The Gospel of John By J.C. ryle

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sower, many "have no root in themselves, and so in time of trial fall away." All is not gold that glitters. All blossoms do not come to fruit. All are not Israel which are called Israel. Men may have feelings, desires, convictions, resolutions, hopes, joys, sorrows in religion, and yet never have the grace of God. They may run well for a season, and bid fair to reach heaven, and yet break down entirely after a time, go back to the world, and end like Demas, Judas Iscariot, and Lot's wife. It must never surprise us to see and hear of such cases in our own days. If it happened in our Lord's time and under our Lord's teaching, much more may we expect it to happen now. Above all, it must never shake our faith and discourage us in our course. On the contrary, we must make up our minds that there will be apostasy in the Church as long as the world stands. The sneering infidel, who defends his unbelief by pointing at them, must find some better argument than their example. He forgets that there will always be counterfeit coin where there is true money. Let us mark, secondly, in this passage, the noble declaration of faith which the Apostle Peter made. Our Lord had said to the twelve, when many went back, "Will you also go away?" At once Peter replied, with characteristic zeal and fervor, "Lord, to whom shall we go? you have the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that you are that Christ, the Son of the living God." The confession contained in these words is a very remarkable one. Living in a professedly Christian land, and surrounded by Christian privileges; we can hardly form an adequate idea of its real value. For a humble Jew to say of one whom Scribes, and Pharisees, and Sadducees agreed in rejecting, "You have the words of eternal life; you are the Christ," was an act of mighty faith. No wonder that our Lord said, in another place, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah--for flesh and blood has not revealed it unto you, but my Father who is heaven." (Matt. 16:17.) But the question with which Peter begins, is just as remarkable as his confession. "To whom shall we go?" said the noble-hearted Apostle. "Whom shall we follow? To what teacher shall we betake ourselves? Where shall we find any guide to heaven to compare with you? What shall we gain by forsaking you? What Scribe, what Pharisee, what Sadducee, what Priest, what Rabbi can show us such words of eternal life as you show?" The question is one which every true Christian may boldly ask, when urged and tempted to give up his religion, and go back to the world. It is easy for those who hate religion to pick holes in our conduct, to make objections to our doctrines, to find fault with our practices. It may be hard sometimes to give them any answer. But after all, "To whom shall we go," if we give up our religion? Where shall we find such peace, and hope, and solid comfort as in serving Christ, however poorly we serve Him? Can we better ourselves by turning our back on Christ, and going back to our old ways? We cannot. Then let us hold on our way and persevere. 92 of 282
Let us mark, lastly, in this passage, what little benefit some men get from religious privileges. We read that our Lord said, "Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil." And it goes on, "He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon." If ever there was a man who had great privileges and opportunities, that man was Judas Iscariot. A chosen disciple, a constant companion of Christ, a witness of His miracles, a hearer of His sermons, a commissioned preacher of His kingdom, a fellow and friend of Peter, James, and John--it would be impossible to imagine a more favorable position for a man's soul. Yet if anyone ever fell hopelessly into hell, and made shipwreck at last for eternity, that man was Judas Iscariot. The character of that man must have been black indeed, of whom our Lord could say he is "a devil." Let us settle it firmly in our minds, that the possession of religious privileges alone is not enough to save our souls. It is neither place, nor light, nor company, nor opportunities, but grace that man needs to make him a Christian. With grace we may serve God in the most difficult position--like Daniel in Babylon, Obadiah in Ahab's court, and the saints in Nero's household. Without grace we may live in the full sunshine of Christ's countenance, and yet, like Judas, be miserably cast away. Then let us never rest until we have grace reigning in our souls. Grace is to be had for the asking. There is One sitting at the right hand of God who has said--"Ask, and it shall be given you." (Matt. 7:7.) The Lord Jesus is more willing to give grace than man is to seek it. If men have it not, it is because they do not ask it. 93 of 282
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CTL.TODAY PRESENTS EXPOSITORY THOUG
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CONTENTS PREFACE - 5 I. JOHN 1:1-51
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theological views of the Reformers
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when matter was first created, and
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2:40.) This was the whole tenor of
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The main truth which this verse tea
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JOHN 1:15-18 John testified about h
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JOHN 1:19-28 The Testimony of John
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Salvation is within their reach; bu
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Last, but not least, Christ is a PE
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who have done most for Christ's cau
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Himself, and the agency of man seem
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son of Abraham--a Jew inwardly, pos
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is lightly esteemed. They who light
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JOHN 2:12-25 Cleansing the Temple,
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that are taught by parents to child
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CHAPTER III JOHN 3:1-8 Conversation
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(Rom. 8:7.) We come into the world
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We have in these verses the second
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when we die. Christ has been "lifte
Page 42 and 43: the Spirit sparingly. The Father lo
Page 44 and 45: The truth before us, is one of the
Page 46 and 47: inconsistent with the fact announce
Page 48 and 49: the people who worship him must wor
Page 50 and 51: feels its disease. Never does a man
Page 52 and 53: How much astonishment every fresh c
Page 54 and 55: JOHN 4:31-42 Workers for the Harves
Page 56 and 57: The words of Paul should never be f
Page 58 and 59: hours, while the old and feeble lin
Page 60 and 61: CHAPTER V JOHN 5:1-15 Healing a Par
Page 62 and 63: We are taught, lastly, the lesson t
Page 64 and 65: We learn, for another thing, from t
Page 66 and 67: the way to heaven. Until we know so
Page 68 and 69: scriptures thoroughly because you t
Page 70 and 71: JOHN 5:40-47 "But you are not willi
Page 72 and 73: doubts. Is it at all likely, probab
Page 74 and 75: something was amended or restored t
Page 76 and 77: Jerusalem, it was on a borrowed don
Page 78 and 79: The Lord Jesus, we should never for
Page 80 and 81: JOHN 6:28-34 So then they said to h
Page 82 and 83: come to Christ, and eat the bread o
Page 84 and 85: no restriction. The terms of the Go
