The Ancient Path

Having carefully read Holiness, by J.C. Ryle, I sought to put forth an effort to better understand what holiness is. To inform my spirit what it specifically is from the authority of biblical imperatives and how it is applied to daily life. As given by the notes within this post, I’ve found that it involves lifestyle choices consistent with what Christ says about holiness and how it is defined within scripture among apostles, poets, prophets, and the various other biblical writers under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

The purpose of this course is to help people live holy lives by putting into practical use the words, deeds, and thoughts that God has said are important for sanctification (Lev 11:44-45).

The Ancient Paths

“Thus says Yahweh, “Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is, and walk in it; And you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ ” – Jeremiah 6:16 LSB

“Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.” – Hebrews 12:12–17 NKJV

The questions we must ask ourselves pertains to our state of spiritual health and well-being before God as justified believers who are the workmanship of Christ (Eph. 2:10).

Subjects

From among 20 papers written by J.C. Ryle, there were various topics he collected around personal holiness. In 1871, he sought to compile this selection of his work for the cause of Scriptural holiness. The outcome was a volume of Ryle’s work widely read on the doctrine of sanctification (Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots ISBN-13: ‎978-1611047929) to help believers walk along the ancient path and live as God wants us to.

Ryle’s writing and prayers aimed to distinguish between the sacred, sanctified, and holy from the profane. He asked many questions and offered biblical perspectives to help believers grow in their pursuit of a sanctified life through unity with Christ, seeking Him through devotion, learning of Him, and following Him (Matthew 11:28-30).

As Ryle further probes his readers’ thoughts, he asks rhetorically whether Romans 7 concerns the unregenerate person. The answer is no. Christians are the intended readers of Paul’s writing to the Church in Rome and for believers today. Further questions and assertions are made between the mystical union of the Spirit and the believer while stressing the shallow and narrow divide between consecration and conversion. Lastly, he doubts the Scriptural validity of “yielding to God” as a passive posture against sin. He explicitly appeals to Romans 6:13-19 as an imperative toward personal and active exertion toward holiness.

1. Introduction
2. Sin
3. Sanctification
4. Holiness
5. The Fight
6. The Cost
7. Growth
8. Assurance
9. Moses: An Example
10. Lot: A Beacon
11. A Woman to be Remembered
12. Christ’s Greatest Trophy
13. The Ruler of Waves
14. The Church Which Christ Builds
15. Visible Churches Warned
16. “Lovest Thou Me?”
17. Without Christ
18. Thirst Revealed
19. “Unsearchable Riches”
20. Wants of the Times
21. “Christ is All”
22. Extracts from Old Writers

Introduction

J.C. Ryle begins by commenting on the spiritual climate of his day. He observes that while there’s an increased interest in religious matters, there’s also a prevalent danger – a tendency to misunderstand, misinterpret, neglect, and misrepresent biblical teaching on sanctification and holiness. Ryle goes on to clarify the biblical concept of holiness. Where it’s not about mere external religiousness or ritualistic practices. True holiness involves a transformation of the heart and the alignment of one’s will, desires, and actions with God’s interests as revealed from His word made known from scripture. Holiness manifests in love for God, hatred for sin, and genuine love for others.

Ryle is deeply concerned about the prevalence of superficial Christianity, where people profess faith without understanding or displaying genuine signs of regeneration. He stresses that a nominal adherence to Christian practices without a transformed life is dangerous and deceptive. While the book focuses on holiness, Ryle emphasizes the foundational doctrine of justification by faith. He argues that a proper understanding of justification – being declared righteous by faith in Christ – is critical to pursuing and attaining holiness. The two are inseparably linked: those who are justified will inevitably seek holiness, and a pursuit of holiness without understanding justification can lead to legalism.

Ryle cautions against two extremes:

1. Neglecting holiness: By overemphasizing grace to the point of licentiousness.
2. Legalism: Relying on personal righteousness for salvation, instead of Christ’s righteousness.

For Ryle, discussing holiness isn’t merely academic. He sees it as a pressing matter of eternal significance. He believes that clarifying and upholding biblical teaching on holiness is vital for the health of individual believers and the church at large. Ryle concludes the Introduction with a personal appeal to the reader. He urges readers to approach the topic with an open heart and a willingness to align their beliefs and practices with Scripture. He prays that the book would both challenge and encourage, leading to a deeper walk with Christ.

In the Introduction to “Holiness,” J.C. Ryle sets the stage for a deep dive into Christian sanctification. He presents a clear and urgent call to understand and pursue genuine holiness, contrasting it with prevalent misconceptions of his day – many of which remain relevant for contemporary readers. The tone is pastoral, reflecting Ryle’s deep concern for the spiritual well-being of his readers and the church at large.

