John R. Rice Quotes of the Week

Criticism causes suicides, broken health and ruined nerves. Gossip has broken countless homes, has estranged brothers, has divided churches. Evil speaking of other Christians is a heartless, cruel and terrible sin which often ruins lives. - John R. Rice [The Ruin of a Christian, pg. 170]

A Christian then may judge doctrine, comparing it with the Bible. He may judge sin, prayerfully, without judging the sinner. But no Christian ever has the right to pass judgment as to whether someone else is saved or lost. And no Christian has a right to presume that he knows the motives and intentions of any heart. - John R. Rice [The Ruin of a Christian, pg. 183]

If one declares that he has trusted in Christ as His Saviour and has assurance that his sins are forgiven by faith in the shed blood of Christ, then I ought charitably to take his testimony the best I can. If he does not live as a Christian ought, then I must consider my own frail attempts, my own failures, my own sins, not so well known to the public, perhaps, but intimately known to God. - John R. Rice [The Ruin of a Christian, pg. 183]

If one does not claim to have trusted in Christ and to have accepted Him as Saviour, then we do right to take his testimony that he is unsaved. We know that if one claims to be saved by his own goodness, or saved by church membership, he is mistaken because we have the plain statements of the Word of God that only those who trust in Christ are saved. We have the right to suppose that one who does not claim to have trusted Christ for salvation is lost. And charitably, we can only hope that one who professes to know and love the Saviour and to have trusted Him wholly for salvation is really a child of God. - John R. Rice [The Ruin of a Christian, pg. 183]

Some are saved who cannot give any clear testimony as to when and how it happened. Something very definite happens in the heart of one who is saved; but often not much happens in the head, not much of assurance, nor of clear testimony, until the Word of God brings light to the mind. Babies are born a good while before they know much. And babies would never know who their fathers or mothers were or anything about their birth unless they were taught by others. So some are saved who have no clear testimony, and some are saved who do not act like they are saved. But a percentage of others, we are taught in the word, are not saved, though they claim to be. And many are unrighteous sinners who appear very moral and religious. We can only trust that those have trusted Christ and have been born again who say they have. - John R. Rice [The Ruin of a Christian, pg. 183-184]

Some speak very blandly of the Galilean peasant or the prophet of Nazareth or the great teacher or the Way-Shower, People call Him example, martyr, wise man, philosopher, prophet or seer; but such terms are chaff to Him who deserves so much more. All such halfhearted and impersonal praise is stinking ointment instead of holy incense before Jesus.
One rich man so came to Jesus, calling Him "Good Master"; and He sternly reproved him saying, "There is none good but one, that is, God" (Matt. 18:17). Jesus is more than a good schoolmaster or rabbi; if He is not God, then He is not good! - John R. Rice [Gifts of the Wise Men, pg. 4]

Just here every reader will do well if he probes deep into his own heart to see his attitude toward Jesus Christ. Only those who come with hearts bowed low in worship, opening all their treasures, have come as the Lord Jesus demands that men come. - John R. Rice [Gifts of the Wise Men, pg. 4]