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Ryle-"It is Christ..."

By
J.C. Ryle 

THE CHURCH WHICH CHRIST BUILDS
 with regards to eternal security-
It is Christ who calls the members of the Church in due time. They are “the called of Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 1:6.) It is Christ who quickens them. “The Son quickeneth whom He will.” (John 5:21.) It is Christ who washes away their sins. He “has loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood.” (Rev. 1:5.) It is Christ who gives them peace. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.” (John 14:27.) 

It is Christ who gives them eternal life. “I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish.” (John 10:28.) It is Christ who grants them repentance. “Him hath God exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance.” (Acts 5:31.) It is Christ who enables them to become God’s children. “To as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God.” (John 1:12.) 

It is Christ who carries on the work within them when it is begun. “Because I live, ye shall live also.” (John 14:19.) In short, it has “pleased the Father that in Christ should all fulness dwell.” (Coloss. 1:19.) He is the author and finisher of faith. He is the life. He is the head. From Him every joint and member of the mystical body of Christians is supplied. Through Him they are strengthened for duty. By Him they are kept from falling. He shall preserve them to the end, and present them faultless before the Father’s throne with exceeding great joy. He is all things in all believers.


Ryle, J. C. (1889). Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties and Roots (pp. 309–310). London: William Hunt and Company.

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