God’s Way of Holiness
When I reflect on my Christian life, I find grievous mistakes which stunted growth. What are these? The years after my conversion were lacking in discipleship - how to read, how to pray, how to deny self, and so forth. The following decade marked an increase in these spiritual disciplines; however, their root was in my own strength. In the end, what I found was an increasingly predictable pattern of growth and decline, for the growth was dependent upon my vastly limited resources. What I would give to hand Horatius Bonar’s God’s Way of Holiness.
God’s Way of Holiness firmly roots our growth in Christ’s gospel. We often hear this idea that the gospel is for beginners; however, Bonar argues the exact opposite. We never move on from the gospel; instead, we move deeper into the gospel. Does this have practical implications for us? You bet! In our day and age focused on feelings, Bonar shifts our focus away from the work of the Spirit in us and toward the work of Christ for us. Both of these flow together in our salvation; however, Bonar encourages us to fix our eyes on that which is most stable. The work of sanctification, of the Spirit in us, is gradual and progressive; whereas justification, or Christ’s work for us, is perfect and complete. From the latter flows the peace by which we may pursue the former. As Bonar says: “Every plant must have both soil and root. Without both of these there can be no life, no growth, no fruit. Holiness must have these. The root is ‘peace with God’; the soil in which that root strikes itself, and out of which it draws the vital sap i's the free love of God, in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
From this life, Bonar begins to address how to defeat the strength of sin, how to understand the continued struggle with sin, and how to use the law to pursue holiness. These are tangible truths needed today. For every Christian who enjoys Romans 8 also understands the sorrow of Romans 7. For each of us who delight to do the will of God (Ps. 40:8), we also weep over the fact that “in my flesh dwells no good thing.” (Rom. 7:18) The gospel provides the answer for both. The gospel both shows the heinousness of our sin, for that is the reason for which our Christ died. The gospel also shows us both the joys of obedience, for God’s law flows from Him who is also our Savior.
Instead of detailing more of Bonar’s book, I leave you with a thought from Bonar to whet your appetite:
“Did a holy life consist of one or two noble deeds-some signal specimens of doing or enduring, or suffering-we might account for the failure, and reckon it small dishonour to turn back in such a conflict. But a holy life is made up of a multitude of small things. It is the little things of the hour, and not the great things of the age, that fill up a life like that of Paul and John, like that of Rutherford, or Brainerd, or Martyn. Little words, not eloquent speeches or sermons, little deeds, not miracles, nor battles, nor one great heroic act or mighty martyrdom, make up the true Christian life. The little constant sunbeam, not the lightning, the waters of Siloah that go softly’ in their meek mission of refreshment, not 'the waters of the river great and many' rushing down in torrent noise and force, are the true symbols of a holy life. The avoidance of little evils, little sins, little inconsistencies, little weaknesses, little follies, little indiscretions and imprudences, little foibles, little indulgences of self and of the flesh, little acts of indolence or indecision or slovenliness or cowardice, little equivocations or aberrations from high integrity, little touches of shabbiness and meanness, little bits of covetousness and penuriousness, little exhibitions of worldliness and gaiety, little indifferences to the feelings or wishes of others, little outbreaks of temper, or crossness, or selfishness, or vanity-the avoidance of such little things as these goes far to make up at least the negative beauty of a holy life. And then attention to the little duties of the day and hour, in public transactions, or private dealings, or family arrangements; to little words, and looks, and tones; little benevolences, or forbearances, or tendernesses; little self-denials, and self- restraints, and self-forgetfulnesses, little plans of quiet kindness and thoughtful consideration for others; to punctuality, and method, and true aim in the ordering of each day—these are the active developments of a holy life, the rich and divine mosaics of which it is composed. What makes yon green hill so beautiful? Not the outstanding peak or stately elm, but the bright sward which clothes its slopes, composed of innumerable blades of slender grass. It is of small things that a great life is made up; and he who will acknowledge no life as great save that which is built up of great things, will find little in Bible characters to admire or copy.”
To read more of Bonar, click here.
