Sermon Tone Analysis

THE CROSS OF CHRIST

by J. C. Ryle

"Far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."

What do we think and feel about the cross of Christ?

We live in a Christian land.

We probably attend the worship of a Christian church.

We have, most of us, been baptized in the name of Christ.

We profess and call ourselves Christians.

All this is well—it is more than can be said of millions in the world.

But what do we think and feel about the cross of Christ?

I want to examine what one of the greatest Christians who ever lived, thought of the cross of Christ.

He has written down his opinion—he has given his judgment in words that cannot be mistaken.

The man I mean is the Apostle Paul.

The place where you will find his opinion, is in the letter which the Holy Spirit inspired him to write to the Galatians.

The words in which his judgment is set down, are these, "But far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Now what did Paul mean by saying this?

He meant to declare strongly, that he trusted in nothing but "Jesus Christ crucified" for the pardon of his sins and the salvation of his soul.

Let others, if they would, look elsewhere for salvation; let others, if they were so disposed, trust in other things for pardon and peace—for his part the apostle was determined to rest on nothing, lean on nothing, build his hope on nothing, place confidence in nothing, boast in nothing, "except in the cross of Jesus Christ."

I wish to say something about "the cross" to the readers of this volume.

Believe me, the subject is one of the deepest importance.

This is no mere question of controversy.

It is not one of those points on which people may agree to differ, and feel that differences will not shut them out of heaven.

A man must be right on this subject, or he is lost forever.

Heaven or hell, happiness or misery, life or death, blessing or cursing in the last day—all hinges on the answer to this question, "What do you think about the cross of Christ?"

I. Let me show you, first of all,

what the Apostle Paul did NOT boast in.

There are many things that Paul might have boasted in, if he had thought as some do in this day.

If ever there was one on earth who had something to boast of in himself, that man was the great apostle of the Gentiles.

Now if he did not dare to boast, who shall?

He never boasted in his national privileges.

He was a Jew by birth, and, as he tells us himself, "A Hebrew of the Hebrews."

(.)

He might have said, like many of his brethren, "I have Abraham for my forefather I am not a dark unenlightened heathen; I am one of the favored people of God—I have been admitted into covenant with God by circumcision.

I am a far better man than the ignorant Gentiles."

But he never said so.

He never boasted in anything of this kind.

Never, for one moment!

He never boasted in his own works.

None ever worked so hard for God as he did.

He was "more abundant in labors" than any of the apostles.

(.)

No man ever preached so much, traveled so much, and endured so many hardships for Christ's cause.

None was ever made the means of converting so many souls, did so much good to the world, and made himself so useful to mankind.

No Father of the early Church, no Reformer, no Puritan, no Missionary, no minister, no layman—no one man could ever be named, who did so many good works as the Apostle Paul.

But did he ever boast in them, as if they were in the least meritorious, and could save his soul?

Never!

Never for one moment!

He never boasted in his knowledge.

He was a man of great gifts naturally, and, after he was converted, the Holy Spirit gave him greater gifts still.

He was a mighty preacher, and a mighty speaker, and a weighty writer.

He was as great with his pen as he was with his tongue.

He could reason equally well with Jews and Gentiles.

He could argue with infidels at Corinth, or Pharisees at Jerusalem, or self-righteous people in Galatia.

He knew many deep things.

He had been in the third heaven, and "heard unspeakable words."

(.)

He had received the spirit of prophecy, and could foretell things yet to come.

But did he ever boast in his knowledge, as if it could justify him before God? Never—never!

Never for one moment!

He never boasted in his graces.

If ever there was one who abounded in graces, that man was Paul.

He was full of love.

How tenderly and affectionately he used to write!

He could feel for souls like a mother or a nurse feeling for her child.

He was a bold man.

He cared not whom he opposed when truth was at stake.

He cared not what risks he ran when souls were to be won.

He was a self-denying man—in hunger and thirst often, in cold and nakedness, in watchings and fastings.

He was a humble man.

He thought himself less than the least of all saints, and the chief of sinners.

He was a prayerful man.

See how it comes out at the beginning of all his Epistles.

He was a thankful man.

His thanksgivings and his prayers walked side by side.

But he never boasted in all this, never valued himself on it—never rested his soul's hopes on it.

Oh, no—never for a moment!

He never boasted in his Churchmanship.

If ever there was a good Churchman, that man was Paul.

He was himself a chosen apostle.

He was a founder of churches, and an ordainer of ministers—Timothy and Titus, and many elders, received their first commission from his hands.

He was the beginner of services and sacraments in many a dark place.

Many an one did he baptize; many an one did he receive to the Lord's Table; many a meeting for prayer, and praise, and preaching, did he begin and carry on.

He was the setter up of discipline in many a young Church.

Whatever ordinances, and rules, and ceremonies were observed in many Churches, were first recommended by him.

But did he ever boast in his office and Church standing?

Does he ever speak as if his Churchmanship would save him, justify him, put away his sins, and make him acceptable before God? Oh, no! Never—never!

Never for a moment!

Now if the apostle Paul never boasted in any of these things, who in all the world, from one end to the other—who has any right to boast in them in our day?

If Paul said, "God forbid that I should boast in anything whatever except the cross," who shall dare to say, "I have something to boast of—I am a better man than Paul"?

Who is there among the readers of this paper that trusts in any goodness of his own?

Who is there that is resting on his own amendments—his own morality—his own churchmanship—his own works and performances of any kind whatever?

Who is there that is leaning the weight of his soul on anything whatever of his own, in the smallest possible degree?

Learn, I say, that you are very unlike the apostle Paul.

Learn that your religion is not apostolic religion.

Who is there among the readers of this paper that trusts in his religious profession for salvation?

Who is there that is valuing himself on his baptism, or his attendance at the Lord's table—his church-going on Sundays, or his daily services during the week—and saying to himself, "What more do I lack?"

Learn, I say, this day, that you are very unlike Paul.

Your Christianity is not the Christianity of the New Testament.

Paul would not boast in anything but "the cross."

Neither ought you.

Oh, let us beware of self-righteousness!

Open sin kills its thousands of souls.

Self-righteousness kills its tens of thousands!