Romans 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end everlasting life. 1. Two great principles pervade and rule the universe — sin and holiness. There are but these two. There will ever be these two. Now that the second has entered, it would seem neither can be wholly destroyed. 2. It is to one of these two principles we are directed in the text. As the dark ground on which it may best appear, look first at the other. Evil, wrong, sin — the first word betokening its nature, the second its opposition to right, the third its relation to law — what a curse it has been to creation! Gather in thought all the evils which now afflict humanity, add to them all those under which creation groans, add still all those which in another world will continue forever — and you see the elements of that evil thing which has mysteriously sprung up in God's universe; which He hates, which angels deplore, and which we call sin. It is like emerging from a dark tunnel to sweet air and clear sunshine, to turn from this subject to the one before us. I. WHAT IS HOLINESS? 1. It has many counterfeits. (1) You see yonder the Pharisee. Men call him holy, because he wears a holy garment with a broad phylactery, is unctuous in his speech, loud in his profession, fluent in his prayers. (2) In ancient times you might have seen another sort of man, in a cell, wearing a filthy garment, living upon roots, scowling on the outside world, for which he did nothing, and pretending thus to "mortify the deeds of the body."(3) Yonder is another character, absorbed about spiritual subjects, a great authority on abstruse doctrines, yet withal exclusive, proud, "soon angry," intolerant, unlovely at home. (4) Or look at a collective scene. See that crowd thronging to hear a favourite preacher, or to swell the enthusiasm of a public meeting, or to observe some saint's day, all wearing the air of religiousness, and all yielding themselves to the fascination of spiritual excitement. Now far be it from me to suggest that it may not exist in some of these, but they are not the thing. 2. The simplest definition of holiness is conformity to God. So far as we can understand God's holiness, it consists in infinite rectitude of thought, feeling, nature, and it is essential to Him, so that without it He could not be. He is the Holy One. This holiness regulates all He does. But who can stand in His holy place to gaze upon and imitate Him?Though we cannot do this, however, recollect He has given us reflections of His holiness. 1. God's Word is a reflection of Himself. In a book you get a man's thoughts and spirit. All its injunctions and prohibitions are on the side of holiness. By common consent it is "the Holy Bible," and we are like God, holy as He is holy, in proportion as we "look into the perfect law," catch and reflect its image. 2. Not in a book only, but in a living person has God exhibited His holiness. How holy Christ was! If you cannot imitate the original, then look at the copy. Our holiness consists in being like Christ. As you look at Christ, too, you see what holiness is not, as well as what it is. It is not asceticism. Christ "was in the world"; yet He was holy. It is not absence from temptation. He was in "all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." It is not morbid sensibility, ever weighing experience and scrutinising motive. Christ was active, "went about doing good," was healthy in His moral temperament. It was not unnaturalness, the assumption of anything peculiar, whether in dress, speech, or behaviour. Christ was perfectly natural; the light shone because it was there. 3. Though this is perhaps a sufficient definition, it is not a complete one, for there are elements which go to make up our holiness which could not exist in Christ. In order to holiness in us there must be contrition for sin, and this of course Jesus had not. 4. Still, the definition is not complete. Were it possible to express in a word the nature of absolute holiness, we could not do better than adopt the word "Love." God is love, Christ was love, and the nearest approach we can make to perfect holiness is pure love. II. WHY SHOULD WE BE HOLY? Why should we not; what reason can be urged for sin? It is unreasonable. Holiness is the highest reason. 1. Consider — (1) It was God's original purpose with regard to us. And this first purpose He has steadily adhered to. How holy the creature He formed! "God made man upright." In the "image of God created He man." How powerful this motive! God meant us, made us, to be holy. As sin does not destroy law, nor alter the Divine perfection, so neither does it disturb the Divine purpose. (2) If anything can be stronger as a motive than that "good and acceptable and perfect will of God." it is to be found in She great work of Christ. "God so loved the world." Why? To promote the interests of holiness, to vindicate His own and to secure that of His creatures. The atonement of Christ does both. (3) Nor did He only die for this. For this, too, He lives and reigns. The first gift He bestowed after His ascension was the royal one of the Holy Spirit, whose work is emphatically to promote holiness. 2. In thus gathering motives from the throne, the Cross, the work of the Spirit, forget not personal ones. The apostle urges these strongly. (1) Your profession. You have made this, have been baptized, taken upon you the badge of discipleship. What means this? "How shall we who are thus by profession dead to sin, live any longer therein?" Consistency with what you profess requires holiness. Either give up your profession, or give up sin — the two are incompatible. (2) Nor this only. If believers, you are one with Christ; as such, should be like Him. He was raised from death by the glorious power of the Father; we should rise too. (3) Still farther; recollect your sinful nature. "The old man," corrupt according to deceitful lusts, is legally destroyed. Not only are motives to sin withdrawn, but right is removed. Therefore "reckon" this to be your state, and "yield not your members as its instruments." 3. Motives of a less personal kind yet remain. As believers formed into a collective fellowship, the object of the Church is two fold — its own culture, and the benefit of the world. Both these will be best secured by growing holiness. III. HOW MAY HOLINESS BE BEST SECURED? 1. Negatively. (1) Not without effort. Wishing, desire, will not avail. If this fruit is ever to be secured, it must be cultivated, nurtured, tended, and sometimes watered with tears. A careless soul will never be a holy one. As little is it to be obtained without Divine help. With a corrupt nature, a vigilant adversary, and a sinful world, as little can a spark live in the ocean, or fruit grow on a rock, as the celestial principle flourish without help from above. Divine in its nature, it requires Divine succour, and none but the Spirit of God can sanctify the soul. (2) Not suddenly, all at once. As the sun does not at once reach the zenith, nor the summer its solstice, nor the fruit its maturity, so neither does holiness at once secure the ascendency in any soul. It is a habit rather than an act. 2. Positively. Holiness — (1) Must have a basis of intelligence. How often the apostle prays that believers may increase "in knowledge." Would you be holy? Think on Divine things. The mind grows by what it feeds on. (2) Is a thing of the heart. If you would be holy, "keep your heart with all diligence." It is the citadel. (3) Is a matter of practice. Sin within is bad; allowed to come out, it is worse, not only for its influence upon others, but on self too. There is no exercise so hallowing as communion with God. Entering into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, we are surrounded by the fragrant incense which will perfume our very garments, and be exhaled in the breath of our lips. As Moses, radiant from the Mount, so shall we reflect the glory of the Lord. Like him, we may "wist not," but others will see, and will take such knowledge of us as will bless and stimulate them.Conclusion: 1. Holiness is within the reach of all. Many things are not so. Wealth, fame, honour, position may be coveted by many, who strive to obtain, but win not. The highest distinction to be won on earth is open to the meanest. 2. Holiness is not destroyed by occasional failures. Try, try again; the steps backward may help the spring forward; the wave receding becomes stronger in its rebound. 3. The conscious absence of perfect holiness should endear the atonement. "If any man sin" — and who does not daily? — "we have an Advocate with the Father," etc. 4. In heaven holiness will be complete. (J. Viney.) Parallel Verses KJV: But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. |
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