JOHN R. RICE QUOTES OF THE WEEK

 Honest Christians may differ as to some details of Bible interpretation, but honest Christians cannot differ about the deity of Christ nor whether the Bible is all God's Word, infallibly true, nor about the blood atonement not about the miracles such as the virgin birth and the bodily resurrection of Christ, the creation of the world by the direct act of God, etc., nor about a literal Hell. When a man dissents from what the Bible says on such great fundamentals of the faith, then that man has no right to call himself a Christian, much less a preacher of the gospel or a teacher of the Bible. Such a man is an impostor, a deceiver, a false prophet. An honest infidel one might somewhat respect even though the Bible calls him a fool. But an infidel in the garb of a preacher, with language of deceit because of covetousness, is a wolf in sheep's clothing, a base hypocrite. He forfeits the respect of decent people and should have open scorn and public exposure at the hands of true Christians everywhere. The Bible commands us to contend earnestly for the faith. - John R. Rice [The Ruin of a Christian, pg. 215-216]

The kind of Christian character that does not stand up under temptation is not the right kind of character. The kind of faith that will not make us happy Christians even in war time, happy Christians when food is rationed, when boys are in the armies, when we do without our coffee, or sugar, or meat, or cars, is not enough faith. Love that falters in its expression in time of trouble and temptation is not perfect love. - John R. Rice [The Ruin of a Christian, pg. 229]

How many of us are fair-weather Christians! How many of us can be happy when we are well but not when we are sick; can be gentle and unselfish and kind until we suffer, until we lose friends, until we face disaster! How many of us are good Christians until we are tired, are good Christians until someone speaks sharply, are good Christians as long as everything is easy! Bless God for the example of the dear Saviour who "the same night He was betrayed," knowing the torment that faced Him, still loved His disciples, still gently washed their feet and taught them to love one another! Does Jesus shine in you when you are sick or tired or disappointed or in trouble? Do you love people when under pressure? - John R. Rice [The Ruin of a Christian, pg. 229-230]

How many of us are fair-weather Christians! How many of us can be happy when we are well but not when we are sick; can be gentle and unselfish and kind until we suffer, until we lose friends, until we face disaster! How many of us are good Christians until we are tired, are good Christians until someone speaks sharply, are good Christians as long as everything is easy! Bless God for the example of the dear Saviour who "the same night He was betrayed," knowing the torment that faced Him, still loved His disciples, still gently washed their feet and taught them to love one another! Does Jesus shine in you when you are sick or tired or disappointed or in trouble? Do you love people when under pressure? - John R. Rice [The Ruin of a Christian, pg. 229-230]

All Christians need, periodically, to make a new start. I have no patience with the shallow argument that because we have made good resolutions before and failed to keep them, therefore we should not make new resolutions. No man living ever did all he planned to do. No woman ever kept all her vows. But everyone who tried to do better was helped by it. People who try do more than those who do not try. People who resolve do more than those who do not resolve. And however much you may have failed in the past, the coming of the new year or of some special time of refreshing or conviction from God is an ideal time to start over again to live for God and to be what God wants you to be. - John R. Rice [The Ruin of a Christian, pg. 245]

Elisha said, "I am going to be a prophet of God." And he set out to be.

When Bill Rice was in a meeting close to Kansas City, he drove his car in to be serviced. The fellow working on the car said, "Brother Rice, my name is so and so."

"I am glad to meet you," said Bill. "You are a Christian?"

"Oh yes," he said. "I am called to be an evangelist just like you. I am called of God as an evangelist."

Bill said, "Well, are you preaching?"

"No, I have a family and there is no way to make a living without this work. But I am an evangelist just like you." Bill replied, "No, you are not just like me. I was called too and we starved but we went to Moody Bible Institute. I gave up my job when I only had one or two revivals ahead of time. I gave my life to it. I am going to preach or starve. No, you are not like me unless you are out preaching like I am."

Elisha said, I am going to be the prophet of God and put off the old garment and I am going to wear this mantle of the man of God the rest of my days." - John R. Rice [Ten Messages That Changed Ten Thousand Lives, pg. 24-25]

God's law, such as "The soul that sinneth, it shall die," is just as true about ten men as it is about one man; just as true about a whole city of men as one man; just as true about a nation of men as about one man. Sin brings death, ruin, failure. "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" is just as true of a nation as an individual. - John R. Rice [Ten Messages That Changed Ten Thousand Lives, pg. 35]