“I have no desire to make an idol of holiness. I do not wish to dethrone Christ, and put holiness in His place. I fear it is sometimes forgotten that God has married together justification and sanctification – one is never found without the other. All justified people are sanctified, and all sanctified are justified.” – John C. Ryle
Believers said to be elect "through sanctification of the Spirit”. They are predestinated "to be conformed to the image of God's Son". They are chosen "that they may be holy". They are called "with a holy calling". They are that they may be "partakers of holiness". Jesus is a complete Saviour. He does not merely take away the guilt of a believer's sin, He does more – He breaks the power (1 Pe. 1:2; Rom. 8:29; Eph. 1:4; Heb. 12:10).
"Sanctification is a qualification indispensably necessary unto those who will be under the conduct of the Lord Christ unto salvation. He leads none to heaven but whom He sanctifies on the earth. This living Head will not admit of dead members." – John Owen
Believers said to be elect "through sanctification of the Spirit”. They are predestinated "to be conformed to the image of God's Son". They are chosen "that they may be holy". They are called "with a holy calling". They are that they may be "partakers of holiness". Jesus is a complete Saviour. He does not merely take away the guilt of a believer's sin, He does more – He breaks the power (1 Pe. 1:2; Rom. 8:29; Eph. 1:4; Heb. 12:10).
"Sanctification is a qualification indispensably necessary unto those who will be under the conduct of the Lord Christ unto salvation. He leads none to heaven but whom He sanctifies on the earth. This living Head will not admit of dead members." – John Owen
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Holiness
A Sermon by J.C. Ryle
Bath Road Baptist Church
-- EXCERPTS --
"Holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord."
- Hebrews 12:14
Holiness
A Sermon by J.C. Ryle
Bath Road Baptist Church
-- EXCERPTS --
"Holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord."
- Hebrews 12:14
The wise man tells us, "There is a time to weep, and a time to laugh – a time to keep silence, and a time to speak" (Ecc 3:4,7); but there is no time, no, not a day, in which a man ought not to be holy. Are we?
I. What true practical holiness is – what sort of persons are those whom God calls holy.
A man may go great lengths, and yet never reach true holiness. It is not knowledge – Balaam had that: nor great profession – Judas Iscariot had that: nor doing many things – Herod had that: nor zeal for certain matters in religion – Jehu had that: nor morality and outward respectability of conduct – the young ruler had that: nor taking pleasure in hearing preachers – the Jews in Ezekiel's time had that: nor keeping company with godly people – Joab and Gehazi and Demas had that. Yet none of these was holy! These things alone are not holiness. A man may have any one of them, and yet never see the Lord.
What then is true practical holiness?
a. Holiness is the habit of being of one mind with God. It is the habit of agreeing in God's judgement – hating what He hates – loving what He loves – and measuring everything in this world by the standard of His Word.
b. A holy man will endeavour to shun every known sin, and to keep every known commandment. He will have a decided bent of mind toward God, a hearty desire to do His will – a greater fear of displeasing Him than of displeasing the world, and a love to all His ways.
c. A holy man will strive to be like our Lord Jesus Christ. He will not only live the life of faith in Him, and draw from Him all his daily peace and strength, but he will also labour to have the mind that was in Him, and to be "conformed to His image" (Rom. 8:29).
d. A holy man will follow after meekness, long-suffering, gentleness, patience, kind tempers, government of his tongue.
e. A holy man will follow after temperance and self-denial. He will labour to mortify the desires of his body. "I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway" (1 Cor. 9:27).
f. A holy man will follow after charity and brotherly kindness.
g. A holy man will follow after a spirit of mercy and benevolence towards others.
h. A holy man will follow after purity of heart. He knows his own heart is like tinder, and will diligently keep clear of the sparks of temptation.
i. A holy man will follow after the fear of God. I mean the fear of a child, who wishes to live and move as if he was always before his father's face, because he loves him.
j. A holy man will follow after humility. He will desire, in lowliness of mind, to esteem all others better than himself.
k. A holy man will follow after faithfulness in all the duties and relations in life.
l. A holy man will follow after spiritual mindedness. He will endeavour to set his affections entirely on things above, and to hold things on earth with a very loose hand. He will not neglect the business of the life that now is; but the first place in his mind and thoughts will be given to the life to come.
I do not say for a moment that holiness shuts out the presence of indwelling sin. No: far from it. It is the greatest mystery of a holy man that he carries about with him a "body of death;" – that often when he would do good "evil is present with him"; that the old man is clogging all his movements, and, as it were, trying to draw him back at every step he takes (Rom. 7:21). But it is the excellence of a holy man that he is not at peace with indwelling sin, as others are. He hates it, mourns over it, and longs to be free from its company. The work of sanctification within him is like the wall of Jerusalem – the building goes forward "even in troublous times" (Dan. 9:25).
