Devotional on John 17:15

"I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one."~Jesus

(John 17:15)

"Pleasant as it might be to flesh and blood to be snatched away from conflict and temptation, we may easily see that it would not be profitable. How could Christ's people do any good in the world, if taken away from it immediately after conversion? How could they exhibit the power of grace, and make proof of faith, and courage, and patience, as good soldiers of a crucified Lord?

Questions like these admit of only one kind of answer. To abide here in this valley of tears, tried, tempted, assaulted, and yet kept from falling into sin, is the surest plan to promote the sanctification of Christians, and to glorify Christ. He that would win the crown must carry the cross, and show himself light in the midst of darkness, and salt in the midst of corruption. "If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him." (2 Tim. 2:12)

{J.C. Ryle}

J.C. Ryle on John 17:9

"I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours."

(John 17:9)

"This special intercession of the Lord Jesus is one grand secret of the believer's safety. He is daily watched, and thought for, and provided for with unfailing care, by One whose eye never slumbers and never sleeps. Jesus is "able to save them to the uttermost who come unto God by Him, because He ever lives to make intercession for them." (Heb. 7:25.) They never perish, because He never ceases to pray for them, and His prayer must prevail."

(J.C. Ryle)

J.C. Ryle on John 17:3

"And this is eternal life, that they know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."

(John 17:3)

"The mere knowledge of God is not sufficient, and saves none. We must know the Son as well as the Father. God known without Christ, is a Being whom we can only fear, and dare not approach. It is "God in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself," who alone can give to the soul life and peace."

(J.C. Ryle)

J.C. Ryle on John 17:1-2

"Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son that the Son may glorify You, since You have given Him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom You have given Him."

(John 17:1-2)

"The keys of heaven are in Christ's hands. The salvation of every soul of mankind is at His disposal."

(J.C. Ryle)

J.C. Ryle on John 3:19

"And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil."

(John 3:19)

"The words before us completely clear God of injustice in the condemnation of sinners. They show in simple and unmistakable terms, that although man's salvation is entirely of God, his ruin, if he is lost, will be entirely from himself. He will reap the fruit of his own sowing."

(J.C. Ryle)

J.C. Ryle on John 3:14-15

"As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life."

(John 3:14-15)

"Christ's death is the Christian's life. Christ's cross is the Christian's title to heaven. It is true that we are sinners--but Christ has suffered for us. It is true that we deserve death--but Christ has died for us. It is true that we are guilty debtors--but Christ has paid our debts with His own blood. This is the real Gospel! This is the good news! On this let us lean while we live. To this let us cling when we die. Christ has been "lifted up" on the cross, and has thrown open the gates of heaven to all believers."

(J.C. Ryle)

Devotionals From the Writings of J.C. Ryle

"Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." 

(John 3:3)

"This mighty change, it must never be forgotten, we cannot give to ourselves. The very name which our Lord gives to it is a convincing proof of this. He calls it "a birth." No man is the author of his own existence, and no man can quicken his own soul. We might as well expect a dead man to give himself life, as expect a natural man to make himself spiritual. A power from above must be put in exercise, even that same power which created the world. (2 Cor. 4:6.) Man can do many things; but he cannot give life either to himself or to others. To give life is the peculiar prerogative of God. Well may our Lord declare that we need to be "born again!"

(J.C. Ryle)