He that has any feeling of his own sinfulness, ought to thank God for it. That very sense of weakness, wickedness, and corruption, which perhaps makes you uncomfortable, is in reality a token for good, and a cause for praise. The first step towards being really good, is to feel bad. The preparation for heaven, is to know that we deserve hell. Before we can be counted righteous we must know ourselves to be miserable sinners. Before we can have inward happiness and peace with God, we must learn to be ashamed and confounded because of our manifold transgressions. Before we can rejoice in a well-grounded hope, we must be taught to say, “Unclean, unclean! God, be merciful to me a sinner!”
~ J.C. Ryle
Old Paths, “Our Sins”, [Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1999], 155.
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Oh my, what fantastic words from Ryle! That’s going into my file of “memorable quotes.”
Which reminds me of a professor in college who reminded us that one of the most valuable and precious things we possess as believers, and which we often regard as just the opposite, is an “active” (or guilty) conscience (!)
For without it, who of us would be reminded to turn from evil — and to God — in repentance?
John,
That was one wise professor who reminded you of having an “active” conscience. Good word!
FYI Erik, it was Ken Malmin