Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share #37 A Blow at the Root
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
#37 A Blow at the Root
From A Blow at the Root, by John Wesley
"Without holiness no man shall see the Lord." Nothing under heaven can be more
sure than this; "for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." And "though heaven
and earth pass away, yet His word shall not pass away. "As well therefore might
God fall from heaven, as His Word fall to the ground. (Heb. 12:14; Mic. 4:4;
Matt. 5:18).
No one who is not saved from sin here can be saved from hell hereafter. No one
can see the kingdom of God above, unless the kingdom of God be in him below.
Whoever will reign with Christ in heaven, must have Christ reigning in him on
earth. And yet as sure as this is, and as clearly as it is taught in every part
of the Holy Scripture, among all the truths of God, there is probably none which
is less received by men.
Yes, professing Christians invariably invent one way or another to get to heaven
without holiness. In the place of holiness, some have substituted penances,
pilgrimages, and praying to saints and angels. Thousands of professing
Christians have no doubt but that, by a diligent use of these things -without
any holiness at all- they shall see the Lord in glory.
However, Protestants will not be satisfied in that manner. They are convinced
that whoever leans on such things leans on the staff of a broken reed. Yet,
thousands of such Protestants also think that they too will see God without
holiness. How? Why, by doing no harm, generally doing good, going to the church,
and receiving the sacraments. And many thousands are content with this,
believing they are on the high road to heaven. Yet, that is not much better than
the hopes of the first group.
However, other Protestants recognize that such a nominal Christianity is not
sufficient. They correctly say that such a religion does not stand on the right
foundation. However, they go on to say that Christ has already accomplished and
suffered everything for us. They say that His righteousness is imputed to us;
therefore, we need none of our own. Since there is so much righteousness and
holiness in Him, there needs to be none in us.
In fact, they claim, that to think we have any holiness, or to desire or seek
any holiness, is to renounce Christ. That from the beginning to the end of
salvation, all is in Christ, nothing is in man. And that those who teach
otherwise are preachers of legalism, and know nothing of the gospel.
What evasion! What has Satan done? He has persuaded the very men who receive it
to "turn the grace of God into licentiousness" (Jude 4). This is indeed a blow
at the root, the root of all holiness, all true religion. The whole design of
Christ's death was "to destroy the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8). But now
this is overthrown in one stroke.
For wherever this doctrine of easy grace is received, it leaves no place for
holiness. It forbids all such exhortations as might excite a desire for
holiness. Nay, it makes men afraid of personal holiness, afraid of cherishing
any thought of it. For they fear that any step toward holiness might be a denial
of the faith, and a rejection of Christ and His righteousness.
So that, instead of being "zealous for good works," good works are a stench to
their nostrils. In short, they are infinitely more afraid of the works of God,
than of the works of the devil.
Here is Satan's masterpiece! We are to believe that men are holy, without a
grain of holiness in them! Holy in Christ, however unholy in themselves. They
are supposedly in Christ, although they have not one jot of the mind that was in
Christ. They are "complete in Him," although they are as proud, as vain, as
covetous, and as lustful as ever. They think they can continue in
unrighteousness because Christ has "fulfilled all righteousness."
Oh ye simple ones, do not be deceived. For as surely as the Lord lives, "neither
fornicators nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of
themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers,
nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God."
"Such" indeed "were some of you. But you are washed, but you are sanctified," as
well as "justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God"
(1 Cor. 6:9-11). You are really changed! You are not only accounted as
righteous, you are made righteous.
The inward power of the Spirit has made you free - really, actually free -from
the law or power "of sin and death" (Rom. 8:2). This is liberty, true gospel
liberty, experienced by every true believer.
This is not freedom from the law of God, or the works of God, but from the law
of sin and the works of the devil. See that you stand fast in this real, not
imaginary, liberty. Take heed that you "be not entangled again," by means of
these vain boasters, "in the yoke of 'that vile "bondage to sin," from which you
have cleanly escaped. (Gal. 5:1).
I testify unto you, that if you still continue in sin, Christ shall profit you
nothing. That Christ is no Savior to you, unless He saves you from your sins.
And that unless it purifies your heart, faith shall profit you nothing.
Oh, when will you understand, that to oppose either inward or outward holiness,
under color of exalting Christ, is directly to act the part of Judas, to "betray
the Son of man with a kiss?"
