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

by J.C. Ryle

For one thing, we must be holy because the voice of God in Scripture plainly commands it. The Lord Jesus says to His people, Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of the heavens (Matthew 5:20), and Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father who is in the heavens is perfect (Matthew 5:48).