II. A Holy Life Alone, Proves Piety Genuine.
Back to CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS
'Words are cheap.' Edwards. Back to CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS
'Actions speak louder than words.' Proverbs.
'Practice is the life of piety.' Thomas Watson.
'Even a child is known by his doings.' Solomon.
'Everyone that does righteousness is born of him.' John.
'As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.' James.
'If you love me, keep my commandments.' Jesus Christ.
1. No man is better than his life proves him to be. The best part of mankind are slow in making professions, because they know how hard it is to perform what we promise. The last to engage is often the first to fulfill. The very existence of such words as truth, frankness, honesty, integrity, faithfulness; and their opposites, falsehood, deception, fraud, and faithlessness—shows that the judgment of mankind on these points is harmonious. All men know that words are mere breath, and deeds only are realities. Profession is not principle. Practice is the best expounder of the heart.
2. God constantly guards men against the sin of not performing their promises. Joshua warned the Israelites on this subject Josh. 24:16, 19. Indeed in so many words Solomon says, "Be not rash with your mouth, and let not your heart be hasty to utter anything before God." Eccles. 5:2. See context. Compare Matt. 7:21-27, and 1 John 3:18, 19.
3. As holiness is not natural to man, the Scriptures say explicitly that whoever does righteousness is born of God. 1 John 2:29. He has a new nature, obtained in regeneration. He has the life of God in his soul. Only that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. When we see a man working righteousness, warring against sin, and heartily doing the will of God, we know that an almighty power has changed his nature. He is a new creature.
4. Whatever does not lead to a holy life is worthless in the sight of God. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. David walked before God in truth and righteousness, and in uprightness of heart. All religious profession which ends in mere show, is at the best Pharisaism dressed up in evangelical attire. If the heart is not swayed by it, the heart is unchanged. "Little children, don't let anyone deceive you. The person who practices righteousness is righteous, just as he is righteous. The person who practices sin belongs to the evil one, because the devil has been sinning since the beginning." (1 John 3:7-8). All pretenses to piety which do not lead to a godly life are utterly vain. Men people do not obey God—because they do not love God. They hearken not—because their ears are uncircumcised. There is no folly greater than double-dealing with God. "A hypocrite is hated by the world for pretending to be a Christian; and hated of God for not being one."
All external religious acts may be performed without a spark of love to Christ. "To attend upon public worship is a form complied with, by thousands of the unconverted." How few heartily engage in the work of mortifying sin. When men are this moment devout, and the next carnal; when today they are all zeal for God, and tomorrow all zeal for politics; when they have not respect unto all God's commandments, but seek laxity; when their religious raptures are followed by fleshly frolics—then their religion is vain. Men should therefore be very careful lest they deceive themselves respecting both the reality and the strength of their own piety.
The daily business of a Christian is to resist the devil, deny himself, overcome the world, crucify the flesh with its affections and lusts, imitate Christ, walk with God, and strive to enter in at the strait gate. It is the heartless who turn back in the day of battle. "The Christian gains no victories without combat." On the other hand, he whose life is holy has the fabric of his peace built upon a rock. God cannot deny him, for that would be denying his own work in the man's soul. Although we do not enter heaven for our good works, yet we do not enter heaven without good works.