Luke 6:46-49

Luke 6:46-49

1. Let us mark what an old and common sin is profession without practice.
2. Let us mark what a striking picture our Lord draws of the religion of the man who not only hears Christ's sayings, but DOES Christ's will.
3. Let us mark what a mournful picture our Lord draws of the religion of the man who hears Christ's sayings, but does not obey them.

"It is a soul-ruining plague, which is continually sweeping away crowds of Gospel-hearers down the broad way to destruction. Open sin, and avowed unbelief, no doubt slay their thousands. But profession without practice slays its tens of thousands."

"Such a man's religion may cost him much. Like the house built on a rock, it may entail on him pains, labor, and self-denial. To lay aside pride and self-righteousness, to crucify the rebellious flesh, to put on the mind of Christ, to take up the cross daily, to count all things but loss for Christ's sake--all this may be hard work. But, like the house built on the rock, such religion will stand."

"Are we upon the rock, or are we upon the sand? We love perhaps to hear the Gospel. We approve of all its leading doctrines. We assent to all its statements of truth about Christ and the Holy Spirit, about justification and sanctification, about repentance and faith, about conversion and holiness, about the Bible and prayer. But what are we doing? What is the daily practical history of our lives, in public and private, in the family and in the world? Can it be said of us, that we not only hear Christ's sayings, but that we also do them?"

Questions:

1. Ryle says that obedience to Christ’s commands is the clearest evidence of saving faith. What are some of those evidences in our lives?

2. What are different forms of temptations and persecutions we have weathered because, by God’s grace, we have a firm foundation in Christ?

3. Brothers and sisters, it is not enough that we love to hear the gospel, approve of all its leading doctrines, assent to statements of truth about Christ, about justification and sanctification, about repentance and faith, about holiness, the Bible and prayer, the question is: what difference do these things make in our lives?