Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties and Roots

by J.C. Ryle

Sanctification, again, is a thing which depends greatly on a diligent use of Scriptural means.

no one who is careless about such things must ever expect to make much progress in sanctification. I can find no record of any eminent saint who ever neglected them. They are appointed channels through which the Holy Spirit conveys fresh supplies of grace to the soul, and strengthens the work which He has begun in the inward man.

there are no “spiritual gains without pains.”

I should as soon expect a farmer to prosper in business who contented himself with sowing his fields and never looking at them till harvest, as expect a believer to attain much holiness who was not diligent about his Bible-reading, his prayers, and the use of his Sundays. Our God is a God who works by means, and He will never bless the soul of that man who pretends to be so high and spiritual that he can get on without them.

Sanctification, again, is a thing which does not prevent a man having a great deal of ...

A true Christian is one who has not only peace of conscience, but war within. He may be known by his warfare as well as by his grace.

Sanctification, again, is a thing which cannot justify a man, and yet it pleases God.

the holy actions of a sanctified man, although imperfect, are pleasing in the sight of God. “With such sacrifices God is well pleased.” (Hebrews 13:16). “Obey your parents, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.” (Colossians 3:20). “We do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” (1 John 3:22).

Sanctification, again, is a thing which will be found absolutely necessary as a witness to our character in the great Day of Judgment.

Sanctification, in the last place, is absolutely necessary, in order to train and prepare us for heaven.

Heaven is essentially a holy place; its inhabitants are all holy; its occupations are all holy. To be really happy in heaven, it is clear and plain that we must be somewhat trained and made ready for heaven while we are on earth.

In a word, what are the visible marks of a sanctified man? What may we expect to see in him?

True sanctification then does not consist in talk about religion.

True sanctification does not consist in temporary religious feelings.

True sanctification does not consist in outward formalism and external devoutness.

Sanctification does not consist in retirement from our place in life, and the renunciation of our social duties.

True holiness does not make a Christian evade difficulties, but face and overcome them.

Sanctification does not consist in the occasional performance of right actions.

It is the habitual working of a new heavenly principle within, which runs through all a man’s daily conduct, both in great things and in small.

A true saint, like Hezekiah, will be whole-hearted.

He will “count God’s commandments concerning all things to be right, and hate every false way.”

Genuine sanctification will show itself in a habitual endeavour to do Christ’s will, and to live by His practical precepts. These precepts are to be found scattered everywhere throughout the four Gospels, and especially in the Sermon on the Mount.

What His disciples ought to be and to do is continually brought forward in our Lord’s teaching. A truly sanctified man will never forget this. He serves a Master who said, “Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you.” (John 15:14).

Genuine sanctification will show itself in a habitual desire to live up to the standard which Paul sets before the Churches in his writings. That standard is to be found in the closing chapters of nearly all his Epistles.

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.

“A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

He will aim to be like his Master, full of kindness and love to everyone; and this not in word only, by calling people “dear,” but by deeds and actions and self-denying work, according as he has opportunity.

The selfish Christian professor, who wraps himself up in his own conceit of superior knowledge, and seems to care nothing whether others sink or swim, go to heaven or hell, so long as he walks to church or chapel in his Sunday best, and is called a “sound member” – such a man knows nothing of sanctification. He may think himself a saint on earth, but he will not be a saint in heaven.

Genuine sanctification, in the last place, will show itself in habitual attention to the passive graces of Christianity.

This is the point which occupies one-third of the list of the fruits of the Spirit, supplied by Paul. Nine are named, and three of these, “long-suffering, gentleness, and meekness,” are unquestionably passive graces. (Galatians 5:22, 23).

Of one thing I feel very sure – it is nonsense to pretend to sanctification unless we follow after the meekness, gentleness, long-suffering, and forgiveness of which the Bible makes so much.

Justification and sanctification are two distinct things we must always remember. Yet there are points in which they agree and points in which they differ. Let us try to find out what they are.

Both proceed originally from the free grace of God. It is of His gift alone that believers are justified or sanctified at all.

Both are part of that great work of salvation which Christ, in the eternal covenant, has undertaken on behalf of His people.

Both are to be found in the same persons. Those who are justified are always sanctified, and those who are sanctified are always justified.

Both begin at the same time.

Both are alike necessary to salvation.

Justification is the reckoning and counting a man to be righteous for the sake of another, even Jesus Christ the Lord. Sanctification is the actual making a man inwardly righteous, though it may be in a very feeble degree.

The righteousness we have by our justification is not our own, but the everlasting perfect righteousness of our great Mediator Christ, imputed to us, and made our own by faith.

The righteousness we have by sanctification is our own righteousness, imparted, inherent, and wrought in us by the Holy Spirit, but mingle...

In justification our own works have no place at all, and simple faith in Christ i...

Sanctification is an imperfect work, comparatively, and will never be perfected until we reach heaven.

Sanctification is eminently a progressive work, and admits of continual growth and enlargement so long as a man lives.

Justification gives us our title to heaven, and boldness to enter in.

Justification is the act of God about us, and is not easily discerned by others.

Sanctification is the work of God within us, and cannot be hid in its outward manifestation from the eyes of men.

“Without holiness no man shall see the Lord;” without sanctification there is no salvation. (Hebrews 12:14).

What are our tastes, and choices, and likings, and inclinations?

Where are we now?

we must begin with Christ. We must go to Him as sinners, with no plea but that of utter need, and cast our souls on Him by faith, for peace and reconciliation with God.