. Ryle (John Charles Ryle) is my featured theologian for the month of January. C. Ryle (John Charles Ryle) is my featured theologian for the month of January. As an Anglican bishop who lived in the latter half of the Victorian era (1816-1900) he authored a number of Christ-centered books and preached to countless congregants. Here below is the first of five quotes from J.C. Ryle for this month. Here below is the first of five quotes from J.C. Ryle for this month. The remainder of this year’s collection will be added weekly to this initial January blog post.
Q: What do poison, false doctrine, and sin have in common?
A: All three have harmful outcomes and all three need a remedy.
The remedy for poison is an antidote.
The remedy for false doctrine is the truth of God’s word, the Bible.
And the remedy for sin is forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ.
While only God and Jesus have the power and authority to forgive sins, faith in Jesus Christ as God’s Son is a prerequisite. “If you do not believe that I am [God], you will indeed die in your sins.” John 8:24. So while Jesus’ sacrificial death made it possible for us to be forgiven and to live into eternity with Him, we must possess a saving faith that includes repentance in order for this to be true in our own life. This is the central theme of the gospel message and the very heart of what we are to explain to the world. If a person never comes to the understanding that they are a sinner in need of forgiveness through faith in Jesus, they will die in their sins. No amount of good works or forgiveness from any other source can remedy the imperative problem of sin. #SaturdaySayings
Trials are intended to make us think, to wean us from the world, to send us to the Bible, to drive us to our knees. #JCRyle
I suspect if given a choice most of us would prefer to go around a trial rather than through it. Thank God it’s not up to us, but a part of God’s plan; a divine plan to get our attention. Contrary to popular belief, a life of ease, comfort, and pleasure does not result in a blessed life. It is in the trials of life which drive us to our knees and send us to God’s word, which helps us turn away from the world and turn our eyes to Jesus, that results in a blessed life.
Laura Story captures this truth in the chorus of her 2011 song, Blessings, which she presents in the form of four questions.
“’Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops?
What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near?
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?”
“Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” 1 Thessalonians 5:18
And “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.” James 1:2
#SaturdaySayings
This quote reminds me of an attitude I had in my heart when I was a teenager and into my early twenties. I remember, whether it was consciously or subconsciously, seeing others doing things that were morally wrong and thinking that I wasn’t as bad as them. In reality, and just like what the quote mentions, I was cheating myself into wrong thinking about sin, and wrong thinking about myself. I too was doing some things that were morally wrong and was justifying them by thinking they weren’t as bad as so-and-so. God doesn’t grade our sins on a sliding scale, and instead of looking at others I should have been looking to Jesus and His word. James 2:10 tells us, “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.” Thankfully, in my mid-twenties, I came to right thinking about sin and about myself. I received the gift of repentance and faith, and understood that I was a sinner in need of a Savior. #SaturdaySayings
JC Ryle reminds us that when we approach the Bible, as one searches for hidden treasure, we find treasures such as,
That which is more precious than gold: “More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.” Psalms 19:10.
That of the knowledge of God: “My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments… if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasure; then you will… find the knowledge of God.” Proverbs 2:1-5
That of the Parable of the Hidden Treasure: “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” Matthew 13:44
The truth is the only true treasures are those that are of heaven, as found in the Bible. It is more than wise for us to store up our treasures in heaven, and not on earthy treasures. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21 #SaturdaySayings
A steady diet of secular books and romance novels in JC Ryle’s day is probably the equivalent of today’s binge-watching TV or endlessly scrolling through social media on smart phones. Catching an occasional Bible verse or sermon clip here or there does not hold a candle to actually studying your Bible, nor does it equate to being a follower of Jesus. If you consider yourself a Christian but you’re not in a regular routine of studying your Bible, ask yourself why not.
“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? -unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” 2 Corinthians 13:5
#SaturdaySayings
John Bunyan (1628-1688) is my featured theologian for the month of February. He, with only a grade school education, authored Pilgrims Progress, which is regarded as a highly imaginative allegory, a work of genius, and a masterpiece full of spiritual truth. Unlike many who may have read this book in high school, I didn’t read it until just a few years ago, and I found it fascinating.
In John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian comes upon two men, Formalist and Hypocrisy, who he witnessed tumbling over the wall instead of entering through the narrow gate at the beginning of the path. They decided that going through the gate was much too inconvenient, so they made a shortcut by climbing over the wall.
Christian confronts them with the question, “Don’t you know that it is written that he who does not come in by the door but climbs up some other way is a thief and a robber?” (John 10:1)
To this they claimed that others had done so, and that they saw no difference in the way that they came in from the way that Christian came in. They asked, “What does it matter how we get in?”
Christian explained, “I walk by the rule of my Master; you walk by the rude working of your own notions. You are condemned as thieves already by the Lord of the way; therefore, I doubt you will be found as true men at the end of the journey. You came in by yourselves, without His direction, and will go out by yourselves, without His mercy.”
