Holiness: Its Necessity

Ephesians 1:4-5 Gospel Holiness

Pastor Albert N. Martin expounds on the necessity of holiness, arguing that it is central to God's plan of salvation from eternity to eternity. He first addresses the human predicament, illustrating how sin creates both legal and personal problems that only God's remedial grace, encompassing justification and sanctification, can resolve. Martin then traces holiness through the divine plan of salvation, from God's eternal election in Ephesians 1:4-5, through Christ's atoning work in Ephesians 5:25-27 and Titus 2:11-14, to the Spirit's effectual call in 2 Thessalonians 2:13, and its consummation in glorification. He concludes by emphasizing holiness as a personal requisite for seeing the Lord (Hebrews 12:14) and an indispensable qualification for church leadership (1 Timothy 3).

3 illustrations in this sermon

Illustration: The Drunk Driver's Two Problems

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Drunk Driver's Dual Problems

In this part of the sermon: A man driving drunk, crashing, and sustaining injuries illustrates humanity's dual predicament: legal charges (justification) and physical injuries (sanctification). Both must be…

A man gets drunk, crashes his car, and sustains injuries while also incurring legal charges. This illustrates how sin creates both legal problems (justification) and personal, practical problems (sanctification) that God's remedial grace addresses.

Let me illustrate. Man is invited to an act for which he is responsible, and he gets himself smashing drunk. Then he has the audacity to get behind his car and stick his key in the ignition, and he has enough coordination to get it in there after a while. And he turns on his car, puts it in gear, and he drives off.

8:33 - 8:56 Read in full sermon

Holiness in the Divine Plan: The Prolonged Process and Consummation

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McShane on Heaven

In this part of the sermon: Holiness is central throughout the Christian life, from the ongoing command to 'Be holy' (1 Peter 1:15-16) and bearing 'fruit unto holiness' (Romans 6:22), to its consummation in…

Robert Murray McShane's quote, 'When I see thee as thou art, love thee with unsinning heart,' illustrates the ultimate consummation of holiness as the essence of heaven.

I love the language of Robert Murray McShane. He captured it when he said, When I see thee as thou art, love thee with unsinning heart. That was heaven to McShane, to be able to love his Savior with an unsinning heart. That was heaven to the Apostle John, was it not?

40:39 - 41:02 Read in full sermon

Holiness as a Personal Requisite and for Office Bearers

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Dumb Ass as God's Mouthpiece

The point: If not pursuing a life of holiness, either deal with God until a hunger for holiness is implanted, or give up all thought of ministry.

The example of God using a 'dumb ass' as a mouthpiece is used to warn against resting content in ministerial gifts or success, as God can use anyone, but true salvation requires a justified and sanctified heart.

My dear young friend sitting here with hopes for the work of the ministry, if you are not pursuing a life of holiness, do one of two things. Leave this room and have dealings with God until there is implanted in your heart a hunger and a thirst after holiness, or for the time, give up all thought of the work of the ministry. What is all iniquity in the pursuit of the Greek and Hebrew and systematic and biblical theology? With ministerial success, until you so rashly have a sense of godliness and balance against it, your obvious success will surely God must be pleased or he wouldn't bless that....

48:27 - 49:52 Read in full sermon

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