Subscriberelevant then, relevant now
these words were written almost 140 years ago:
the victories of Christianity, wherever they have been won, have been won by distinct doctrinal theology; by telling men roundly of Christ’s vicarious death and sacrifice; by showing them Christ’s substitution on the cross, and his precious blood; by teaching them justification by faith, and bidding them believe on a crucified Saviour; by preaching ruin by sin, redemption by Christ, regeneration by the Spirit; by lifting up the brazen serpent; by telling men to look and live–to believe repent, and be converted.
let the clever advocates of a broad and undogmatic theology–the preachers of the gospel of earnestness, and sincerity and cold morality–let them, i say, show us at this day any English village, or parish, or city, or town, or district, which has been evangelized without “dogma,” by their principles. they cannot do it, and they never will. Christianity without distinct doctrine is a powerless thing.
J.C. Ryle, Holiness, 356
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My...
This is a great quote. Despite the protests of so many so-called postmodern emergents, truth is important, and God’s truth, in his Word, is the bedrock of true Christian faith and life. They would have us believe that they no longer relate well to stark Biblical teaching, and therefore a different modus operandi should be taken. However, it is the Bible that expects its hearers to respond to truth. ‘God has sworn by himself…’, ‘Not one jot or tittle…’, ‘We are sure that…’, etc. The Bible gives us truth that we can stake our lives on.
August 7th, 2007 | #