True repentance begins with KNOWLEDGE of sin. It goes on to work SORROW for sin. It leads to CONFESSION of sin before God. It shows itself before a person by a thorough BREAKING OFF from sin. It results in producing a DEEP HATRED for all sin.
J. C. RyleFor my own part, I believe that in dealing with skeptics, and unbelievers, and enemies of the Bible, Christians are too apt to stand only on the defensive. They are too often content with answering this or that little objection, or discussing this or that little difficulty, which is picked out of Scripture and thrown in their teeth. I believe we ought to act on the aggressive far more than we do, and to press home on the adversaries of [Biblical] inspiration the enormous difficulties of their own position.
J. C. RyleWhen a manโs heart is cold and unconcerned about religion โ when his hands are never employed in doing Godโs work โ when his feet are not familiar with Godโs ways โ when his tongue is seldom or never used in prayer and praise โ when his eyes are blind to the beauty of the kingdom of heaven โ when his mind is full of the world, and has no room for spiritual things โ when these marks are to be found in a man the word of the Bible is the right word to use about him, and that word is, โDead.โ
J. C. RyleThe true Christian regards all Christ's friends as his friends, members of the same body, children of the same family, soldiers in the same army, travelers to the same home. When he meets them, he feels as if he had long known them. He is more at home with them in a few minutes, than he is with many worldly people after an acquaintance of several years. And what is the secret of all this? It is simply affection to the same Savior and love to the same Lord.
J. C. Ryle