Ryle’s Holiness, Chapter 1: Sin

Chapter one of J.C. Ryle ’s Holiness is simply entitled, “Sin.” His introductory paragraph to the first chapter is frequently quoted, and justifiably so:

He that wishes to attain right views about Christian holiness must begin by examining the vast and solemn subject of sin. He must dig down very low if he would build high. A mistake here Is most mischievous. Wrong views about holiness are generally traceable to wrong views about human corruption. I make no apology for beginning this volume of papers about holiness by making some plain statements about sin. (1)

This is a key point for pastors and church members alike: a thoroughly Biblical understanding of sin is non-negotiable if we are to rightly preach, live, and prize the Gospel. He goes on:

The plain truth is that a right knowledge of sin lies at the root of all saving Christianity. Without it such doctrines as justification, conversion, sanctification, are “words and names” which convey no meaning to the mind . . . Dim or indistinct views of sin are the origin of most of the errors, heresies, and false doctrines of the present day. If a man does not realize the dangerous nature of his soul’s disease, you cannot wonder if he is content with false or imperfect remedies. I believe that one of the chief wants of the church in the nineteenth century has been, and is, clearer, fuller teaching about sin.

The entire chapter is just as powerfully and clearly written, and could be quoted in its entirety. I have referred back to this study several times in sermon preparation since I first read it. He offers two vivid illustrations which have stuck with me:

We can acknowledge that man has all the marks of a majestic temple about him – a temple in which God once dwelt, but a temple which is now in utter ruins –a temple in which a shattered window here, and a doorway there, and a column there, still give some faint idea of the magnificence of the original design, but a temple from which end to end has lost its glory and fallen from its high estate. (5)

And again,

So deeply planted are the roots of human corruption, that even after we are born again, renewed, washed, sanctified, justified,” and made living members of Christ, these roots remain alive in the bottom of our hearts, and, like the leprosy in the walls of the house, we never get rid of them until the earthly house of this tabernacle is dissolved. (6)

If I were digging into teaching the doctrine of sin with a small group, there is no question in my mind that Ryle’s treatment of it here would be the first piece of literature I would want to distribute.  At twenty pages, this chapter is long enough to give a fairly full, Biblical picture. And like Spurgeon, Ryle is dedicated to the very best of Puritan teaching, while blessed with the amazing gift of communicating it in a crystal-clear an unintimidating way. I close with a quote that demonstrates how Gospel-centered Ryle remains, even when aiming at conviction of sin in his hearers.

We need not be afraid to look at sin, and study its nature, origin, power, extent, and vileness, if we only look at the same time at the almighty medicine provided for us in the salvation that is in Jesus Christ. (11)

Amen. What a worthy model to emulate.