Few Saved # 5

Few Saved # 5

(d) Let us set aside, in the next place, all those who are formalists and self-righteous. I mean by this expression, those who value themselves on their own regularity in the use of the forms of Christianity, and depend either directly or indirectly on their own doings for their acceptance with God. I mean all who rest their souls on any work but the work of Christ, or any righteousness but the righteousness of Christ. Of such the Apostle Paul has expressly testified, "By the deeds of the law shall no flesh living be justified." "Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." (Romans 3:20; 1 Corinthians 3:11). And dare we say, in the face of such texts, that such as these will be saved? The answer is plain to my own mind - In their present condition they will not.

(e) Let us set aside, in the next place, all those who know the Gospel with their heads - but do not obey it with their hearts. These are those unhappy people who have eyes to see the way of life - but have not will or courage to walk in it. They approve sound doctrine. They will not listen to preaching which does not contain it. But the fear of man, or the cares of the world, or the love of money, or the dread of offending relations, perpetually holds them back. They will not come out boldly, and take up the cross, and confess Christ before people. Of these also the Bible speaks expressly, "Faith, if it has not works, is dead, being alone." To him that knows to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin." If any man is ashamed of Me and of My words, of him will the Son of man be ashamed when He shall come in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels." (James 2:17; 4:17; Luke 9:26). Shall we say that such as these will be saved? The answer is clear to my own mind - In their present condition they will not.

(f) Let us set aside, in the last place, all those who are hypocritical professors. I mean by that expression, all those whose religion consists in talk and high profession, and in nothing besides. These are they of whom the prophet Ezekiel speaks, saying, "With their mouth they show much love - but their heart goes after their covetousness." "They profess that they know God - but in works they have not the power of it." (Ezek. 33:31; Titus 1:16; 2 Tim. 3:5). They are saints at church, and saints to talk to in public. But they are not saints in private, and in their own homes; and worst of all, they are not saints in heart. There can be no dispute about such people. Shall we say that they will be saved? There can only be one answer - In their present condition they will not.

And now, after setting aside these classes which I have described, I ask any sensible thinking reader to tell me how many people in any church will there be left behind? How many, after sifting a church thoroughly and honestly - how many men and women will remain who are in a way to be saved? How many true penitents - how many real believers in Christ, how many truly holy people will there be found? I put it to the conscience of every reader of this volume to give an honest answer, as in the sight of God. I ask you whether, after sifting a church with the Bible in the fashion described, you can come to any conclusion but this, that few people - sadly few people, are in a way to be saved?

It is a painful conclusion to arrive at - but I know not how it can be avoided. It is a fearful and tremendous thought, that there should be so many churchmen, across the whole world, and so many dissenters, so many seat-holders, and so many pew-renters, so many hearers, and so many communicants - and yet, after all, so few in a way to be saved! But the only question is, "Is it not true?" It is vain to shut our eyes against facts. It is useless to pretend not to see what is going on around us. The statements of the Bible and the facts of the world we live in will lead us to the same conclusion - Many are being lost, and few being saved!

(a) I know well that many do not believe what I am saying, because they think there is an immense quantity of death-bed repentance. They flatter themselves that multitudes who do not live religious lives will yet die religious deaths. They take comfort in the thought that vast numbers of people turn to God in their last illness and are saved at the eleventh hour. I will only remind such people that all the experience of ministers is utterly against the theory. People generally die just as they have lived.True repentance is never too late - but repentance deferred to the last hours of life is seldom true. A man's life is the surest evidence of his spiritual state, and if lives are to be witnesses, then few are likely to be saved.

(b) I know well that many do not believe what I am saying, because they imagine that it contradicts the mercy of God. They dwell on the love to sinners which the Gospel reveals. They point to the offers of pardon and forgiveness which abound in the Bible. They ask us if we maintain, in the face of all this, that only few people will be saved. I answer, I will go as far as anyone in exalting God's mercy in Christ - but I cannot shut my eyes against the fact that this mercy profits no man as long as it is wilfully refused. I see nothing lacking, on God's part, for man's salvation. I see room in heaven for the chief of sinners. I see willingness in Christ to receive the most ungodly. I see power in the Holy Spirit to renew the most ungodly. But I see, on the other hand, desperate unbelief in man - he will not believe what God tells him in the Bible. I see desperate pride in man - he will not bow his heart to receive the Gospel as a little child. I see desperate sloth in man - he will not take the trouble to arise and call upon God. I see desperate worldliness in man - he will not loose his hold on the poor perishable things of time, and consider eternity. In short, I see the words of our Lord continually verified, "You will not come unto Me, that you might have life" (John 5:40), and therefore I am driven to the sorrowful conclusion that few are likely to be saved.

~J. C. Ryle~

(continued with # 6)