i loved the organization of this book... topic by topic, outlining the importance of each, the definition of each, the proof of having or lacking each.... and the conclusion that addresses unbeliever, believer-but-not-surrendered (the hesitant, or "rich young ruler"), and the believer.

honestly re-read most chapters just because they were so good :) here are some highlights:

"Jesus commands us, "Strive to enter in." We can often learn much from a single word in the Bible, and we may
certainly learn much from this one word "strive".
"STRIVE" teaches us that we must use diligently the means which God has appointed for us to seek him. We
should attend diligently to reading the Bible and to hearing the Gospel preached.
"STRIVE" teaches us that God will deal with us as responsible beings. We must not sit down and do nothing, for
Christ says to us, "Come - repent - believe - labor - ask - seek –knock.” Our salvation is entirely of God, but our ruin if
we are lost is entirely of ourselves.
"STRIVE" teaches us that we may expect opposition and a hard battle if our souls are to be saved. The devil will
never let us escape without a struggle. Our own hearts which have loved sinful things will never be turned to spiritual
things without difficulty. The world and its temptations will never be overcome without conflict. And none of this should
surprise us, for neither in the natural nor in the spiritual realm is any great good done without great effort.
"STRIVE" teaches us that salvation is worth striving for. People strive for all kinds of things far less important than
their salvation. Riches, greatness, education, promotion, are all corruptible. The incorruptible things are inside the
narrow gate: the peace of God, the sense of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, the knowledge that our sins are forgiven.
These are things truly worth striving for!
"STRIVE" teaches us that it is sinful to be lazy in spiritual matters. God has commanded you to strive and you have
no excuse if you refuse to do so.
"STRIVE" teaches us the great danger of being outside the narrow gate. To die outside the narrow gate is to be
lost without hope for ever. The Lord Jesus saw that clearly. He knew the shortness and uncertainty of time, and he
urges us not to delay, but to act quickly, not to leave it too late.
This word "strive" condemns many who call themselves Christians. They have been baptized and belong to the
church. They do not murder or steal or commit adultery, but they certainly are not "striving" to be saved. They may be
active enough in the things of this life, but in spiritual matters they make no efforts at all."

"Neglect of prayer is one great cause of backsliding. It is possible to go backwards in the Christian life, after making
a good start. The Galatian Christians progressed well for a time, and then turned aside after false teachers. Peter
loudly proclaimed his love for the Lord, but in a time of trial denied him. And to be a backslider is miserable. It is one
of the worst things that can happen to a man. I know that real grace in a man cannot be destroyed. I know that true
union with Christ cannot be broken. But I believe that a man may fall away so far that he loses sight of his Christian
standing and despairs of his own salvation. And this is the nearest thing to hell. A wounded conscience, a mind sick of
itself, a memory full of self-reproach, a heart pierced through with the Lord's arrows, a spirit broken with a load of
inward accusation—all this is a taste of hell. Consider the solemn words, "The backslider in heart shall be filled with
his own ways" (Proverbs 14:14).
Now, what is the cause of most backsliding? I believe it is generally caused by neglect of private prayer. It is my
considered opinion, and I repeat it, that backsliding generally begins with neglect of private prayer.
Prayerlessness in daily life and decision-making has led many Christians into a condition of spiritual paralysis, or to
the point where God has allowed them to fall badly into sin.
We may be sure that men fall in private long before they fall in public. "

