THREE SIGNIFICANT POINTS ON HOLINESS (J.C. RYLE)

A holy man will strive to be like our Lord Jesus Christ. He will not only live the life of faith in Him, and draw from Him all his daily peace and strength, but he will also labor to have the mind that was in Him, and to be "conformed to his image" (Rom.8:29). It will be his aim to bear with and forgive others, even as Christ forgave us--to be unselfish, even as Christ pleased not Himself--to walk in love, even as Christ loved us--to be lowly minded and humble, even as Christ made Himself of no reputation and humbled Himself. He will remember that Christ was a faithful witness for the truth--that He came not to do His own will--that it was His meat and drink to do His Father's will--that He would continually deny Himself in order to minister to others--that He was meek and patient under undeserved insults--that He thought more of godly poor men then of kings--that He was full of love and compassion to sinners--that He was bold and uncompromising in denouncing sin--that He sought not the praise of men, when He might have had it--that He went about doing good--that He was separate from worldly people--that He continued instant in prayer--that He would not let even His nearest relations stand in His way when God's work was to be done. These things a holy man will try to remember. By them he will endeavor to shape his course in life. He will lay to heart the saying of John, "He that saith he abideth in Christ ought himself to walk, even as He walked" (1 John 2:6); and the saying of Peter, that "Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example that ye should follow in His steps" (1 Peter 2:21). Happy is he who has learned to make Christ his "all," both for salvation and example! Much time would be saved, and much sin prevented if men would oftener ask themselves the question, "What would Christ have said and done, if He were in my place?"

A holy man will follow after purity of heart. He will dread all filthiness and uncleanness of spirit, and seek to avoid all things that might draw him into it. He knows his own heart is like tinder, and will diligently keep clear of the sparks of temptation. Who shall dare talk of strength when David can fall? There is many a hint to be gleaned from the ceremonial law. Under it, the man who touched a bone, or a dead body, or a grave, or a diseased person, became at once unclean in the sight of God. And these things were emblems and figures. Few Christians are ever too watchful and too particular about this point.

A holy man will follow after faithfulness in all the duties and relations in life. He will try, not merely to fill his place as well as others who take no thought for their souls, but even better, because he has higher motives, and more help than they. Those words of Paul should never be forgotten, "Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as unto the Lord." Not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord" (Col.3:23; Rom.12:11). Holy persons should aim at doing everything well, and should be ashamed of doing anything ill, if they can help it. Like Daniel, they should seek to give no "occasion" against themselves, except "concerning the law of their God" (Dan.6:5). They should strive to be good husbands and wives, good parents and good children, good masters and good servants, good neighbors, good friends, good subjects, good in private and good in public, good in their place of business and good by their firesides. Holiness is worth little indeed, if it does not bear this kind of fruit. The Lord Jesus puts a searching question to His people, when He says, "What do ye more than others?" (Matt.5:47).

*This is just three of twelves points that really stood out to me.* I truly felt convicted over these as I read them and pray that God would continue to complete His perfect work in me. I see how He has brought me so far from what I used to be yet, I see that I still have so far to go. I know full well that I stand before Him without excuse as I examine how lacking I still am in this area of holiness. 

"Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained. Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself." (Phil.3:12-21-ESV)