Our Hope
BY J. C. RYLE "Good hope through grace." 2 Thess. 2:10 "The hope of the ungodly shall perish." Job 8:13 "For what is the hope of the godless, when he is cut off, when God takes away his life?" Job 27:8
BY J. C. RYLE
"Good hope through grace." 2 Thess. 2:10
"The hope of the ungodly shall perish." Job 8:13
"For what is the hope of the godless, when he is cut off, when God takes away his life?" Job 27:8
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(a) There are some in the present day who flatter themselves they have a<br />
good hope because they possess religious knowledge. They are<br />
acquainted with the letter of their Bibles; they can argue and dispute<br />
about points of doctrine—they can quote texts by the score, in defense<br />
of their own theological opinions. They are perfect Benjamites in<br />
controversy—they can "sling stones at an hair-breadth, and not<br />
miss." (Judges 20:16.) And yet they have no fruits of the Spirit, no love,<br />
no meekness, no gentleness, no humility, nothing of the mind that was<br />
in Christ. And have these people a true hope? Let those believe it who<br />
will, I dare not say so. I hold with Paul, "If I speak the languages of men<br />
and of angels, but do not have love, I am a sounding gong or a clanging<br />
cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and<br />
all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so that I can move mountains, but<br />
do not have love, I am nothing. And if I donate all my goods to feed the<br />
poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but do not have love, I gain<br />
nothing. Love is patient; love is kind. Love does not envy; is not<br />
boastful; is not conceited; does not act improperly; is not selfish; is not<br />
provoked; does not keep a record of wrongs; finds no joy in<br />
unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all<br />
things, hopes all things, endures all things." Yes—hope without love is<br />
no hope at all.<br />
(b) There are some again who presume to think they have a good hope<br />
because of God's everlasting election. They boldly persuade themselves<br />
that they were once called and chosen of God to salvation. They take it<br />
for granted that there was once a real work of the Spirit on their hearts,<br />
and that all therefore must be well. They look down upon others, who<br />
are afraid of professing as much as they do. They seem to think, "We are<br />
the people of God, we are the temple of the Lord, we are the favored<br />
servants of the Most High—we are those who shall reign in heaven, and<br />
none beside." And yet these very people can lie, and cheat, and swindle,<br />
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