This is the second post in a series of posts from Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots(Hardcopy/Kindle). J. C. Ryle’s classic book on Holiness very helpfully works through various aspects of Sanctification. Last week we saw 12 points that he used to define sanctification. This week we are looking at 10 points Ryle gives regarding the visible evidence of sanctification.
1. True sanctification then does not consist in talk about religion.
2. True sanctification does not consist in temporary religious feelings (Matthew 13:20).
3. True sanctification does not consist in outward formalism and external devoutness (see Matthew 6:1-6).
4. Sanctification does not consist in retirement from our place in life, and the renunciation of our social duties (John 17:15).
5. Sanctification does not consist in the occasional performances of right actions.
6. Genuine sanctification will show itself in habitual respect to God’s law, and habitual effort to live in obedience to it as the rule of life (John 15:14).
7. Genuine sanctification will show itself in an habitual endeavor to do Christ’s will, and to live by His practical precepts (e.g. Most noticeably illustrated in the Sermon on the Mount: Matthew 5-7).
8. Genuine sanctification will show itself in an habitual desire to live up to the standard which St. Paul sets before the Churches in his writings (e.g. those directions for Christians often at the end of Paul’s letters which are grounded in the gospel truths in earlier chapters).
9. Genuine sanctification will show itself in habitual attention to the active graces which our Lord so beautifully exemplified, and especially to the grace of charity (i.e. love).
10. Genuine sanctification, in the last place, will show itself in habitual attention to the passive graces of Christianity (e.g. graces which are especially shown in submission to the will of God, and in bearing and for bearing toward one another.)
Next week we will see the differences that Ryle presents from Scripture between Justification and Sanctification.