Chapter 1: Sin

J.C. Ryle begins the chapter by asserting the gravity and importance of understanding the doctrine of sin. For Ryle, an accurate grasp of the concept of sin is foundational for any genuine Christian experience. Without a deep sense of sin, there can be no deep sense of the need for a Savior.

The Universality of Sin:
Ryle emphasizes that sin is universal. He leans on scriptural texts, like Romans 3:23 (“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”), to drive home the point that sin is a malady affecting everyone, without exception. It’s not just the outwardly wicked who are sinners, but everyone, irrespective of their external morality or respectability.

The Deceitfulness of Sin:
Sin is deceitful, and it often blinds individuals to its presence and effects. Many, Ryle notes, are living in a state of self-deception, unaware of their sinful condition. Ryle warns against considering oneself immune from certain sins, pointing out that the seeds of every sin lie within everyone’s heart.

The Guilt of Sin:
Ryle dwells on the guilt that sin brings. Sin is a transgression against God, the eternal and infinitely holy Creator. Thus, its gravity isn’t merely measured by human standards or its impact on society, but by the affront it presents to God’s nature and commandments.

The Consequences of Sin:
The wages of sin are death, both physical and spiritual. Ryle elaborates on the spiritual death that sin causes, a state of separation from God, leading to a lack of true spiritual life, understanding, and positive response to the things of God. Ultimately, unrepentant sin leads to eternal separation from God after physical death.

The Heart as the Source of Sin:
Ryle emphasizes that sin isn’t just about external actions but originates from the heart. Using Jesus’ teachings from the Gospels, Ryle underscores that sinful actions are merely the outworking of a sinful heart. True holiness, then, isn’t just about external conformity to rules but a transformation of the inner person.

The Extent of Sin:
Ryle touches upon the doctrine of total depravity, which teaches that every part of a person—mind, will, emotions—is affected by sin. While this doesn’t mean that everyone is as bad as they could be, it does mean that no part of a person is untouched by sin.

The Remedy for Sin:
Having laid out the dire picture of sin and its effects, Ryle points to the remedy: Jesus Christ. He emphasizes that it’s only through Christ’s atoning work on the cross that anyone can find forgiveness and deliverance from sin’s penalty and power. It’s the recognition of one’s sinfulness that drives them to the Savior.

The Practical Implications:
Ryle ends the chapter with some practical implications. Recognizing the depth of one’s sinfulness should lead to humility, a greater appreciation of Christ’s work on the cross, a deeper compassion for others, and a greater zeal in personal holiness and evangelism. Throughout the chapter, Ryle’s tone is earnest and pastoral. He is deeply concerned that his readers truly grasp the nature and danger of sin, as this understanding is crucial for a genuine Christian life and experience. His emphasis isn’t merely on doctrinal correctness but on the transformative impact such understanding has on a believer’s life.

Chapter 2: Sanctification

Ryle opens by asserting the supreme importance of sanctification in the believer’s life. He stresses that while justification is by faith alone, a faith that does not lead to sanctification is not genuine.

Definition of Sanctification:
Sanctification, as Ryle describes, is the in-working of God’s grace, making a person more and more like Christ in their character, desires, and actions. It’s a process whereby a believer’s nature is gradually conformed to the will of God.

The Visible Marks of Sanctification:
Ryle elucidates various marks or indicators of sanctification:

1. Genuine repentance: A deep sorrow for sin and a genuine turning away from it.
2. Living faith: An active trust in Jesus Christ, leading to a life of obedience.
3. Genuine holiness: A life marked by a love for God’s laws and a desire to live by them.
4. Spiritual-mindedness: A love for spiritual things and a disinterest in worldly pleasures.
5. Prayerfulness: A consistent and fervent life of prayer.
6. Humility: A lowly view of oneself, recognizing one’s unworthiness.
7. Charity: A love for others, manifesting in selflessness and kindness.
8. Spiritual growth: A continual growth in grace, making progress in the journey of faith.

The Role of Personal Effort:
While sanctification is a work of God’s grace, Ryle emphasizes that it requires human cooperation. Believers must strive, labor, and make an effort in the sanctification process. It’s a synergy between divine grace and human will.

The Distinction from Justification:
Ryle elaborates on the difference between justification and sanctification. Justification is the act of God declaring a sinner righteous because of their faith in Christ. It’s immediate and unchanging. Sanctification, on the other hand, is a process. It begins at conversion and continues throughout a believer’s life, leading them to grow in holiness.

Sanctification’s Essential Role in Salvation:
Ryle strongly posits that while we are saved by faith alone, saving faith is never alone. It always leads to sanctification. No sanctification is a likely indicator that genuine conversion hasn’t taken place.

Sanctification and Assurance of Salvation:
While sanctification is not the cause of salvation, it plays a crucial role in assuring believers of their salvation. A growing pattern of sanctification provides evidence and assurance that one’s faith is genuine.