Neither do I say that holiness comes to ripeness and perfection all at once, or that these graces I have touched on must be found in full bloom and vigour before you can call a man holy. No: far from it. Sanctification is always a progressive work.
And this I do boldly and confidently say, that true holiness is a great reality. It is something in a man that can be seen, and known, and marked, and felt by all around him. It is light: if it exists, it will show itself. It is salt: if it exists, its savour will be perceived. It is a precious ointment: if it exists, its presence cannot be hid.
II. Why practical holiness is so important.
Can holiness save us? No: not a whit.
Why then is holiness so important? Why does the Apostle say, "Without it no man shall see the Lord"?
a. We must be holy, because the voice of God in Scripture plainly commands it.
b. We must be holy, because this is one grand end and purpose for which Christ came into the world. Believers said to be elect "through sanctification of the Spirit”. They are predestinated "to be conformed to the image of God's Son". They are chosen "that they may be holy". They are called "with a holy calling". They are that they may be "partakers of holiness". Jesus is a complete Saviour. He does not merely take away the guilt of a believer's sin, He does more – He breaks the power (1 Pe. 1:2; Rom. 8:29; Eph. 1:4; Heb. 12:10).
c. We must be holy, because this is the only sound evidence that we have a saving faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
d. We must be holy, because this is the only proof that we love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.
e. We must be holy, because this is the only sound evidence that we are true children of God.
f. We must be holy, because this is the most likely way to do good to others. Our lives will always be doing either good or harm to those who see them. They are a silent sermon which all can read. Your life is an argument that none can escape.
g. We must be holy, because our present comfort depends much upon it. We are sadly apt to forget that there is a close connection between sin and sorrow, holiness and happiness, sanctification and consolation.
h. We must be holy, because without holiness on earth we shall never be prepared to enjoy heaven. Heaven is a holy place. The Lord of heaven is a holy Being. The angels are holy creatures. Holiness is written on everything in heaven.
Now perhaps you think praying, and Scripture-reading, and hymn singing, dull and melancholy, and stupid work – a thing to be tolerated now and then, but not enjoyed. You reckon the Sabbath a burden and a weariness; you could not possibly spend more than a small part of it in worshipping God. But remember, heaven is a never-ending Sabbath. The inhabitants thereof rest not day or night, saying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty," and singing the praise of the Lamb. How could an unholy man find pleasure in occupation such as this?
You may say, "It was never meant that all Christians should be holy, and that holiness, such as I have described, is only for great saints, and people of uncommon gifts." I answer, "I cannot see that in Scripture. I read that every man who hath hope in Christ purifieth himself" (1 John 3:3) – "Without holiness no man shall see the Lord."
You may say, "It is impossible to be so holy and to do our duty in this life at the same time: the thing cannot be done." I answer, "You are mistaken. It can be done. With Christ on your side nothing is impossible. It has been done by many. David, and Obadiah, and Daniel, and the servants of Nero's household, are all examples that go to prove it."
You may say, "If I were so holy I would be unlike other people." I answer, "I know it well. It is just what you ought to be. Christ's true servants always were unlike the world around them – a separate nation, a peculiar people; – and you must be so too, if you would be saved!"
You may say, "At this rate very few will be saved." I answer, "I know it. It is precisely what we are told in the Sermon on the Mount." The Lord Jesus said so. "Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" (Matt. 7:14). Few will be saved, because few will take the trouble to seek salvation. Men will not deny themselves the pleasures of sin and their own way for a little season. They turn their backs on an "inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away." "Ye will not come unto Me," says Jesus, "that ye might have life" (John 5:40).
The Lord Jesus said so, that men must take up the cross daily, and that they must be ready to cut off hand or foot, if they would be His disciples. It is in religion as it is in other things, "there are no gains without pains." That which costs nothing is worth nothing.
"Let not men deceive themselves," says [John] Owen; "sanctification is a qualification indispensably necessary unto those who will be under the conduct of the Lord Christ unto salvation. He leads none to heaven but whom He sanctifies on the earth. This living Head will not admit of dead members."
I have no desire to make an idol of holiness. I do not wish to dethrone Christ, and put holiness in His place. I fear it is sometimes forgotten that God has married together justification and sanctification – one is never found without the other. All justified people are sanctified, and all sanctified are justified.
