Category: Bible

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Justification & Holiness

“Sanctification differs greatly as to the persons that are partakers of it; and it differs greatly too as to the same man; for a true believer, a truly sanctified man, may be more holy and sanctified at one time than at another. There is a work required of us,—to be perfecting holiness in the fear of God (2 Cor. 7:1). But we are no where required to be perfecting righteousness in the sight of God; for God hath brought in a perfect righteousness, in which we stand; but we are to take care, and to give diligence to perfect holiness in the fear of God. A saint in glory is more sanctified than ever he was, for he is perfectly so; but he is not more justified than he was. Nay, a saint in heaven is not more justified than a believer on earth is: only they know it better, and the glory of that light in which they see it, discovers it more brightly and more clearly to them.”

From Traill’s Sermons, upon 1 Pet. 1:1–3, vol. 4, p. 71.
Edinburgh edition of Traill’s Works. 1810.
J. C. Ryle, Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties and Roots (London: William Hunt and Company, 1889), 465-66.

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"Take my picture while I strike a pose."

I must be edgy–see my nose ring?

The latest installment (ok, it’s never the latest on the internet) of boutique churches, we find the Scum of the Earth Church. In what might be a textbook example of the homogeneous unit principle gone to seed, we have sort of an Occupy Church Movement.  Taking their motto from Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 4:13, and missing his point entirely, they focus on the “scum” part as though Paul or anyone else would see this as virtuous in itself. The problem is, Paul’s aim is not to be scum, his aim is to follow Christ. This made him “refuse” or “scum” in the eyes of many, and will do the same for us.

Being taken in by one’s own coolness isn’t being edgy, it’s just another way of making the “edge” the new normal, i.e., mainstream. This is especially true now, when image is reality in mind of many, as if, “I present myself as I wish to be perceived, I make myself in my own image” (Madonna is a good example). In a culture of images, self-creation of my personal brand, or image is the ultimate reality.

In a world filled with real suffering, persecution, and disenfranchisement for the sake of Christ and His Gospel, this kind of image manipulation is really self-serving. Instead of the offence of the cross, offence is prized for its own ability to shock and annoy. It is anti-social behaviour writ large. In Acts 11:26, disciples were first called Christians when the church was truly multicultural (which is a celebrated diversity founded only on the unity available in Christ, see Ephesians 2:11-3:6). The Gospel is unique in its cross-cultural message, and the self-ghettoisation by the trendy is Gospel denying. And yes, suburbanite Christians share the same guilt. The Gospel is for all if it is for any, and its message of the uselessness of human ability to save is plenty offensive in itself.