Does a man really and sincerely boast in the cross of Christ? That is the grand question. If he does, he is my brother – we are traveling on the same road; we are journeying towards a home where Christ is all, and everything outward in religion will be forgotten.
But if he does not boast in the cross of Christ, I cannot feel comfort about him. Union on outward points only, is union only for a time – union about the cross is union for eternity. Error on outward points is only a skin deep disease – error about the cross is disease at the heart. Union about outward points is a mere man-made union – union about the cross of Christ can only be produced by the Holy Spirit.
But if he does not boast in the cross of Christ, I cannot feel comfort about him. Union on outward points only, is union only for a time – union about the cross is union for eternity. Error on outward points is only a skin deep disease – error about the cross is disease at the heart. Union about outward points is a mere man-made union – union about the cross of Christ can only be produced by the Holy Spirit.
~ J.C. Ryle
Old Paths, “The Cross of Christ”, [Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1999], 259.