They quickly replied to Christian and told him to mind his own business, but then added that they also intended on obeying the laws and ordinances. Again, they saw no difference.
Christian then warned, “You will not be saved by keeping laws and ordinances. You cannot be saved, because you did not come in by the door.”
John Bunyan’s allegory reminds us that we must come through Jesus; He is the door. There’re no shortcuts; no tumbling over the wall; no other way of salvation. It is only through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, who paid the penalty for our sins, that salvation became available to all who will come to Him in repentance and faith.
“I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved…” John 10:9
#SaturdaySayings
In John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian was struck with fear as he came upon a fiend by the name of Apollyon in the Valley of Humiliation. The fiend appeared as a hybrid creature with fish-like scales, bear-like feet, dragon-like wings, and a lion’s mouth. Apollyon questioned Christian as to where he came from and where was he going.
“I came from the City of Destruction, which is the place of all evil, and I am going to the City of Zion,” Christian answered.
Apollyon proceeded to tell Christian that he was the prince and god of the country from which Christian came from. He asked, “How is it that you have run away from your king? Were it not for the fact that I wish you to enter into my service again, I would strike you to the ground with one blow.”
Christian had no intentions in returning to the City of Destruction as he knew who he was talking to and thus replied, “Indeed, I was born in your dominions, but your service was hard, and a man cannot live on the wages you pay, ‘for the wages of sin is death.’
Apollyon, tried to persuade Christian to go back to the City of Destruction by promising that if he went back that “everything will be well with you.”
Christian adamantly refused and told Apollyon, “I am His servant, and I will follow Him.”
Apollyon pointed out the sufferings of Christ’s followers, and also accused Christian of being a failure and unfaithful to Him. He proceeded to break into a hideous rage, shrieking, “I am an enemy to this Prince! I hate His person, His laws, and His people! I have purposely come here to stop you!”
A fierce battle ensued with Apollyon throwing flaming darts at Christian and Christian retaliating with his sword. The battle lasted over half a day and just as Christian was growing weak he called out, “Rejoice not against me, O my enemy: when I fall, I shall rise back up.” (Micah 7:8) Christian gave Apollyon a direct thrust of his sword, followed by another thrust saying, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors, through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37) At the sound of those words Apollyon spread out his dragon wings and flew away, and Christian saw him no more.
When the battle was over Christian gave thanks to the Lord, who delivered him out of the mouth of the lion, Apollyon.
In this intriguing scene from the 4th chapter of Pilgrim’s Progress we see Christian in a fierce battle with Apollyon, who is symbolic of Satan. Apollyon wanted Christian back in his domain, but if he couldn’t have him he would just as soon destroy him. Christian fought long and hard and then he courageously spoke the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. Spiritual warfare is part and parcel of being a Christ follower; the Word of God is our greatest arsenal in the fight against evil, regardless of Satan’s strategies.
#SaturdaySayings
In chapter 10 of Pilgrim’s Progress, Pilgrim and his friend, Hopeful, were continuing on their way to the Celestial City. Now they were growing tired and their feet were getting sore from walking on the rough and often difficult path when Christian saw a path to the left that looked a lot smoother. So together they decided to leave the King’s Highway to avoid difficulty and take the easier route through the field called By-Path Meadow.
As they were walking through By-Path Meadow they ran into a man with the name of Vain-Confidence. He was like-minded and said he too was on his way to the Celestial City but come nightfall, Vain-Confidence was mortally injured when he fell into a deep pit. After this, a huge thunderstorm storm began and as water rose up all around Christian and Hopeful it was then they both realized that taking this detour was a mistake; they regretted taking the smooth path.
Hopeful said, “Who could have thought that this path would lead us astray?”
Shortly after this they were captured by a Giant, named Despair, and were thrown into his prison in a place called Doubting Castle. They were beaten and left without food or water for days and in the dark. This was a very trying period in both of their lives. The Giant even tried to get them to do away with themselves and he took them outside to show them the bones of all the trespassers that he had beaten and killed. The Giant proceeded to beat them all the way back down into the dark dungeon.
It was just after midnight of this last beating that Christian and Hopeful prayed until the morning. Then suddenly Christian remembered that he had a key in his bosom called Promise which he believed would open any lock in Doubting Castle and indeed, it did open all the doors they needed to be opened. Christian and Hopeful escaped Doubting Castle and got back onto the King’s Highway. They were back on the safe route, safe from Giant Despair’s jurisdiction.
We learn two important reminders about God’s Word in this episode:
One, a warning against straying from God’s Word. Don’t make important life decisions when you’re tired or weak. Spiritual compromise leads to despair and smooth roads are often filled with land mines.
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:15-17
And two, the Key of Promise is scripture. God’s Word and His promises are true. The Bible teaches us, corrects us, and trains us. Deliverance from doubt and fear comes as we recall His Word and apply it to our life.
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
#SaturdaySayings
Discover more from Treasure In Jars of Clay
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Treasure In Jars of Clay 