The Word is Holiness – Part 6

The Word is Holiness – Part 6

Pursue…holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: …For the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.  Hebrews 12:14; Micah 4:4; Matthew 5:18;

The NATURE Of True Practical Holiness.

Allow me to show what true practical holiness is — what sort of people whom God calls holy?

A holy man will follow after temperance and self-denial. He will labor . . .to mortify the desires of his body, to crucify his flesh with his affections and lusts, to curb his passions,
to restrain his carnal inclinations — lest at any time they break loose.

Oh, what a word is that of the Lord Jesus to the apostles: "Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life — and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap!" (Luke 21:34); and that of the apostle Paul: "I beat my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize!" (1 Corinthians 9:27).

A holy man will follow after love and brotherly kindness. He will endeavor to observe the 'golden rule' of doing as he would have men do to him — and speaking as he would have men speak to him. He will be full of affection towards his brethren, towards their bodies, their property, their characters, their feelings, their souls. "He who loves another," says Paul, "has fulfilled the law" (Romans 13:8). He will abhor all lying, slandering, backbiting, cheating, dishonesty and unfair dealing — even in the least things. He will strive to adorn his religion by all his outward demeanor, and to make it lovely and beautiful in the eyes of all around him.

Sadly, what condemning words are the thirteenth chapter of 1 Corinthians, and the sermon on the mount — when laid alongside the conduct of many professing Christians!

A holy man will follow after a spirit of mercy and benevolence towards others. He will strive to be useful in his day and generation, and to lessen the spiritual needs and misery around him as far as he can. Such was Dorcas: "full of good works and alms-deeds, which she did" — not merely purposed and talked about — but did. Such a one was Paul: "I will very gladly spend and be spent for you," he says, "though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved" (Acts 9:36; 2 Corinthians 12:15).

A holy man will follow after purity of heart. He will dread all immorality, and impurity of spirit, and seek to avoid all things that might draw him into it. He knows his own heart is like tinder — and will diligently keep clear of the sparks of temptation. Who shall dare to talk of their own strength — when David can fall?

A holy man will follow after the fear of God. I do not mean the fear of a slave — who only works because he is afraid of punishment and would be idle if he did not dread discovery. I mean rather 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.

What a noble example Nehemiah gives us of this! When he became governor at Jerusalem, he could have been supported the Jews and required money from them for his sustenance. The former governors had done so. There was none to blame him, if he did. But he says, "The former governors, in contrast, had laid heavy burdens on the people, demanding a daily ration of food and wine, besides forty pieces of silver. Even their assistants took advantage of the people. But because I feared God — I did not act that way!" (Neh. 5:15).

Last, but not least, A holy man will follow after faithfulness in all the duties and relations in life. He will try, not merely to fill his place as well as others who take no thought for their souls — but even better, because he has higher motives and more help than they. Those words of Paul should never be forgotten: "Whatever you do — do it heartily, as to the Lord." "Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord." (Colossians 3:23; Romans 12:11).

Holy people should aim at doing everything well and should be ashamed of allowing themselves to do anything poorly, if they can help it. Like Daniel, they should seek to give no "occasion" against themselves, except concerning the law of their God (Dan. 6:5). They should strive to be . . .good friends, good subjects, good in private and good in public, good in the place of business and good by their firesides.

Holiness is worth little indeed — if it does not bear this kind of fruit. The Lord Jesus puts a searching question to His people when He says, "What are you doing more than others?" (Matthew 5:47).

Adapted from J.C. Ryle insights on Holiness.