III. A word of advice to all who desire to be holy.
Would you be holy? Would you become a new creature? Then you must begin with Christ. You will do just nothing at all, and make no progress till you feel your sin and weakness, and flee to Him. He is the root and beginning of all holiness, and the way to be holy is to come to Him by faith and be joined to Him. Christ is not wisdom and righteousness only to His people, but sanctification also. "Without Christ we can do nothing" (John 15:5).
Holiness is the work He carries on in their hearts, by the Spirit whom He puts within them. He is appointed a "Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance" as well as remission of sins – "To as many as receive Him, He gives power to become sons of God" (Acts 5:31; John 1:12, 13). Holiness comes from Christ. It is the result of vital union with Him. It is the fruit of being a living branch of the True Vine.
Would you continue holy? Then abide in Christ. He says Himself, "Abide in Me and I in you, – he that abideth in Me and I in him, the same beareth much fruit" (John 15:4, 5). "I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. The life that I now live, I live by the faith of the Son of God" (Heb 12:2; Phil 4:13; Gal 2:20).
I. What true practical holiness is – what sort of persons are those whom God calls holy.
A man may go great lengths, and yet never reach true holiness. It is not knowledge – Balaam had that: nor great profession – Judas Iscariot had that: nor doing many things – Herod had that: nor zeal for certain matters in religion – Jehu had that: nor morality and outward respectability of conduct – the young ruler had that: nor taking pleasure in hearing preachers – the Jews in Ezekiel's time had that: nor keeping company with godly people – Joab and Gehazi and Demas had that. Yet none of these was holy! These things alone are not holiness. A man may have any one of them, and yet never see the Lord.
What then is true practical holiness?
a. Holiness is the habit of being of one mind with God. It is the habit of agreeing in God's judgement – hating what He hates – loving what He loves – and measuring everything in this world by the standard of His Word.
b. A holy man will endeavour to shun every known sin, and to keep every known commandment. He will have a decided bent of mind toward God, a hearty desire to do His will – a greater fear of displeasing Him than of displeasing the world, and a love to all His ways.
c. A holy man will strive to be like our Lord Jesus Christ. He will not only live the life of faith in Him, and draw from Him all his daily peace and strength, but he will also labour to have the mind that was in Him, and to be "conformed to His image" (Rom. 8:29).
d. A holy man will follow after meekness, long-suffering, gentleness, patience, kind tempers, government of his tongue.
e. A holy man will follow after temperance and self-denial. He will labour to mortify the desires of his body. "I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway" (1 Cor. 9:27).
f. A holy man will follow after charity and brotherly kindness.
g. A holy man will follow after a spirit of mercy and benevolence towards others.
h. A holy man will follow after purity of heart. He knows his own heart is like tinder, and will diligently keep clear of the sparks of temptation.
i. A holy man will follow after the fear of God. I mean the fear of a child, who wishes to live and move as if he was always before his father's face, because he loves him.
j. A holy man will follow after humility. He will desire, in lowliness of mind, to esteem all others better than himself.
k. A holy man will follow after faithfulness in all the duties and relations in life.
l. A holy man will follow after spiritual mindedness. He will endeavour to set his affections entirely on things above, and to hold things on earth with a very loose hand. He will not neglect the business of the life that now is; but the first place in his mind and thoughts will be given to the life to come.
I do not say for a moment that holiness shuts out the presence of indwelling sin. No: far from it. It is the greatest mystery of a holy man that he carries about with him a "body of death;" – that often when he would do good "evil is present with him"; that the old man is clogging all his movements, and, as it were, trying to draw him back at every step he takes (Rom. 7:21). But it is the excellence of a holy man that he is not at peace with indwelling sin, as others are. He hates it, mourns over it, and longs to be free from its company. The work of sanctification within him is like the wall of Jerusalem – the building goes forward "even in troublous times" (Dan. 9:25).
Neither do I say that holiness comes to ripeness and perfection all at once, or that these graces I have touched on must be found in full bloom and vigour before you can call a man holy. No: far from it. Sanctification is always a progressive work.
And this I do boldly and confidently say, that true holiness is a great reality. It is something in a man that can be seen, and known, and marked, and felt by all around him. It is light: if it exists, it will show itself. It is salt: if it exists, its savour will be perceived. It is a precious ointment: if it exists, its presence cannot be hid.
II. Why practical holiness is so important.
Can holiness save us? No: not a whit.
