The Life Of Holiness

Just as the doctrine of holiness is the Central idea of Christianity and the experience of holiness is the true normal state of Christianhood, so the life of true holiness is God's mightiest challenge to an unbelieving world.

In the High Priestly prayer of our Lord recorded in the Gospel by John, in the seventeenth chapter, the very center and hub of that prayer Is, "Sanctify them." There is a double objective to that prayer, and each objective is twice named. First, sanctification consummates the believer's highest union with God. Secondly, it all issues in the effective relation of the Church to the world order, "that the world may believe." Thus in verses 21 and 23 we have this double objective stated twice. That in order that "they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in them, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." Verse 21. Again in verse 23 it is doubled, "I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me."

The deep separation and devotement unto God, involved in the experience of holiness, results in establishing such controls in the total living of its possessor, that Christ identifies the believer with himself in character. He is the light of the world -but in Matt. 5 he says, "Ye are the light of the world." He identifies the believer with himself in his relation to world order. It is God's plan to save his people that they in turn shall win the lost of this world to himself. We are to represent Christ to the world, that they may believe, that they may know.

Sanctification fits the believer for right world relationship, and for world conquest. When one lives the experience the purpose of God is realized in the effect of his life.

I was holding a meeting in a fine country church a few years ago where one man obtained the blessing one year before, and I was boarding in his home. I had met him often enough during the year to know he had the experience and was living the life of Christian holiness; and Friend, I have such confidence in the truth I am setting forth, that, if you will assure me you have lived for a year in possession of the blessing, I will with confidence use you as an example of the truth. I had such an experience in the church I am speaking of. The meeting had the attention of the community. People were coming, and about the middle of the week a man noted as the most godless and wicked man in the community came to church. It was so unusual that people talked about it and said, "so-and-so was there last night," and he continued several nights in succession. I managed to speak to him every night until I felt led to entreat him about his soul. When I did so, he began a tirade against the Church. He spoke so disparagingly of the Church, I finally said to him, "My friend, that is too bad, if things are as you say in this church, it is far from the true Bible standard of Christianity, but what about Bro. Blank?" and I named the man who, I was assured, had the experience and lived the life in that church for a year. (I used him as a sample) . "Well now," he replied, "he is an exception. He got hold of something about a year ago and he has had the real thing the past year. He never had it before." You see it works.

Another instance in the same meeting. The pastor and myself were invited to dinner in one of the finest homes in the community. The wife was a member of the church. The man was one of the finest moral men in the whole area, a real gentleman. He came in early from his chores and received us with real courtesy. (He, too, was an utterly worldly man, never attended church). We visited for a time in a friendly way until I felt it was my opportunity to deal with him regarding his salvation. I pressed the matter until he made the following defense. "Mr. Butler, if this salvation is as good as you say it is, I wonder about it. I have lived here twenty years and I am friendly with all my neighbors, all of them are members of the church. We talk together about current events, about politics and about the weather, all in a friendly way. How is it that not one of them ever says anything to me about this salvation?" That was a center shot, but I had one sample to use, so I said to him, "Mr. R., that is a very abnormal condition I'll admit. I am preaching a gospel here and now which, if experienced, would make such a fact impossible but I am surprised that that is true. I am boarding with Brother Blank as you know, and do you know, Mr. R., that he is deeply interested in your salvation, he prays for you and weeps as he prays. Oh well now, he is an exception. During the past year he has dealt with me personally about my soul two different times."

Dear readers. God's method works. Instead of fussing at holiness people about their faults and failures in life, simply preach the real crisis experience until it becomes a reality in personal experience. When real, it works. Holiness in experience in its very nature brings forth the fruit thereof. God says, "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them" (Heb. 10:10).

"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus" (Heb. 10:19). "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith" (Heb. 10:22). "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith" (Heb. 10:23).