I am going to try and read along with Tim the classic work by J.C. Ryle, Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots. Tim offers a thorough synopsis of the Introduction, and I encourage you, even if you’re not participating in RCT by reading the book, to read his blog, the discussion that follows, and other blog postings regarding this book. I anticipate much mutual edification from this. Now, for my impressions of the Introduction.

Right off the bat, I was struck by Ryle’s humility. First, he’s not just out to pin-point heresy or misunderstandings for the thrill of it. He has a genuine concern for the health of the church. And not just the church of his day. He writes, “I have carefully abstained from naming modern teachers and modern books.” This makes this particular book timeless. By dealing with the truth as it’s presented in the Scriptures, rather than attempting to attack every false teaching out there, he makes this book on holiness applicable to me today.

Second, regarding his humility, he does not believe himself to be above criticism or error. “If in anything I am still in error, I hope I shall be shown it before I leave the world. We all see in part, and have a treasure in earthen vessels. I trust I am willing to learn.” I love that teachable kind of attitude and want it to grow in me.

Another point which stood out to me is Ryle’s emphasis on the importance of understanding the difference between justification and sanctification, saying, “Justifying faith is a grace that “worketh not,” but simply trusts, rests, and leans on Christ. (Rom. 4:5) Sanctifying faith is a grace of which the very life is action: it “worketh by love,” and, like a main-spring, moves the whole inward man. (Gal. 5:6)…But the plain truth is, that men will persist in confounding two things that differ…In justification the word to be addressed to man is believe–only believe; in sanctification the word must be “watch, pray, and fight.” What God has divided let us not mingle and confuse.” One thing, it seems to me, that he is saying is that a firm grasp of these two doctrines will help a Christian discern many false teachings regarding holiness.

One more gem I took from reading the introduction is that there is no second blessing or second conversion. Several years ago, I left a meeting with a friend feeling rather dejected because I wasn’t living on that “higher plain” as evidenced by the fact that I did not speak in tongues. I don’t want to discuss the gift of tongues. One could set anything up as the proof that you are living under a special blessing of God, it doesn’t have to be tongues. Anyway, it was based in this idea that there is a progression of steps we climb. I had asked Jesus to be my Savior, and, according to this person, I now had to ask the Holy Spirit to come in. Kind of like the idea that we can make Christ our Savior without making him our LORD. Those teachings are false. Ryle writes, “I decline to teach it, because I think the tendency of the doctrine is thoroughly mischievous, depressing the humble-minded and meek, and puffing up the shallow, the ignorant, and the self-conceited, to a most dangerous extent.” I won’t say that I’m humble-minded and meek, but hearing that from my friend made me depressed. It gave me the idea that somehow God played favorites, and I KNOW that is not true. He is moving all of His children in the same direction, conforming us to the image of His Son.

Last night, our pastor finished up teaching through the book of James, a book full of hard truths that have caused me to really examine myself–my professed faith and works. Ryle writes, “Sound Protestant and Evangelical doctrine is useless if it is not accompanied by a holy life. It is worse than useless: it does positive harm.” It is imperative that we “watch, pray, and fight” with the grace God gives as He sanctifies us. I’m really excited about reading Holiness and growing in holiness for the glory of God.