What? Make Christ destroy His own kingdom? Set Christ against holiness? Talk of
Christ as saving His people in their sins? It is no better than to say, He saves
them from the guilt, but not from the power, of sin. Will you make the
righteousness of Christ a cover for the unrighteousness of man? So that by this
means, "the unrighteous" of every kind "shall inherit the kingdom of God!"
Stop! Consider! What are you doing? You did run well. Who has bewitched you? Who
has corrupted you from the simplicity of Christ, from the purity of the gospel?
You did know, "He that believeth is born of God: and whosoever is born of God
sinneth not" (1 John 3:9). O come back to the true, the pure, the old gospel!
That which you received in the beginning.
Come back to Christ, who died to make you a holy people, "zealous for good
works" (Titus 2:14). "Remember from whence you are fallen, and repent, and do
the first works" (Rev. 2:5). For "wilt thou know, O vain," empty man, that faith
without works is dead?" (Jas. 2:17)
Do not stupidly and senselessly call holiness legalism - a silly, meaningless
word. Be not afraid of being under the law of God. Rather, fear being under "the
law of sin" (Rom. 7:23). Love the strictest preaching best. That which most
searches the heart, and shows you wherein you are unlike Christ. That which
presses you most to love Him with all your heart, and serve Him with all your
strength.
Permit me to warn you of another silly, meaningless phrase: Do not say, "I can
do nothing." If so, then you know nothing of Christ. Then you have no faith. For
if you have faith, if you believe, then you "can do all things through Christ
who strengthens you" (Phil. 4:13).
You can love Him and keep His commandments; and to you His "commandments are not
grievous" (1 John 5:3). Grievous to them that believe? Far from it! They are the
joy of your heart.
Show then your love for Christ by keeping His commandments, by blamelessly
walking in all His ordinances. Honor Christ by obeying Him with all your might,
by serving Him with all your strength. Glorify Christ by imitating Christ in all
things, by walking as He walked. Trust in Christ to live and reign in your
heart.
Have confidence in Christ that he will fulfil in you all His great and precious
promises. That He will work in you all the good pleasure of His goodness, and
all the work of faith with power. Cleave to Christ, until His blood has cleansed
you from all pride, all anger, all evil desire. Let Christ do all. Let Him who
has done all for you, do all in you.
Exalt Christ as a Prince to give repentance. A Savior both to give remission of
sins, and to create in you a new heart, to renew a right spirit within you. This
is the gospel, the pure, genuine gospel; glad tidings of great salvation. Not
the new, but the old -the everlasting gospel.
View all episodes
By Timeless FaithFrom A Blow at the Root, by John Wesley
"Without holiness no man shall see the Lord." Nothing under heaven can be more
sure than this; "for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." And "though heaven
and earth pass away, yet His word shall not pass away. "As well therefore might
God fall from heaven, as His Word fall to the ground. (Heb. 12:14; Mic. 4:4;
Matt. 5:18).
No one who is not saved from sin here can be saved from hell hereafter. No one
can see the kingdom of God above, unless the kingdom of God be in him below.
Whoever will reign with Christ in heaven, must have Christ reigning in him on
earth. And yet as sure as this is, and as clearly as it is taught in every part
of the Holy Scripture, among all the truths of God, there is probably none which
is less received by men.
Yes, professing Christians invariably invent one way or another to get to heaven
without holiness. In the place of holiness, some have substituted penances,
pilgrimages, and praying to saints and angels. Thousands of professing
Christians have no doubt but that, by a diligent use of these things -without
any holiness at all- they shall see the Lord in glory.
However, Protestants will not be satisfied in that manner. They are convinced
that whoever leans on such things leans on the staff of a broken reed. Yet,
thousands of such Protestants also think that they too will see God without
holiness. How? Why, by doing no harm, generally doing good, going to the church,
and receiving the sacraments. And many thousands are content with this,
believing they are on the high road to heaven. Yet, that is not much better than
the hopes of the first group.
However, other Protestants recognize that such a nominal Christianity is not
sufficient. They correctly say that such a religion does not stand on the right
foundation. However, they go on to say that Christ has already accomplished and
suffered everything for us. They say that His righteousness is imputed to us;
therefore, we need none of our own. Since there is so much righteousness and
holiness in Him, there needs to be none in us.
In fact, they claim, that to think we have any holiness, or to desire or seek
any holiness, is to renounce Christ. That from the beginning to the end of
salvation, all is in Christ, nothing is in man. And that those who teach
otherwise are preachers of legalism, and know nothing of the gospel.
