J.C. Ryle, Holiness, 거룩한 삶이 없이는 바른 교리도 소용이 없다

J.C. Ryle, Holiness, Darlington, England: Evangelical Press, 1879, 2001

 

I have had a deep conviction for many years that practical holiness and entire self-consecration to God are not sufficiently attended to by modern Christians in this country. Politics, or controversy, or party spirit, or worldliness, have eaten out the heart of lively piety in too many of us. The subject of personal godliness has fallen sadly in the background. The standard of living has become painfully low in many quarters. The immense importance of ‘adorning the doctrine of God our Saviour’ and making it lovely and beautiful by our daily habits and tempers has been far too much overlooked… Sound… doctrine is useless if it is not accompanied by a holy life. It is worse than useless: it does positive harm… it is my firm impression that we want a thorough revival about scriptural holiness. (xvii-xviii)

What then is true practical holiness? … Holiness is the habit of being of one mind with God, according as we find His mind described in Scripture… A holy man will endeavour to shun every known sin, and to keep every known commandment. He will have a decided bent of mind towards 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… A holy man will strive to be like our Lord Jesus Christ. (34)

Why then is holiness so important? … For one thing, we must be holy, because the voice of God in Scripture plainly commands it (Matt 5:20, 48; 1 Thess. 4:3; 1 Peter 1:15)… We must be holy, because this is one grand end and purpose for which Christ came into the world (2 Cor 5:15; Eph 5:25,26; Titus 2:14)... 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)… 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) … We must be holy, because this is the most likely way to do good to others. … We must be holy, because without holiness on earth, we will never be prepared to enjoy the heaven. (39-42)

Holiness is His special gift to His believing people. Holiness is the work He carries on in their hearts by the Spirit whom He puts within them.