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  WARNINGS TO THE CHURCHES - THE TRUE CHURCH
  by J.C. Ryle
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The following Sermon was preached in England, in August, 1858.

\"On this rock I will build my church,   and the gates of hell will not
overcome it\" (Matthew 16:18)

We live in a world in which all things are passing away. Kingdoms,
empires, cities, institutions, families, all are liable to change and
corruption. One universal law seems to prevail everywhere. In all
created things there is a tendency to decay.

There is something sad and depressing in this. What profit has a man in
the labor of his hands? Is there nothing that shall stand? Is there
nothing that shall last? Is there nothing that shall endure? Is there
nothing of which we can say--This shall continue forever? You have the
answer to these questions in the words of our text. Our Lord Jesus
Christ speaks of something which shall continue, and not pass away.
There is one created thing which is an exception to the universal rule
to  which I have referred. There is one thing which shall never perish
and  pass away. That thing is the building founded upon the rock--the
Church  of our Lord Jesus Christ. He declares, in the words you have
heard  tonight: \"On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of
hell  will not overcome it.\"

There are five things in these words which demand your attention:

1. A Building: \"My Church\" 2. A Builder: Christ says, \"I will build
My Church\" 3. A Foundation: \"On this rock I will build My Church\" 4.
Perils Implied: \"The gates of hell\" 5. Security Asserted: \"The gates
of hell will not overcome it\"

May God bless the words that shall be spoken. May we all search our own
hearts tonight, and know whether or not we belong to this one Church.
May we all go home to reflect and to pray!

1. First, you have a \"Building\" mentioned in the text. The Lord Jesus
Christ speaks of \"My Church.\"

Now what is this Church? Few inquiries can be made of more importance
than this. For want of due attention to this subject, the errors that
have crept into the Church, and into the world, are neither few nor
small.

The Church of our text is no material building. It is no temple made
with hands, of wood, or brick, or stone, or marble. It is a company of
men and women. It is no particular visible Church on earth. It is not
the Eastern Church or the Western Church. It is not the Church of
England, or the Church of Scotland--much less is it the Church of Rome.
The Church of our text is one that makes far less show in the eyes of
man, but is of far more importance in the eyes of God.

The Church of our text is made up of all true believers in the Lord
Jesus  Christ. It comprehends all who have repented of sin, and fled to
Christ  by faith, and been made new creatures in Him. It comprises all
God\\

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/jc-ryle/warnings-to-the-churches-the-true-church/
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