This is the sixth installment in a series of posts from Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots(Hardcopy/Kindle). J. C. Ryle’s classic book on Holiness.
First Post: 12 points defining sanctification.
Second Post: 10 points on the visible evidence of sanctification.
Third Post: 13 points distinguishing Justification and Sanctification.
Fourth Post: 6 points regarding Reflections on Sanctification.
Fifth Post: 12 points regarding true practical holiness.
This week Ryle clarifies why true practical holiness is so important.
He starts off the discussion with these important points:
Can holiness save us? Can holiness put away sin–cover iniquities–make satisfaction for transgressions–pay our debt to God? no: not a whit.
Our best things are stained and tainted with imperfection. They are all more or less incomplete, wrong in the motive or defective in the performance.
To introduce the 8 points regarding why true practical holiness is so important he says this:
Why then is holiness so important? Why does the Apostle say, ‘without it no man shall see the Lord’? Let me set out in order a few reasons.
1. For one thing, we must be holy, because the voice of God in Scripture plainly commands it (Matthew 5:20, 48; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 1 Peter 1:15-16).
2. We must be holy, because this is one grand end and purpose for which Christ came into the world (2 Corinthians 5:15; Ephesians 5:25-26; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 1:2; Romans 8:29; Ephesians 1:4; Hebrews 12:10).
3. We must be holy, because this is the only sound evidence that we have a saving faith in our Lord Jesus Christ (James 2:17).
4. We must be holy, because this is the only proof that we love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity (John 14:15, 21, 23; 15:14).
5. We must be holy, because this is the only sound evidence that we are true Children of God (John 8:39, 42; Romans 8:14).
6. We must be holy, because this is the most likely way to do good to others. (1 Peter 3:1).
7. We must by holy, because our present comfort depends much upon it (1 John 2:3; 3:19; Acts 5:41).
8. Lastly, we must be holy, because without holiness on earth we shall never be prepared to enjoy heaven (Revelation 21:27).
