Delusive Religion by Ryle

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Nov 27, 1879

Delusive Religion.

By Ryle

A RELIGION is entirely useless in which Jesus Christ is not the principal object, and does not fill the principal place. There are only too many nominally Christian men and women who practically know nothing about Christ. Their religion consists in a few vague notions and empty expressions. They trust they are no worse than others. They keep to the church; they try to do their duty; they do nobody any harm; they hope God will be merciful to them; they trust the Almighty will pardon their sins, and take them to Heaven when they die.” This is about the whole of their religion. But what do these people know practically about Christ? Nothing, nothing at all. What experimental acquaintance have they with his offices and work, his blood, his righteousness, his mediation, his priesthood, his intercession? None, none at all. Ask them about a saving faith; ask them about being born again of the Spirit; ask them about being sanctified in Christ Jesus. What answer will you get? You are a barbarian to them. You have asked them simple Bible questions. But they know no more about them experimentally than a Buddhist or a Turk. And yet this is the religion of hundreds and thousands of people who are called Christians all over the world. —Ryle.