Holiness: For the Will of God Is Your Sanctification – 1 Thessalonians 4:3 [Annotated, Updated]

by J.C. Ryle

Another sign of growth in grace is increase of love. The person whose soul is growing is more full of love every year – of love to all people, but especially of love toward true Christian brethren. His love will show itself actively in a growing disposition to do kindnesses, to help others, to be good-natured to everybody, to be generous, sympathizing, thoughtful, tenderhearted, and considerate. It will show itself passively in a growing disposition to be humble and patient toward others, to put up with provocation and not stand upon rights, to be patient and to restrain rather than quarrel. A soul growing in grace will try to put the best construction on other people’s conduct and to believe all things and hope all things, even to the end. There is no more certain sign of backsliding and falling off in grace than an increasing disposition to find fault, pick holes, and see weak points in others. Do you want to know if you are growing in grace? Then look within for increasing love.