January Message 2008

May the New Year bring much happiness, blessing, prosperity and peace into many hearts and homes. May it also, through the kindness of Christ, bring humility into our hearts and holiness into our lives.

 

 

 

Dear friends

 

The meek may inherit the earth but ministers often tend to inherit books. Some are very good books, others quite helpful but a few need recycling into something more useful at the earliest opportunity. Unlike the latter, one book that I value greatly used to belong to the late Norman Ravenhill, who lived in  Caerwent for many years, and served as a deacon in the chapel for most of them. It is written by the one time Bishop of Liverpool, J C Ryle and it is called Knots Untied. The title describes a manner of approaching problems that seems to be quite rare in these fast moving days. It suggests taking a little more time over things, employing patience and gentleness and exerting some mental effort. It is surely the more positive and constructive approach. Cutting knots may seem to be the easier and quicker route but you tend to damage or destroy whatever is knotted and you really learn very little in the process.

 

 

One of the knots Ryle seeks to untie is the nature of a distinctly Evangelical religion. He argues that there are five essential elements to it.

 

 

• The absolute supremacy it assigns to the Holy Scripture as the only rule of faith and practice, the only test of truth, the only judge of controversy.

   

 

• The depth and prominence it assigns to the doctrine of human sinfulness and corruption.

   

 

• The paramount importance it attaches to the work and office of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the nature of the salvation which he has wrought out for man.

   

 

• The high place which it assigns to the inward work of the Holy Spirit in the heart of man. A Christian is, born of the Spirit, and then led by, into a new life of holiness and love.

   

 

• The importance which it attaches to the outward and visible work of the Holy Spirit in the life of man. If a man is a Christian it will be evident in his character and conduct.

   

 

Although Ryle's book was written over one hundred years ago his principles are sound. As evangelical believers we submit to the authority of Scripture because it is God's word.  We also recognise ourselves as sinners in God's sight and in need of the salvation that only Jesus Christ can provide.  We also believe that if the Holy Spirit works effectively in our hearts then the evidence will be there for all to see in our everyday living.

 

 

The year 2008 will no doubt bring many blessings with it. It will also bring its problems. It is surely a good thing to think about how we will approach those problems before they arrive.

 

Eddie Jones (Pastor)