Back Cover Summary: In Holiness, J. C. Ryle speaks to the heart and soul of every man. In a winning, approachable style, he wields the sword of the Spirit like a skillful surgeon, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow. He addresses hard and trying subjects which most modern evangelicals have chosen to ignore: the power and depth of indwelling sin, the necessity of a holy life, the struggle and fight of faith, counting the cost of following Christ... and that's only in the first five chapters! Ryle’s treatment of the texts which head the chapters is based on plain interpretation, common-sense exegesis and practical application. He does not side-step the difficult issues, but takes them head-on, making Christian theology and the principles of holy living seem so simple, obvious and straight-forward that readers will wonder what other Bible truths they’ve been missing all these years. Christian, read J. C. Ryle. You will not regret it. He is a man who first and foremost loved the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the vital center of all his teaching and writing and the sole reason for his great power in ministry. Whether you are an erudite scholar or a hard-laboring farmer, a pastor or a layman, a spiritual elder or a babe in Christ—no matter where you are--Ryle's writings are for you. The love of Christ and the faith of this great 18th century saint cling to every page like an aromatic perfume. What I Loved: As a Christian, I absolutely loved the straight to the point writing. Ryle does not pull punches, which is something we need in today’s time when Christianity can become like brackish water when mixed with secularism. I loved Ryle’s perspective and how even though Holiness was written in the eighteenth century, it is just as relevant today as it was then. In totality, I LOVED this book. It was just a little hard to digest (as you'll read in the next section). Rate: 8/10 What I Didn’t Like As Much: Because it was written in the eighteenth century ...it can be a little hard to read. I had to read in chunks, and because of that it took me a very long time to get all the way through it. There was one chapter on Moses that wasn’t theologically accurate, but it still held great points. Who Is This Book For: This book is for anyone who wants to be, or is, serious about their Christian faith and want to be challenged. Even if you meet those requirements however, you need to have a high reading level to understand it. So, if you buy the book and can’t understand it…. do what I do and put it aside for a year or two, then try again. More About the Author: J.C. Ryle was a great theologian of his time, a Bishop, and an evangelical who, for some reason, was not widely read or recognized. It’s a pity to me, for sure, because his writings are so awesomely articulated. He was born into a well off family, did sports (which taught him leadership skills), and ended up being converted when he was ill and arrived at church late. His life is filled with so many details and accomplishments that I’m just going to link where I’m getting my information from so that you can read it yourself. Truly just what people of his time said about him is amazing, I really wish I could have met him. Fun Extras: Well ...the book was written in the eighteenth century, so there’s not much to put here except the other books J.C. Ryle has written (none of which I have read). Here’s the link to his author page on Amazon.
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About the AuthorHi, I'm Rachel, and I'm here to share reviews of books with you so you can know what to read next! Archives
October 2021
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