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The True Christian

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In The True Christian , Ryle details many more ways in which Christians can be uncompromising in their biblical principles.

Speaker and writer J. C. Ryle once said, ''The man who hears the word of God, and does it, is the true Christian. He hears the call of God to repent and be converted, and he obeys it. He ceases to do evil, and learns to do well. He puts off the old man, and puts on the new. He hears the call of God to believe on Jesus Christ for justification, and he obeys it.''

1 pages, Audible Audio

First published January 1, 1978

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About the author

J.C. Ryle

819 books488 followers
(John Charles Ryle) Ryle started his ministry as curate at the Chapel of Ease in Exbury, Hampshire, moving on to become rector of St Thomas's, Winchester in 1843 and then rector of Helmingham, Suffolk the following year. While at Helmingham he married and was widowed twice. He began publishing popular tracts, and Matthew, Mark and Luke of his series of Expository Thoughts on the Gospels were published in successive years (1856-1858). His final parish was Stradbroke, also in Suffolk, where he moved in 1861, and it was as vicar of All Saints that he became known nationally for his straightforward preaching and firm defence of evangelical principles. He wrote several well-known and still-in-print books, often addressing issues of contemporary relevance for the Church from a biblical standpoint. He completed his Expository Thoughts on the Gospels while at Stradbroke, with his work on the Gospel of John (1869). His third marriage, to Henrietta Amelia Clowes in 1861, lasted until her death in 1889.

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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
Profile Image for Jessica Patch.
Author 117 books1,113 followers
January 3, 2024
An excellent collection of messages. Highly recommend to those who want to add to the growth of knowledge in God and aren’t looking for a watered down Gospel or messages that will simply scratch itching ears. Published in 1900 but relevant today! Listened on Audible.
Profile Image for Valerie Romero.
208 reviews
December 29, 2024
you can never go wrong with Ryle.... i had never heard (i don't think) of this title by Ryle.... each chapter is like a long sermon with so much teaching, so much begging to truth! i listened on audible - unabridged.... finished it in 2 days... just couldn't put it down! and when it finished... i still wanted to listen. so the next day, i started it again :)

great theology. you can hear scripture coming through as he explains. a must read for any believer!

now i need a print or kindle copy... cant seem to find one...
Profile Image for Josiah Richardson.
1,536 reviews27 followers
January 9, 2022
I have yet to read anything by Ryle that isn't convicting and immensely helpful. This one is no different. Ryle does for us like the puritan prayer requests, to "take us to the cross and leave us there."
Profile Image for Faith Olivia.
67 reviews1 follower
February 7, 2023
“He gave us his Son— can anything give us a more tender expression of love?” “Many aching hearts under silk& satin… but to the heavy laden & wear souls, to you Jesus speaks…” listened to the audiobook while doing monotonous work (or else my quotes would be plentiful)… maybe one of my favorite books?? Ryle convicts the nonbeliever and believer to forsake pride and temporal treasures for that which neither rust nor moths can destroy— was humbled by my many distractions and idols that cling so closely.
Profile Image for Lissie.
82 reviews2 followers
March 22, 2024
I never read anything by J.C Ryle without being thoroughly convicted and blessed.
Profile Image for Peter Kiss.
523 reviews1 follower
December 11, 2024
A fountain of wisdom for Christian discernment and living. Absolutely fantastic. Only disagreement with Ryle was on eschatology
40 reviews
November 16, 2020
Before I listened to this book, I didn’t realize that it was actually a collection of sermons by Ryle. However, I was very pleasantly surprised to hear these sermons. Even though I was not able to hear his actual voice and tone, it was still such a great insight into Ryle’s heart as a pastor who truly cared for his flock. He was very bold and spoke truth while at the same time showing his love for his parishioners. I really loved listening to these sermons and I have yet to read or listen to anything from JC Ryle that I didn’t absolutely love. This man was a blessing.
Profile Image for Steve.
50 reviews1 follower
August 31, 2016
Great practical theology! Encouraging series on sermons on the Christian life.
Profile Image for Chase Dunn.
121 reviews12 followers
May 6, 2022
Wonderful book once again by Ryle! I especially appreciated his last chapter on assurance. Ryle makes certain pastoral connections between assurance of salvation and various other relational and doctrinal aspects of the Christian life. Two stood out in particular.
1. Ryle debunks the false notion of a humble person not being able to have assurance. The thought is that assurance of salvation is somehow prideful or fool hearty. Ryle rightly points out that assurance of salvation, like justification, is a gift from God and a mark of spiritual maturity. He points to Paul, Peter, and Job as three examples of humble men that had deep conviction of their salvation in Christ. It is a false notion that assurance is wrapped up in the power of the man to keep his own salvation. Rather, the certainty of our salvation is founded in God alone.
2. Ryle makes an intriguing connection between the doctrine of assurance and worldliness. He contends that the spiritual immaturity of never coming to a settled assurance of one’s spiritual state effects how we deal with sin and the temptation to stray from holy living in Christ. This uncertainty, Ryle states, is often oppressive is the sense that the impossibility of overcoming one’s own sin when he/she doesn’t even know if that are saved leads to an inevitable loss against the fight with sin. This leads to further worldliness, indulgence in sin, and thus less assurance. If true, and I contend he is correct in his assessment, this cyclical pattern of winning due to a lack of assurance that produces even assurance still produces a weak believer. Although the blood of Christ covers their sin, they can never be assured that this blood has been applied to them and thus struggle through the Christian life.
Profile Image for Danielle Bullen.
Author 3 books221 followers
February 22, 2022
Like every one of JC Ryle's works that I have read, this was powerful, thought out and beautifully inspiring to think more on the things of Jesus and pursue Him more. I am thankful to have stumbled upon this a few weeks ago because it has been a blessing, slowly listening to it through this last month.
Profile Image for Mathew Nix.
100 reviews2 followers
December 12, 2019
Ryle is very easy and solid to read and every believer can gain much from this book. It will strengthen any who fit the bill of the true Christian he described and challenge those who do not to join those ranks.
Profile Image for Bill Hooten.
924 reviews6 followers
July 16, 2021
A series of sermons by J. C. Ryle, that begins with "The New Birth" and proceeds the marks of a true Christian. I am from a different theological background than Ryle, but I found this interesting and enlightening. It was an enjoyable and interesting book, and I am glad that I listened to it.
Profile Image for Kofi Opoku.
280 reviews23 followers
March 2, 2021
A wonderful series of sermons on what it means to be a Christian. I'm always fascinated by how easily Ryle is able to blend theology with pastoral insight.
Profile Image for Lady Safari.
278 reviews5 followers
June 2, 2021
Audiobook Review

This author is truly passionate about wanting people to know the Lord intimately and not having anyone be lost.

The narrator was great too.
Profile Image for Ji Mun.
41 reviews3 followers
June 15, 2021
He speaks encouraging and exhorting truth so clearly. I’m so glad that I picked up this book while I was getting complacent with my faith… This was my first Ryle book - but won’t be the last!
53 reviews2 followers
August 1, 2024
Excellent questions for every professing Christian to wrestle with and truth to be assured by.
Profile Image for Timothy Hui.
80 reviews9 followers
November 2, 2021
The pietistic part of me is fed. Now need to read something else to balance. This kind of preaching -- sobering and challenging -- is sorely absent these days.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews

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