Holiness III

We are looking at the doctrine of holiness and in this session we will look at some quotes and Scripture on this vital biblical doctrine.

We must be holy, because this is the only sound evidence that we have a saving faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.                       J. C. Ryle

The good that God works for in our lives is conformity to the likeness of His Son. It is not necessarily, comfort or happiness but conformity to Christ in ever increasing measure in this life and in its fullness in eternity.       Jerry Bridges

Holiness is the perfection of all (God's) other attributes. His power is holy power, His mercy is holy mercy. His wisdom is holy wisdom. it is His holiness more than any other attribute that makes Him worthy of our praise.     Jerry Bridges

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you, God is light, in Him there is no darkness at all.  1 John 1:5

God has nothing to do with sin - all sin is separate from Him - His holiness means that He is completely and utterly removed from sin.

Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy, all nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.  Revelation 15:4

We see in the following verse that the demons even acknowledge Jesus Christ as holy.

What do you want with us Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are - the Holy One of God.  Mark 1:24

The nation of Israel was to be holy -

You are to be holy to me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.  Leviticus 20:26

Christians are called to be holy also.

But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.  1 Peter 1:15


He who wishes to attain right views about Christian holiness - must begin by examining the vast and solemn subject of sin. He must dig down very low - if he would build high a mistake here is most mischievous. Wrong views about holiness - are generally traceable to wrong views about human corruption. A right understanding of sin lies at the root of all saving Christianity.   J. C. Ryle

Holiness is the habit of being in one mind with God, according as we find His mind described in Scriptures it is the habit of ... agreeing in God's judgment, hating what He does, loving what He loves, and measuring everything in this world by the standard of His Word. He who most entirely agrees with God - he is the most holy man.   J. C. Ryle

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.  J. C. Ryle

The doctrine of holiness is the Bible's explanation of the otherness of God. God is not a part of His creation. He is other than the creation that we see.  We do not fully understand God's holiness, we cant because we are finite and we are creatures. We know that God has provided redemption for us in Christ Jesus. In today Sunday school, I taught the 10th chapter of a book by Michael Lawrence. That chapter explaining that God is a promise making and promise keeping God. In fact, if God had not come to Adam and Eve when they had sinned against God by listening to Satan and allowing their own hearts to desire to be like God. If God had not come in and made the promise He makes in Genesis 3:15 there would have been no redemptive history, for the remainder of the Bible is showing how God fulfills that promise.

God's Word is very clear in telling  us that when Christ returns only holiness will stand and continue. God is in the process of making His people holy. We must comply with God's Word, we must conform to it, our own plans and designs if not in Christ will be burned up with the all-consuming holy fire of Christ when He consummates history and brings it to an end. Our desire for Christ must increase and the desire to promote ourselves and and our unholy pursuits must decrease.

Holiness IV coming next

Father, Help us to pursuit Christlikeness, help us to be holy, help us to see that the desires of the flesh, the world, and Satan are unholy and your judgment is waiting for all who enjoy the unrighteousness of sin instead of the pursuit of Christ. Teach us to number our days and live for the greater and eternal glory of Christ and not for the temporary glory of wickedness that the culture allures and attracts with, in Christ name. Amen