Get to Know My Lord Jesus Christ

If I want to grow in grace, and have more hope, 

• I must seek more knowledge of my Lord Jesus Christ.

How little do I know of Him!

• My cold affections towards Him are a witness against myself.
• My eyes can never be open to what He is and does for me, or I would love Him more.

Am I cold about Christ?

• I may live by rule;
• I may walk strictly;
• I may do many things; 
• I may imagine in a short time I shall be very strong.

But all this time I can lose sight of this grand truth -

• that nothing is so sanctifying as knowledge of the Lord Jesus
• and communion with Him.

"Abide in Me," He says Himself, 

• "and I in you.
• As the branch cannot bear fruit, except it abide in the vine;
• no more can you, except you abide in me."

Christ must be the spring of my holiness, as well as the rock of my faith.

• Christ must be all in all. 

Precious He ought to be for what He has done already;

• He has called me, 
• quickened me, 
• washed me, 
• justified me.

Precious He ought to be for what He is doing even now;

• strengthening me
• interceding for me
• sympathizing with me.

Precious He ought to be for what He will do yet;

• He will keep me to the end
• raise me
• gather me at His coming
• present me faultless before God's throne
• give me rest with Him in His kingdom.

But oh! Christ ought to be far more precious to me than He has ever been yet.

• Nothing but the knowledge of Christ will ever feed my spirit.
• All my darkness arises from not keeping close to Him.

Forms of religious practice are valuable as helps and are profitable for strengthening me.  But it must be:

• Christ crucified for sinners -
• Christ seen with the eye of faith - 
• Christ present in my heart - 
• Christ as the bread of my life -
• Christ as the water of my life.

This must be the teaching I must ever cling to.

• Nothing else will either save, satisfy, or sanctify my sinful soul.
• I need more knowledge of Christ.
• If I would grow in grace and hope, I must begin here.

Adapted Excerpt From Startling Questions by J.C. Ryle