The Regenerate man is a holy man.
by J.C. Ryle
He endeavors to live according to God’s will, to do the things that please God, to avoid the things that God hates. His aim and desire is to love God with heart and soul, and mind and strength, and to love his neighbor as himself. His wish is to be continually looking to Christ as his example as well as his Savior, and to show himself Christ’s friend by doing whatever Christ commands.
No doubt he is not perfect. None will tell you that sooner than himself. He groans under the burden of indwelling corruption cleaving to him. He finds an evil principle within him constantly warring against grace, and trying to draw him away from God. But he does not consent to it, though he cannot prevent its presence.
In spite of all short-comings, the average bent and bias of his ways is holy—his doings holy—his tastes holy—and his habits holy. In spite of all his swerving and turning aside, like a ship going against a contrary wind, the general course of his life is in one direction—toward God and for God.
And though he may sometimes feel so low that he questions whether he is a Christian at all, in his calmer moments he will generally be able to say, with old John Newton, “I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world—but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am.”
~ J.C. Ryle
9 comments
I love reading this.If only I had fewer short-comings.
“I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world—but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am.”
Amen and amen!!
Through the pastor at our somewhat-new church, my husband realized that after 30 years of professing Christianity, he wasn’t really saved. When he tested himself against scripture (1 John), he came up short. Praise God, He didn’t leave him there.
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 Cor. 13:5
Holiness is such a foreign concept to many people. Another good verse is :
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Tim. 2:15
That’s something the world doesn’t understand – Christians aren’t perfect but we are saved. True Christians continually strive to become more Christ-like in their behavior and thoughts. Which requires time spent in His word, meditation and prayer so that we might indeed “rightly divide the word of truth”.
I’m really enjoying these quotes Kelly. Such good thoughts. It goes along with “working out our salvation” nicely, doesn’t it?
I’m glad you are, Grace. Yes it goes along with that verse which, by coincidence, is in the chapter I’m having my children memorize this month 😉 I memorized it as a girl and am so glad to have it “hidden” there. (Philippians 2)
Excellent!
I love this quote! It so articulately describes the journey we are all to be on, yet so few achieve. To ache for God, to not bear one day without His voice, His presence, to run along the path of His righteousness. The beautiful, fulfilling life of pursuing a God who is not running from us, but towards us.
I love the words of J.C. Ryle. He has a wonderful way of putting words together. We just finished his other little book called “Duties of Parents.” There is much to glean, ponder and rejoice in. I love how Ginger said “Through the pastor at our somewhat-new church, my husband realized that after 30 years of professing Christianity, he wasn’t really saved. When he tested himself against scripture (1 John), he came up short. Praise God, He didn’t leave him there.”
My husband and I also had this happen in our lives – we were so called “saved” we thought – but after hearing God’s Word about the true message of regeneration – our eyes were opened and our souls were redeemed!!! Now we know without a shadow of a doubt we are becoming new Creations. So,humbled the Lord did not leave us to ourselves and leave us there.
Now because of this and many beautiful teachings we have had the privilege of listening to – talks from the Sufficiency of Scripture conference, talks from the Baby Conference, talks from Grace Family Baptist Church’s conference Semper Reformanda, talks downloaded from Blue Behemoth – we are relearning the Lord’s Ways for our lives. Scripture has so much to teach us on family, family worship, child discipline, womanhood and manhood, church worship, beautiful submission, siblings becoming friends – we feel like the faucet has been opened up and we are drinking it all in as quickly as we can – letting none drip out the sides :). It is am AMAZING Awakening!!1
Kelly, thanks for your sweet encouragement to women. I love learning and having like minded sisters in the Lord to walk with, even on the internet – ones that I will never meet – but will one day in Heaven!!
Always Reforming to His Likeness . . .
Kristi
I am on week 4 of a 13 week study in the book of Romans. Paul has a lot to say about this topic… faith and works and how they work together.
See if you agree with what I read today….
http://surrender2survive.blogspot.com/2010/07/are-you-liar.html
I hear pretty often from some denominations… “once saved always saved” used as a way to continue in a path that does not lead toward God. I also see other groups that are so bound to law keeping that they don’t have the love of Christ in their hearts.
I think God has one path and Satan does everything he can to keep everyone off it… he doesn’t care which direction they go in.
“Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Matthew 7:20
So beautifully put! It is so easy to focus on how often I fail, and to believe I am just not strong, or good, enough. But to remember that everyone, even those God has given as examples of faithfulness, have that “indwelling corruption…warring against grace” inside them is so comforting, and helps me focus on using God’s strength to fight it.