Living or Dead? A Series of Home Truths
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
“I meet you this day with one simple question—are you among the living, or among the dead?” J. C. Ryle’s Living or Dead is a powerful work on daily Christian living. Diving into the Scriptures, Ryle shows the reader how to lead a spiritually fulfilling and happy life, and the consequences that follow undisciplined faith. Celebrating God’s all-encompassing love, Ryle provides key passages from the Bible to illustrate how putting faith first leads to a joyful life.
Top Highlights
“All men need forgiveness, because all men are sinners. He that does not know this, knows nothing in religion. It is the very A B C of Christianity, that a man should know his right place, and understand his deserts.” (Page 107)
“God says of every living person, who is not a decided Christian,—be he high or low, rich or poor, old or young,—he is dead.” (Page 7)
“The dead,’ says the wise man, ‘know not anything.’ (Eccl. 9:5.) And this is just the case with dead souls” (Page 13)
“ I offer the water of life to every one who will take it. I stand at the door of your heart and knock” (Page 64)
“if you have no other proof of spiritual life but your baptism, you are yet a dead soul.” (Page 41)
- Title: Living or Dead? A Series of Home Truths
- Author: J. C. Ryle
- Publisher: Robert Carter & Brothers
- Publication Date: 1851
- Pages: 374
John Charles Ryle (1816-1900) began his service to the Lord as a minister of the Gospel. He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford, was ordained in 1841, and became a leader of the evangelical party in the Church of England. Ryle labored in parish churches within the Church of England for almost forty years. In 1880 he was designated dean of Salisbury and then became the First Bishop of Liverpool. He stayed in that role until 1900, shortly before his death.
Ryle came to international prominence as preacher, Bible expositor, and author. Today he is best known for his plain and lively writings on practical and spiritual themes. He deliberately used this style to reach ordinary people. The great aim of his ministry was to encourage strong and serious Christian living. His tracts and books sold in the millions in the late 1800s. Many of these have been republished in modern times. Ryle has been noted for his doctrinal essays and polemical writings. His bestselling titles include Expository Thoughts on Mark and Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties and Roots which can both be found in the J. C. Ryle Collection (18 vols.). He also contributed three volumes in the Crossway Classic Commentary Collection (13 vols.).