The minister who keeps back hell from his people in his sermons is neither a faithful nor a charitable man.
J. C. RyleRead
The fear of punishment, the desire of reward, the sense of duty, are all useful arguments, in their way, to persuade people to holiness. But they are all weak and powerless, until a person loves Christ.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Motivation to pursue holiness comes from love rather than fear or duty.
In this quote, J. C. Ryle emphasizes that external motivations such as fear of punishment, desire for reward, and sense of duty can encourage people to behave morally or pursue holiness, but they ultimately lack strength without a sincere love for Christ. True transformation and devotion stem from internal affection, suggesting that genuine faith transcends mere compliance to rules or societal expectations.
Themes
LoveHolinessFaithDutyMotivation
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be shared in a sermon to inspire the congregation.
More from J. C. Ryle
All quotes →Good hymns are an immense blessing to the Church. They train people for heaven, where praise is one of the principal occupations.
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When I speak of a man growing in grace, I mean simply this - that his sense of sin is becoming deeper, his faith stronger, his hope brighter, his love more extensive, his spiritual mindedness more marked.
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Those who confine God's love exclusively to the elect appear to me to take a narrow and contracted view of God's character and attributes....I have long come to the conclusion that men may be _x000D_ more systematic in their statements than the Bible, and may be led into grave error by idolatrous veneration of a system
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Never be satisfied with the world's standard of Christianity!
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Sunday morning, before we go to hear the Word of God preached...let us not rush into God’s presence careless, reckless, and unprepared, as if it mattered not in what way such work was done. Let us carry with us faith, reverence, and prayer. If these three are our companions, we will hear with profit, and return with praise.
J. C. RyleRead
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