Presentation of Chapter 3, Reality, from J.C. Ryle's book, Practical Religion

1. Practical Religion
Reality
J.C. Ryle

2. Is Your Religion (Faith) Real?
By “real” we mean:
Genuine, sincere, honest and thorough
Not base, hollow, formal, false, counterfeit, sham
and nominal
If we measure the religion of the age by its apparent
quantity, there is much of it. But if we measure it by
its quality, there is very little indeed.
If we profess to
have any religion
at all, let us take
care that it is

3. The Importance of Reality
Most people tell us ‘that all have got good
hearts at bottom,’— that all are sincere and true
in the main, though they may make mistakes.
They call us uncharitable, and harsh, and
censorious, if we doubt anybody’s goodness of
heart.

4. The Importance of Reality
What does Scripture say? This is the only
competent judge.
Observe how many of the parables contrast the
true believer and the nominal disciple.
The Sower
The Wheat & the Tares
The DragnetThe Two Sons
The Wedding Garment
The Ten Virgins
The TalentsThe Great Supper
The Pounds
The Two Builders

5. The Importance of Reality
What does Scripture say? This is the only
competent judge.
Observe how many of the parables contrast the
true believer and the nominal disciple.
What does Jesus say about the Scribes and
Pharisees?
Hypocrites!
Serpents!
Brood of Vipers!

6. The Importance of Reality
What does Scripture say? This is the only
competent judge.
Observe how many of the parables contrast the
true believer and the nominal disciple.
What does Jesus say about the Scribes and
Pharisees?
There is hardly any grace of a true Christian for
which there is not a counterfeit described in
Scripture
Repentance: Saul, Ahab, Herod,
Judas Iscariot
Faith: Simon Magus
Holiness: Joash, Judas Iscariot
False Love and Charity
False Humility: the Pharisees
False Worship
False religious conversation

7. The Importance of Reality
What shall we say about these things?
They show we must take care that our
faith be genuine.
Scripture has shown that Jesus
Taught the importance of genuine faith
Condemned false profession
Scripture shows there are false graces

8. The Importance of Reality
Is our walk with Christ merely Churchmanship?
Going through the expected rituals: baptism,
marriage, attendance, etc.?
Does our walk show grace, faith, repentance, holiness,
spirituality of conduct and conversation?
Are we more interested in popular preachers than
we are in living for the Lord?
Are we more concerned about rejecting “improper
worship” than we are about worshiping in Spirit and
in Truth?

9. Tests To Determine Reality of Faith
1. What place does your faith occupy in your inner
man?
It is not enough that it is in your head
It is not enough that it is on your lips
It is not enough that it is in your feelings
Your religion, if it
is real, and given
by the Holy Ghost,
must be in your
heart.
- J.C. Ryle

10. Tests To Determine Reality of Faith
If it is real, your religion must be in your heart
It must hold the reins
It must sway the affections
It must lead the will
It must direct the tastes
It must influence your choices and decisions
Your religion, if it
is real, and given
by the Holy Ghost,
must be in your
heart.
- J.C. Ryle

11. Tests To Determine Reality of Faith
2. What feelings toward sin does your faith produce?
Faith from the Holy Spirit will have a deep view of the
sinfulness of sin
It will see sin as the thing God hates
It will see sin as the source of guilt and makes one lost
in God's sight
It will see sin as the source of wrath and condemnation
Above all, it will see sin as our source of eternal ruin
unless there is a redeemer

12. Tests To Determine Reality of Faith
“It is a commonplace to say that ‘the punishment
must fit the crime’. But that can be a half biblical
truth. It can encourage us to assess the nature of the
punishment by what we consider to be the severity
of the crime. Paul reverses this. We learn the
magnitude of the crime by means of the severity
of the punishment it deserves.” (emphasis mine)
- Sinclair Ferguson, Devoted to God

13. Tests To Determine Reality of Faith
3. What feelings toward Christ does it produce? Real
faith will produce feelings of
confidence in Him
love toward Him
delight in Him
comfort in Him
knowing Him as mediator
knowing Him as the food, the light, the life, the peace
of the soul

14. Tests To Determine Reality of Faith
4. Does your faith bear fruit in
your life?
The degree in which these
various graces appear may vary
in different believers.
Repentance
Faith Hope
Charity
Humility
Spirituality
Kindness
Self-denial
Unselfishness
Forgiveness
Temperance
Truthfulness
Brotherly-kindness
Patience
Forbearance

15. Tests To Determine Reality of Faith
5. How does your faith affect your attitudes toward the means of
grace?
Is Sunday a season of weariness and constraint, or a delight and a
refreshment, and a sweet foretaste of the rest to come in heaven?
How do you feel about public prayer and praise?
How do you feel about public worship and the Lord's
Supper?
How do you feel about private means of grace?
Is Bible reading essential to you?
Is it comforting to speak to God in prayer?

16. Words of Application
Look at yourself!
You may see others as hypocrites, and you may be right, but
this is not the question!
The judgment day will reveal every man’s religion, of what
sort it is. The parable of the wedding garment will receive an
awful fulfillment.
If you know your faith is not genuine, recall the greatness of
the danger and the extent of your guilt before God
God is the God of Truth
Can you imagine that He would not hate a Christianity that is
not true?

17. Words of Application
If you are pricked in your conscience by this topic, do not trifle with it,
but make every effort to be sure your faith is genuine
Apply to the Lord Jesus today! He asks only that your desire be real.
If you have taken up the cross and honestly follow Christ
Persevere – do not be moved by difficulties and opposition
Turn a deaf ear to those who accuse you of going too far in your
faith.
If there is anything which a man ought to do with all his heart, it is
the business of his soul. If there is any work which he ought never
to do in a slovenly fashion, it is the great work of ‘working out his
own salvation’

18. For next week:
Chapter 4: Prayer
Please read:
1 Pet. 1: 17
1 Cor. 1: 2
Psalm 14: 4
Psalm 50:15
Psalm 55:17