Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties and Roots

by J.C. Ryle

We need not be afraid to look at sin, and study its nature, origin, power, extent, and vileness, if we only look at the same time at the Almighty medicine provided for us in the salvation that is in Jesus Christ. Though sin has abounded, grace has much more abounded. Yes: in the everlasting covenant of redemption, to which Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are parties – in the Mediator of that covenant, Jesus Christ the righteous, perfect God and perfect Man in one Person – in the work that He did by dying for our sins and rising again for our justification – in the offices that He fills as our Priest, Substitute, Physician, Shepherd, and Advocate – in the precious blood He shed which can cleanse from all sin – in the everlasting righteousness that He brought in – in the perpetual intercession that He carries on as our Representative at God’s right hand – in His power to save to the uttermost the chief of sinners, His willingness to receive and pardon the vilest, His readiness to bear with the weakest – in the grace of the Holy Spirit which He plants in the hearts of all His people, renewing, sanctifying and causing old things to pass away and all things to become new – in all this – and oh, what a brief sketch it is! – in all this, I say, there is a full, perfect, and complete medicine for the hideous disease of sin.