" In this famous sentence our Lord begins His answer to Pilate's question, "Art Thou the King of the Jews?"
"Thou askest whether I am a King. I reply that I certainly have a kingdom, but it is a kingdom entirely unlike the kingdoms of this world. It is a kingdom which is neither begun, nor propagated, nor defended by the power of this world, by the world's arms or the world's money. It is a kingdom which took its origin from heaven, and not from earth,--a spiritual kingdom,--a kingdom over hearts and wills and consciences,--a kingdom which needs no armies or revenues,--a kingdom which in no way interferes with the kingdoms of this world."
That the above was our Lord's plain meaning, when He spoke the words before us, is to my mind as evident as the sun at noonday. .... The text declares that Christ's kingdom did not spring from the powers of this world, and is not dependant on them; but the text does not declare that the powers of this world ought to have nothing to do with Christ's kingdom. Christ's kingdom can get on very well without them; but they cannot get on very well without Christ's kingdom." -JC Ryle
Jesus is building His kingdom. It's a kingdom of light in a dark and hateful world. And His kingdom will conquer in the end. All who want to know the truth will come into the light. And His kingdom will vanquish all wickedness one day.
"A day will soon come when the despised Nazarene who hung on the Cross, shall take to Himself His great power and reign, and put down every enemy under His feet. The kingdoms of this world, as Daniel foretold, shall be swept aside, and become the kingdom of our God and of His Christ. And at last every knee shall bow to Him, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord." -JC Ryle
2 comments:
Great post! One can't go wrong with Ryle.
Thanks Mark.
Ryle is one of the very best. There's a treasure of wisdom in the Bishop's writings.
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