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

by J.C. Ryle

I believe there is far more harm done by unholy and inconsistent Christians than we are aware of. Such people are among Satan’s best allies. They pull down by their lives what pastors build with their sermons. They cause the chariot wheels of the gospel to drive heavily. They supply the children of this world with a never-ending excuse for remaining as they are. “I cannot see the use of trying to be holy,” said an irreligious businessman not long ago. “I notice that some of my customers are always talking about the gospel, faith, election, the promises of God, and so forth, and yet these same people think nothing of being unfair or cheating me out of money when they have an opportunity. If Christians can do such things, I don’t see what good there is in Christianity.”