Luke 7:36-50

1. We see that men may show some outward respect to Christ, and yet remain unconverted.
2. We see that grateful love is the secret of doing much for Christ.
3. We see that a sense of having our sins forgiven is the mainspring and life-blood of love to Christ.

"Do we really feel affection toward the Lord Jesus? Can we say, "Lord, you know all things, you know that I love you?""

"All desire to see among Christians, more good works, more self-denial, more practical obedience to Christ's commands. But what will produce these things? Nothing, nothing but love. There never will be more done for Christ until there is more hearty love to Christ Himself."

"The only way to make men holy, is to teach and preach free and full forgiveness through Jesus Christ. The secret of being holy ourselves, is to know and feel that Christ has pardoned our sins. Peace with God is the only root that will bear the fruit of holiness."

Questions:

1. Ryle asked the following questions for us to consider: Do we really feel affection toward the Lord Jesus? Can we say, "Lord, you know all things, you know that I love you?" Have we cordially embraced His whole Gospel? Are we willing to enter heaven side by side with the chief of sinners, and to owe all our hopes to free grace?

2. When it comes to emotions, we can tend to downplay them, maybe even as a reaction to the Pentecostal movement, but the Bible talks about affection for Christ that flows out of the gospel. Does our affection for Christ look more like Simon or the woman of the city?

3. Let me repeat Ryle’s serious, closing questions: What we are doing for Christ's glory? What kind of lives are we living? What proof are we making of our love to Him which loved us, and died for our sins?