Page 86 and 87: These things, no doubt, are deep an
Page 88 and 89: Let us next consider carefully, wha
Page 90 and 91: the idea of eating His flesh and dr
Page 94 and 95: CHAPTER VII JOHN 7:1-13 The Feast o
Page 96 and 97: We should observe, lastly, in this
Page 98 and 99: Whatever some may say about their i
Page 100 and 101: is true. You do not know him, but I
Page 102 and 103: It is far too much forgotten that t
Page 104 and 105: one thing, that all who come to Chr
Page 106 and 107: God who knows anything of these thi
Page 108 and 109: CHAPTER VIII JOHN 8:1-11 A Woman Ca
Page 110 and 111: Conscience is a most important part
Page 112 and 113: seen from a different point of view
Page 114 and 115: him, and he may possibly return at
Page 116 and 117: JOHN 8:31-36 Abraham’s Children a
Page 118 and 119: captive by it. Liberty, like this,
Page 120 and 121: "By baptism," we are confidently to
Page 122 and 123: The true Christian in the present d
Page 124 and 125: CHAPTER IX JOHN 9:1-12 Healing a Ma
Page 126 and 127: will not be tied down to the use of
Page 128 and 129: works of mercy, in ministering to t
Page 130 and 131: God," he cries, "He could do nothin
Page 132 and 133: CHAPTER X JOHN 10:1-9 Jesus as the
Page 134 and 135: etween bitter and sweet is one of t
Page 136 and 137: hearer, would be singularly full of
Page 138 and 139: own words literally fulfilled--"I c
Page 140 and 141: doubtless make shipwreck forever, u
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inspiration are to be numbered by t
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us to our Bibles, and teaches us to
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ecover." (Now Jesus had been talkin
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main are led by one Spirit, and lov
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the only Savior is often all that w
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Weeping and mourning are sadly tryi
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of inward faith, that when our turn
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We should observe, for one thing, i
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flesh," but they do not tend to pro
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It is a comfortable thought, that t
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Let us thank God if we know anythin
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willing Savior at the right hand of
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find at length that he has lost eve
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on our Divine Substitute, and borne
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their graves, and appear before the
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to find unbelief among the hearers
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Another thing shown in these verses
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CHAPTER XIII JOHN 13:1-5 Washing th
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knowledge. To know things with our
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more remembered, and real humility
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The lesson is one of which we all n
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Jesus said to him, "What you are ab
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God. Let us watch jealously over ou
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every relation of life. Specially i
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elievers. They do not see clearly w
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deeds. Believe me that I am in the
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that cannot be mistaken. "If you ha
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they who never forget the words, "O
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ody is united to the head. So long
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Christ must always be attended by l
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find Him saying, "Peace I leave wit
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CHAPTER XV JOHN 15:1-6 The Vine and
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vain notion to suppose that we are
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to be, that fruitfulness in Christi
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sweeping condemnation. Sound views
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Facts, painful facts in every age,
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utterly without excuse." They had s
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CHAPTER XVI JOHN 16:1-7 "I have tol
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We never can tell what is before us
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The difficulty of rightly explainin
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and, ‘because I am going to the F
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We may well believe that up to this
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disciples--"The Father Himself love
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CHAPTER XVII JOHN 17:1-8 When Jesus
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with attention, and fail to see tha
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hypocrites, it is one which those w
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e entirely by grace, and not of wor
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CHAPTER XVIII JOHN 18:1-11 Betrayal
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just as willing to receive and pard
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oth remained unmoved, cold, indiffe
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etter man? If Peter's fall has made
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Our Lord's main object in saying "M
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understanding; if you do you seek h
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picture, it contains special points
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governors that a country can have.
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utterly unlike the kingdoms of this
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crucifixion, were inspired by Him w
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JOHN 19:38-42 After this Joseph of
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passage before us was meant to conv
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owed so much to Christ. None felt s
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JOHN 20:11-18 But Mary stood outsid
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was not the highest style of faith.
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infusion of grace and charity--to s
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The story of the unbelief of Thomas
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it go. Unless our Lord Jesus is ver
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We should observe, for one thing, i
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JOHN 21:15-17 Then when they had fi
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scattered throughout this sinful wo
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the sermons they preached, and all
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J.C. Ryle Bio and Resources: John C
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The Gospel of John By J.C. ryle

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