The Gospel of John By J.C. ryle

We are taught for one thing the ignorant self-righteousness of the natural man. We find
the Jews pluming themselves on their natural descent from Abraham, as if that must of
necessity, cover all deficiencies--"Abraham is our father." We find them going even
further than this, and claiming to be God's special favorites and God's own family--"We
have one Father, even God." They forgot that fleshly relationship to Abraham was
useless, unless they shared Abraham's grace. They forgot that God's choice of their
father to be head of a favored nation was never meant to carry salvation to the children,
unless they walked in their father's footsteps. All this in their blind self-conceit they
refused to see. "We are Jews. We are God's children. We are the true Church. We are in
the covenant. We must be all right." This was their whole argument!
Strange as it may seem, there are multitudes of so-called Christians who are exactly like
these Jews. Their whole religion consist of a few notions neither wiser nor better than
those propounded by the enemies of our Lord. They will tell you "that they are regular
Church people; they have been baptized; they go to the Lord's table"--but they can tell
you no more. Of all the essential doctrines of the Gospel they are totally ignorant. Of
faith, and grace, and repentance, and holiness, and spiritual mindedness they know
nothing at all. Unquestionably they are Churchmen, and so they hope to go to heaven!
There are myriads in this condition. It sounds sad, but unhappily it is only too true.
Let us settle firmly in our minds that connection with a good Church and good ancestors
is no proof whatever that we ourselves are in a way to be saved. We need something
more than this. We must be joined to Christ himself by a living faith. We must know
something experimentally of the work of the Spirit in our hearts. "Church principles,"
and "sound Churchmanship," are fine words and excellent party cries. But they will not
deliver our souls from the wrath to come, or give us boldness in the day of judgment.
We are taught for another thing the true marks of spiritual sonship. Our Lord makes
this point most plain by two mighty sayings. Did the Jews say, "We have Abraham to our
father"? He replies, "If you were Abraham's children you would do the work of
Abraham." Did the Jews say, "We have one Father, even God"? He replies, "If God were
your Father you would love Me."
Let these two sayings of Christ sink down into our hearts. They supply an answer to two
of the most mischievous, yet most common, errors of the present day. What more
common, on one side, than vague talk about the universal Fatherhood of God? "All men,"
we are told, "are God's children, whatever be their creed or religion; all are finally to
have a place in the Father's house, "where there are many mansions." What more
common, on another side, than high-sounding statements about the effect of baptism
and the privileges of Church-membership?
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