The Call to Seek Greater Sanctification:
Ryle concludes by exhorting readers to seek greater measures of sanctification. He encourages believers not to be content with low levels of holiness but to press on, aiming for higher standards of spiritual life.

Throughout this chapter, Ryle’s pastoral heart is evident. He masterfully balances the tension between God’s role in sanctification and the believer’s responsibility. By underscoring the importance of sanctification, Ryle hopes to stir believers to a more fervent pursuit of godliness, ensuring their faith is not merely intellectual but transformative.

Chapter 3: Holiness

J.C. Ryle begins by emphasizing the crucial significance of holiness in the life of a believer. Without holiness, he posits, no one will see the Lord (referencing Hebrews 12:14). While salvation is by grace through faith, the evidence of that salvation is a life marked by holiness.

The Nature of Holiness:
Ryle paints a portrait of what holiness looks like:

1. Sin Mourning: It’s characterized by a grief and hatred of sin.
2. Christ Loving: A genuine love and appreciation for Christ, stemming from a realization of what He has done for the believer.
3. Humility: A genuine lowliness of mind, recognizing one’s own unworthiness.
4. Righteousness in Daily Life: Not just in big matters, but in everyday dealings and tasks.
5. Spiritual-mindedness: Valuing spiritual rewards over worldly ones.
6. Mercy and Benevolent Actions: Actively seeking to do good to others.
7. Purity: A consistent striving against the lusts of the flesh.
8. Faithfulness: Being dependable and true in all situations.
9. Spiritual Appetite: A regular longing for spiritual nourishment through the Word, prayer, and fellowship.

The Necessity of Holiness:
Ryle elaborates on why holiness is non-negotiable:

1. Scriptural Evidence: He cites several scriptural passages to underscore the biblical mandate for a holy life.
2. Nature of God: As God is holy, those who are His children must reflect His nature.
3. Purpose of Christ’s Redemption: Christ died not just to save us from the penalty of sin, but from its power. Our sanctification was a primary goal of the atonement.
4. Benefit for the Church: A holy life edifies fellow believers and promotes unity and love.
5. Effective Evangelism: Holiness in the life of believers is a potent tool for evangelism, as it validates the gospel message.

Holiness is Happiness:
Ryle dispels the misconception that a life of holiness is a life of misery. In fact, holiness and happiness are intrinsically connected. A life of true peace and joy is found when one aligns their life with God’s standards.

Challenges to Holiness:
Ryle does not shy away from addressing the genuine difficulties believers face in pursuing holiness. The world, the flesh, and the devil are formidable enemies. However, he reminds his readers of the resources they possess in Christ – the indwelling Holy Spirit, the Word of God, and the grace that is abundantly available.

Encouragement for Pursuit:
Ryle concludes the chapter by encouraging believers to ardently pursue holiness, regardless of the challenges. He reassures them that every effort they make in this pursuit will be worth it, both in this life and the life to come.

Chapter 4: The Fight

Ryle begins by acknowledging the universal experience of spiritual warfare for every genuine believer. He asserts that the journey of sanctification is akin to a battlefield, emphasizing that a fight is inevitable for anyone who wishes to be saved.

True Christianity – A Fight:
The authentic Christian life, Ryle posits, is a conflict, a war, a fight. He goes on to describe several reasons why it is so:

1. Fight Against the Flesh: The sinful nature remains in every believer, making the internal fight against sinful desires a daily reality.
2. Fight Against the World: The values, desires, and temptations of the world are in opposition to God’s standards.
3. Fight Against the Devil: Satan, the great enemy of souls, constantly seeks to deceive, tempt, and destroy.

Marks of the Fight:
Ryle describes several key features of this fight:

1. It’s a Daily Fight: There’s no vacation or break. Every day presents its battles.
2. It’s a Fight of Universal Experience: All true believers, regardless of their maturity or how long they’ve been believers, experience this fight.
3. It’s a Fight to Death: This battle continues until the end of one’s earthly life.

Importance of the Fight:
Ryle contends that fighting is the very essence of true Christianity. He supports this claim by emphasizing:

1. No Fight, No Salvation: A lack of spiritual conflict is often an indication of a lack of genuine salvation.
2. Fighting Evidences Genuine Faith: The fight is the evidence of the new birth, indicating that one has been regenerated by the Holy Spirit.

Encouragement for the Fight:
While the battle is real and intense, Ryle offers several encouragements:

1. The Victory is Sure: The believer is not fighting for victory, but from victory. Christ has already won, and believers share in His triumph.
2. Christ Intercedes: Jesus Christ, the great High Priest, constantly intercedes for believers, ensuring that their faith does not fail.
3. The Holy Spirit Empowers: The indwelling Spirit provides strength, guidance, and comfort in the midst of the battle.
4. The Promises of God: Ryle points readers to various promises in the Scriptures that assure victory and reward for those who persevere.