"True Christianity is never popular
I want you to be a Christian in heart. But I want you to realize that such Christianity will never be popular. It never
has been, nor will be, as long as human nature is as the Bible describes it. Most men will be satisfied with an outward
religion. It satisfies the conscience that has never seen its need of Christ. It pleases our self-righteousness. It pleases
our natural laziness, for heart-Christianity is not easy, whereas outward Christianity need cause us no great trouble.
The history of religion demonstrates what I am saying. In Israel's history, from the start of Exodus to the end of the
Acts of the Apostles you will find the same thing. The Old Testament prophets constantly denounced the people for
practicing outward religion, when their hearts were not in it. The Lord Jesus denounced the Pharisees and scribes for
the same thing. After the days of the apostles, how quickly heart-Christianity gave way to something merely outward.
This has always been the popular form of Christianity, while true heart-Christianity has been rare.
Heart-Christianity is too humbling to be popular. It leaves a man with no room for boasting. It tells him he is dead in
sin and must be born of the Spirit. It tells him that he is guilty and hell-deserving and must flee to Christ to be saved.
But human pride rebels against being told such things.
Heart-Christianity is also too holy to be popular. It requires a man to change his ways. It requires him to forsake
the world and his sins, to be spiritually minded, and to love God's Word and prayer. How could such a thing ever be
popular? It was never popular in the past, and it is not popular today.
But what does popularity with men matter? We shall not stand before men in the judgment, but before God. And
the glory of heart-Christianity is this: it has "the praise of God". God is pleased with what he sees of true heart—
Christianity in the present life. Wherever he sees repentance, faith, holiness and the love of God existing in the heart,
God is well pleased. Is that not worth more than the praise of men?
On the Day of Judgment, God will proclaim his approval of heart-Christianity before the whole world. He will gather
his saints from every part of the world into one glorious company. He will place them at the right hand of Christ’s
glorious throne. Then, all who have loved and served Christ from their heart will hear him say, "Come, you blessed of
my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 25:34). Outward Christians
will look on with envy, but these words will never be addressed to them. On that great day we shall see and
understand fully the true value of heart-Christianity. In this life you are likely to have mockery, unkindness, opposition
and persecution. "Through much tribulation we must enter the Kingdom" (Acts 14:22). But whatever you may lose in
this world, the praise of God on that day will make up for it all."

"1. First, I ask you to consider very seriously whether Christ is your Friend, and you are a friend of Christ. I am
grieved to say that thousands upon thousands who call themselves Christians are not Christ's friends at all. They are
outwardly Christians, but they are not friends of the Lord Jesus. They do not hate the sins which he died to put away.
They do not love the Savior who came into the world to save sinners. They do not delight in the gospel of
reconciliation. They do not speak with the Friend of sinners in prayer, or seek close fellowship with him. Such people
are not Christ's friends. I appeal to you to examine yourself. Are you or are you not one of Christ's friends?
2. Secondly, I want you to know that if you are not one of Christ's friends, you are a poor and miserable being. You
are in a world which is passing away, and a world of sorrow, yet you have no real source of comfort or refuge in time of
need. You must one day die, but you are not ready to die. Your sins are not forgiven. You are going to be judged, but
you are not prepared to meet God. You could be, but you refuse the one Mediator and Advocate who can save you.
You love the world more than Christ. You refuse the Friend of sinners. I say again that you are a poor and miserable
being.
3. Thirdly, I want you to know that if you really want a friend, Christ is willing to become your Friend. He is calling
you now through the words which I write. He is ready to receive you, however unworthy you feel, and to number you
among his friends. He is ready to forgive all your past, to clothe you with his righteousness, to give you his Spirit and
to make you his own child. All he asks is that you come to him. He tells you to come with all your sins, acknowledging
your vileness and confessing your shame. Come just as you are, not waiting for anything. You are unworthy of
anything, but he bids you to come and be his friend. Will you not come?
4. Lastly, I want you to know that if Christ is your Friend, you have great privileges, and ought to live in a way worthy
of them. Every day, seek to have closer communion with him, and to know more of his grace and power. True
Christianity is not simply believing a set of abstract truths. It involves living in daily personal communion with a Person.
The Apostle Paul said, 'To me, to live is Christ" (Philippians 1:21). Seek daily to glorify Christ in everything. "A man
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who has friends must himself be friendly" (Proverbs 18:24) and no one is under a greater obligation than someone who
is a friend of Christ. Avoid everything which would grieve him. Fight hard against besetting sins, inconsistency,
slowness to confess him before men. When you are tempted, say to your soul, "Is this your loyalty to your friend?"
Above all, think of the mercy which he has shown to you, and learn to rejoice every day in your Friend! You may be
sick; your troubles may be very great; your earthly friends may forsake you and you may be alone in the world. But if
you are in Christ you have a Friend—a Friend who is powerful, loving, wise, unfailing. Think much about your Friend!
Soon, your Friend will come and take you home, and you will live with him forever. At that time the whole world will
acknowledge that the truly rich and happy man is the man who has had the Lord Jesus Christ as his Friend."
( )

This is No. 13 of the "Great Christian Classics" series. This book is an abridged version of John Charles Ryle's "Practical Religion: Being Plain Papers on the Daily Duties, Experience, Dangers, and Privileges of Professing Christians" (written in 1878). ( )