John R. Rice Quotes of the Week

Some Christians very foolishly say that if a man is put to death for murder, he has no more chance to repent; therefore, let us turn him loose. He may kill somebody else, but maybe he will have a chance to repent. The simple truth is, the man who knows he is bound for the electric chair is more likely to repent than the man who knows he will get out on parole after a few months for his crime. - John R. Rice [Great Controversial Subjects Settled from the Bible, pg. 228-229]

SUNDAY IS NOT THE SABBATH. THE BIBLE NEVER ONCE SPEAKS OF IT AS A SABBATH. THE BIBLE DOES NOT COMMAND CHRISTIANS TO KEEP SUNDAY AS A SABBATH. IN FACT, THE NEW TESTAMENT DOES NOT COMMAND CHRISTIANS TO KEEP ANY SABBATH WHATSOEVER! THE SABBATH WAS FOR JEWS UNDER CEREMONIAL LAW AND FOR NO ONE ELSE, IT WAS A SPECIAL COVENANT AND SIGN BETWEEN GOD AND THE JEWS. - John R. Rice [Great Controversial Subjects Settled from the Bible, pg. 244] emphasis was Dr. Rice's

Ceremonial laws may be commanded to one group and not commanded to others, but the moral law is for all alike.
the law against murder is certainly true for everybody, but the law concerning circumcision is only for the Jews. Therefore, it is ceremonial law. Likewise, the law that Jews should keep the Sabbath is a ceremonial law because it is expressly given as a sign between God and Jews to set them apart from others. Any command that is restricted to a particular group and is not given to others is thereby proven to be a ceremonial law. - John R. Rice [Great Controversial Subjects Settled from the Bible, pg. 248]

Some people are hypocrites about prayer. They stand on street corners and in synagogues and want people to hear them pray and hear them say, "My, he is lovely in prayer."
A pastor once said to me, "If you want somebody to lead in prayer, call on Sister So-and-so. She is very able in prayer." I never called on her. God deliver me from these people who are "able in prayer." I suppose he meant she was very eloquent, using beautiful language.
Watch your temptation. People are listening and you will talk to the people instead of God if you don't watch it. When you pray, don't be a hypocrite; praying to be heard of men. - John R. Rice [Great Lessons from the Sermon on the Mount, pg. 9]

Jesus said, "And other sheep I have , which are not of this fold: them also must I bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd" (John 10:16). I say, "Lord Jesus, I am anxious to see those other sheep in Your fold. They are my brothers and sisters."
So whether they are black in skin, or yellow, or brown, or white--those who are born-again children are the children on my Father. And when I come to say, "My Father," I am acknowledging that I am part of a whole group of Christians whom I ought to love and count in the family. - John R. Rice [Great Lessons from the Sermon on the Mount, pg. 11]

You must face it that a lot of people who think they are going to Heaven, and a lot of people whom the rest of us may think are going to Heaven, are not. Why? Because they haven't been born again. They are outwardly moral and religious, but not born again. They don't have a new heart, so they are lost, though they may appear to be Christians. Religious but lost. What a sad thing! - John R. Rice [Great Lessons from the Sermon on the Mount, pg. 25]

Christ Jesus died for sinners--and nobody else--and that only those who will not repent and trust in the shed blood of Christ need be lost. - John R. Rice [What Must I Do to Be Saved?, pg. 7]