Practical Exhortations:
Ryle concludes the chapter with practical advice for believers:

1. Regular Self-examination: To be aware of one’s spiritual state and progress.
2. Awareness of Weak Points: Recognizing areas of vulnerability can help in guarding against temptations.
3. Total Reliance on God: Recognizing one’s own insufficiency and leaning wholly on God’s strength.

In this chapter, Ryle paints a vivid picture of the Christian’s ongoing battle for holiness. However, while he underscores the reality and intensity of the fight, he also ensures that the reader is infused with hope, courage, and the assurance of God’s aid in the midst of the battle. The overall message is one of challenge combined with encouragement, urging believers to persevere with the confidence that they are not alone in the fight and that ultimate victory is assured in Christ.

Chapter 5: The Cost

[ Next Installment 08/2023 ]

About J.C. Ryle

Life

He was the eldest son of John Ryle, private banker, of Park House, Macclesfield, M.P. for Macclesfield 1833–7, and Susanna, daughter of Charles Hurt of Wirksworth, Derbyshire. He was born at Macclesfield on 10 May 1816.

He was educated at Eton and the University of Oxford, where his career was unusually distinguished. He was a Fell exhibitioner at Christ Church, from which foundation he matriculated on 15 May 1834. He was Craven scholar in 1836, graduated B.A. in 1838, having been placed in the first-class in literæ humaniores in the preceding year, and proceeded to M.A. in 1871. He earned D.D. by diploma on 4 May 1880.

Ryle left the university with the intention of standing for parliament at the first opportunity but was unable to do so because of his father’s bankruptcy. He took holy orders (1841–42) and became curate at Exbury, Hampshire. In 1843, he was preferred to the rectory of St Thomas, Winchester, which he exchanged in the following year for that of Helmingham, Suffolk. The latter living he retained until 1861 when he resigned it for the vicarage of Stradbroke in the same county. The restoration of Stradbroke church was due to his initiative. In 1869, he was made rural dean of Hoxne, and in 1872 honorary canon of Norwich. He was a select preacher at Cambridge in 1873 and the following year, and at Oxford from 1874 to 1876, and in 1879 and the following year. In 1880, he was designated dean of Salisbury, and at once, on 19 April, advanced to the newly created see of Liverpool, which he ably administered until his death at Lowestoft on 10 June 1900. He is buried at All Saints Church, Childwall, Liverpool.

Family

He married three times, but his first two wives died young. The first marriage was on 29 October 1845 to Matilda Charlotte Louisa, daughter of John Pemberton Plumptre of Fredville, Kent. The second, in March 1850, was to Jessy, daughter of John Walker of Crawfordton, Dumfriesshire. The third, on 24 October 1861, was to Henrietta, daughter of Lieutenant-colonel William Legh Clowes of Broughton Old Hall, Lancashire. He had a daughter by his first wife and three sons by his second wife. His second son, Herbert Edward Ryle, also a clergyman, became successively Bishop of Exeter, Bishop of Winchester, and Dean of Westminster.

Legacy

Ryle was a strong supporter of the evangelical school and a critic of Ritualism. He was a writer, pastor, and an evangelical preacher. Among his longer works are Christian Leaders of the Eighteenth Century (1869), Expository Thoughts on the Gospels (7 vols, 1856–69), Principles for Churchmen (1884). Ryle was described as having a commanding presence and vigorous in advocating his principles, albeit with a warm disposition. He was also credited with having success in evangelizing the blue-collar community. He was a strong believer in the return of the Jews to their own land as prophesied in the Bible and thus was part of the movement that led to the Balfour Declaration.

Works in the Public Domain

J.C. Ryle died in 1900, and his writings are in the public domain and not copyrighted. You are free to use any of his materials on this site without the need for permission.

• Expository Thoughts on Matthew (1856)
• Expository Thoughts on Mark, (1857)
• Expository Thoughts on Luke (1858)
• Coming Events And Present Duties, and Prophecy, (1867) Now published as Are You Ready for the End of Time?
• Expository Thoughts on John (1869)
• Shall We Know One Another, (1870)
• Christian Leaders of the Last Century, (1873)
• Knots Untied, (1877)
• Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots, (1877, enlarged 1879)
• Practical Religion: Being Plain Papers on the Daily Duties, Experience, Dangers, and Privileges of Professing Christians, (1878)
• Simplicity in Preaching, (1882)
• Upper Room: Being a Few Truths for the Times, (1887)
• The Duties of Parents (1888)
• Light From Old Times: or Protestant Facts And Men, (1890) (partially reprinted as Five English Reformers)

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