Why then is holiness so important? Why does the Apostle say, "Without it no man shall see the Lord"?
a. We must be holy, because the voice of God in Scripture plainly commands it.
b. We must be holy, because this is one grand end and purpose for which Christ came into the world. Believers said to be elect "through sanctification of the Spirit”. They are predestinated "to be conformed to the image of God's Son". They are chosen "that they may be holy". They are called "with a holy calling". They are that they may be "partakers of holiness". Jesus is a complete Saviour. He does not merely take away the guilt of a believer's sin, He does more – He breaks the power (1 Pe. 1:2; Rom. 8:29; Eph. 1:4; Heb. 12:10).
c. We must be holy, because this is the only sound evidence that we have a saving faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
d. We must be holy, because this is the only proof that we love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.
e. We must be holy, because this is the only sound evidence that we are true children of God.
f. We must be holy, because this is the most likely way to do good to others. Our lives will always be doing either good or harm to those who see them. They are a silent sermon which all can read. Your life is an argument that none can escape.
g. We must be holy, because our present comfort depends much upon it. We are sadly apt to forget that there is a close connection between sin and sorrow, holiness and happiness, sanctification and consolation.
h. We must be holy, because without holiness on earth we shall never be prepared to enjoy heaven. Heaven is a holy place. The Lord of heaven is a holy Being. The angels are holy creatures. Holiness is written on everything in heaven.
Now perhaps you think praying, and Scripture-reading, and hymn singing, dull and melancholy, and stupid work – a thing to be tolerated now and then, but not enjoyed. You reckon the Sabbath a burden and a weariness; you could not possibly spend more than a small part of it in worshipping God. But remember, heaven is a never-ending Sabbath. The inhabitants thereof rest not day or night, saying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty," and singing the praise of the Lamb. How could an unholy man find pleasure in occupation such as this?
You may say, "It was never meant that all Christians should be holy, and that holiness, such as I have described, is only for great saints, and people of uncommon gifts." I answer, "I cannot see that in Scripture. I read that every man who hath hope in Christ purifieth himself" (1 John 3:3) – "Without holiness no man shall see the Lord."
You may say, "It is impossible to be so holy and to do our duty in this life at the same time: the thing cannot be done." I answer, "You are mistaken. It can be done. With Christ on your side nothing is impossible. It has been done by many. David, and Obadiah, and Daniel, and the servants of Nero's household, are all examples that go to prove it."
You may say, "If I were so holy I would be unlike other people." I answer, "I know it well. It is just what you ought to be. Christ's true servants always were unlike the world around them – a separate nation, a peculiar people; – and you must be so too, if you would be saved!"
You may say, "At this rate very few will be saved." I answer, "I know it. It is precisely what we are told in the Sermon on the Mount." The Lord Jesus said so. "Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" (Matt. 7:14). Few will be saved, because few will take the trouble to seek salvation. Men will not deny themselves the pleasures of sin and their own way for a little season. They turn their backs on an "inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away." "Ye will not come unto Me," says Jesus, "that ye might have life" (John 5:40).
The Lord Jesus said so, that men must take up the cross daily, and that they must be ready to cut off hand or foot, if they would be His disciples. It is in religion as it is in other things, "there are no gains without pains." That which costs nothing is worth nothing.
"Let not men deceive themselves," says [John] Owen; "sanctification is a qualification indispensably necessary unto those who will be under the conduct of the Lord Christ unto salvation. He leads none to heaven but whom He sanctifies on the earth. This living Head will not admit of dead members."
I have no desire to make an idol of holiness. I do not wish to dethrone Christ, and put holiness in His place. I fear it is sometimes forgotten that God has married together justification and sanctification – one is never found without the other. All justified people are sanctified, and all sanctified are justified.
III. A word of advice to all who desire to be holy.
Would you be holy? Would you become a new creature? Then you must begin with Christ. You will do just nothing at all, and make no progress till you feel your sin and weakness, and flee to Him. He is the root and beginning of all holiness, and the way to be holy is to come to Him by faith and be joined to Him. Christ is not wisdom and righteousness only to His people, but sanctification also. "Without Christ we can do nothing" (John 15:5).
Holiness is the work He carries on in their hearts, by the Spirit whom He puts within them. He is appointed a "Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance" as well as remission of sins – "To as many as receive Him, He gives power to become sons of God" (Acts 5:31; John 1:12, 13). Holiness comes from Christ. It is the result of vital union with Him. It is the fruit of being a living branch of the True Vine.
Would you continue holy? Then abide in Christ. He says Himself, "Abide in Me and I in you, – he that abideth in Me and I in him, the same beareth much fruit" (John 15:4, 5). "I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. The life that I now live, I live by the faith of the Son of God" (Heb 12:2; Phil 4:13; Gal 2:20).
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