reaganmarsh
Puritan Board Senior
He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. -- Hebrews 7:25
True Christians come unto God. They are not as many, who turn their backs upon him: —who 'go into a far country,' like the prodigal son: —'who go out,' like Cain, 'from the presence of the Lord:'—who are 'alienated, strangers, and enemies in their mind by wicked works' (Col. 1:21). They are reconciled to God and friends of God. They are not as many, who dislike everything that belongs to God, —his Word, his day, his ordinances, his people, his house. hey love all that belongs to their Master. They very footprints of his steps are dear unto them. 'His name is as ointment poured forth' (Song of Sol. 1:3). —They are not as many, who are content with coming to church, or with coming to chapel, or with coming to the Lord's table. They go further than that. They 'come unto God,' and in communion with God they live.
But, more than this, true Christians come unto God in a certain peculiar way. They come unto God by Christ, —pleading no other plea, mentioning no other name, trusting in no other righteousness, resting on no other foundation than this, —that Jesus hath lived, Jesus hath died, Jesus hath risen again for their souls:
I the chief of sinners am, but Jesus died for me.
This is the way by which the true Christian draws near to God.
—from J.C. Ryle, Old Paths, pp. 410-11.
True Christians come unto God. They are not as many, who turn their backs upon him: —who 'go into a far country,' like the prodigal son: —'who go out,' like Cain, 'from the presence of the Lord:'—who are 'alienated, strangers, and enemies in their mind by wicked works' (Col. 1:21). They are reconciled to God and friends of God. They are not as many, who dislike everything that belongs to God, —his Word, his day, his ordinances, his people, his house. hey love all that belongs to their Master. They very footprints of his steps are dear unto them. 'His name is as ointment poured forth' (Song of Sol. 1:3). —They are not as many, who are content with coming to church, or with coming to chapel, or with coming to the Lord's table. They go further than that. They 'come unto God,' and in communion with God they live.
But, more than this, true Christians come unto God in a certain peculiar way. They come unto God by Christ, —pleading no other plea, mentioning no other name, trusting in no other righteousness, resting on no other foundation than this, —that Jesus hath lived, Jesus hath died, Jesus hath risen again for their souls:
I the chief of sinners am, but Jesus died for me.
This is the way by which the true Christian draws near to God.
—from J.C. Ryle, Old Paths, pp. 410-11.
