John 5:24-29

Until John, we have been using older manuscripts of Ryle's Expository Thoughts. Just recently, though, EP Publishing has put out a lightly updated version of Ryle's work, which I am now working from. If you are interested in a physical copy of the Expository Thoughts, you can find it HERE.

John 5:24-29

1. We see that the salvation of our souls depends on hearing Christ.
2. We see how rich and full are the privileges of the true hearer and believer.
3. We see a striking declaration of Christ’s power to give life to dead souls.
4. We see a most solemn prophecy of the final resurrection of all the dead.

"To submit our hearts to Christ’s teaching, to sit humbly at His feet by faith and learn of Him, to enter His school as penitents and become His believing scholars, to hear His voice and follow Him—this is the way to heaven."

"The privileges of a true Christian are greatly underrated by many. Chiefly from deplorable ignorance of Scripture, they have little idea of the spiritual treasures of every believer in Jesus...It is want of knowledge, in many cases, that is the secret of want of peace."

"Whenever any men or women among ourselves awaken to a sense of their soul’s value and become alive to God, the words are made good before our eyes. It is Christ who has spoken to their hearts by His Spirit. It is the dead hearing Christ’s voice and living."

"All is not over when people die. Whether they like it or not, they will have to come forth from their graves at the last day and to stand at Christ’s bar. None can escape His summons."

Questions:

1. Ryle warns of those who chase after preachers and, without casting such a desire aside, explains that we must hear of the Christ they preach to be saved. He declares that true hearing is to sit humbly at Jesus’ feet by faith and learn of Him…to hear His voice and follow Him. Are we tempted to follow after a preacher for the preacher’s sake, or to hear of Christ for him? What do we know of following Christ?

2. Ryle declares that a Christian is someone who has incredible privileges before God in the present, not just in the future. He highlights the ‘presentness’ of our salvation, the joys of justification, and the complete change in a position with God. Some today declare that theology divides, but Ryle points out that one of the secrets of peace is to know and love these theological truths. Do we find joy and are we led to worship as we learn of such truths as these?

3. We are brought face-to-face with reality when Christ declares that the dead will be raised, either to be justified or condemned before the judgement seat. We might want to shy away from this dreadful thought, but may we behold this sight, and by faith, cling to Christ and follow Him, and thus have confidence that we will not be ashamed of His coming. Is this true of us? May it be, for God’s glory and our joy!