What evasion! What has Satan done? He has persuaded the very men who receive it
to "turn the grace of God into licentiousness" (Jude 4). This is indeed a blow
at the root, the root of all holiness, all true religion. The whole design of
Christ's death was "to destroy the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8). But now
this is overthrown in one stroke.
For wherever this doctrine of easy grace is received, it leaves no place for
holiness. It forbids all such exhortations as might excite a desire for
holiness. Nay, it makes men afraid of personal holiness, afraid of cherishing
any thought of it. For they fear that any step toward holiness might be a denial
of the faith, and a rejection of Christ and His righteousness.
So that, instead of being "zealous for good works," good works are a stench to
their nostrils. In short, they are infinitely more afraid of the works of God,
than of the works of the devil.
Here is Satan's masterpiece! We are to believe that men are holy, without a
grain of holiness in them! Holy in Christ, however unholy in themselves. They
are supposedly in Christ, although they have not one jot of the mind that was in
Christ. They are "complete in Him," although they are as proud, as vain, as
covetous, and as lustful as ever. They think they can continue in
unrighteousness because Christ has "fulfilled all righteousness."
Oh ye simple ones, do not be deceived. For as surely as the Lord lives, "neither
fornicators nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of
themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers,
nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God."
"Such" indeed "were some of you. But you are washed, but you are sanctified," as
well as "justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God"
(1 Cor. 6:9-11). You are really changed! You are not only accounted as
righteous, you are made righteous.
The inward power of the Spirit has made you free - really, actually free -from
the law or power "of sin and death" (Rom. 8:2). This is liberty, true gospel
liberty, experienced by every true believer.
This is not freedom from the law of God, or the works of God, but from the law
of sin and the works of the devil. See that you stand fast in this real, not
imaginary, liberty. Take heed that you "be not entangled again," by means of
these vain boasters, "in the yoke of 'that vile "bondage to sin," from which you
have cleanly escaped. (Gal. 5:1).
I testify unto you, that if you still continue in sin, Christ shall profit you
nothing. That Christ is no Savior to you, unless He saves you from your sins.
And that unless it purifies your heart, faith shall profit you nothing.
Oh, when will you understand, that to oppose either inward or outward holiness,
under color of exalting Christ, is directly to act the part of Judas, to "betray
the Son of man with a kiss?"
What? Make Christ destroy His own kingdom? Set Christ against holiness? Talk of
Christ as saving His people in their sins? It is no better than to say, He saves
them from the guilt, but not from the power, of sin. Will you make the
righteousness of Christ a cover for the unrighteousness of man? So that by this
means, "the unrighteous" of every kind "shall inherit the kingdom of God!"
Stop! Consider! What are you doing? You did run well. Who has bewitched you? Who
has corrupted you from the simplicity of Christ, from the purity of the gospel?
You did know, "He that believeth is born of God: and whosoever is born of God
sinneth not" (1 John 3:9). O come back to the true, the pure, the old gospel!
That which you received in the beginning.
Come back to Christ, who died to make you a holy people, "zealous for good
works" (Titus 2:14). "Remember from whence you are fallen, and repent, and do
the first works" (Rev. 2:5). For "wilt thou know, O vain," empty man, that faith
without works is dead?" (Jas. 2:17)
Do not stupidly and senselessly call holiness legalism - a silly, meaningless
word. Be not afraid of being under the law of God. Rather, fear being under "the
law of sin" (Rom. 7:23). Love the strictest preaching best. That which most
searches the heart, and shows you wherein you are unlike Christ. That which
presses you most to love Him with all your heart, and serve Him with all your
strength.
Permit me to warn you of another silly, meaningless phrase: Do not say, "I can
do nothing." If so, then you know nothing of Christ. Then you have no faith. For
if you have faith, if you believe, then you "can do all things through Christ
who strengthens you" (Phil. 4:13).
You can love Him and keep His commandments; and to you His "commandments are not
grievous" (1 John 5:3). Grievous to them that believe? Far from it! They are the
joy of your heart.
Show then your love for Christ by keeping His commandments, by blamelessly
walking in all His ordinances. Honor Christ by obeying Him with all your might,
by serving Him with all your strength. Glorify Christ by imitating Christ in all
things, by walking as He walked. Trust in Christ to live and reign in your
heart.
Have confidence in Christ that he will fulfil in you all His great and precious
promises. That He will work in you all the good pleasure of His goodness, and
all the work of faith with power. Cleave to Christ, until His blood has cleansed
you from all pride, all anger, all evil desire. Let Christ do all. Let Him who
has done all for you, do all in you.
Exalt Christ as a Prince to give repentance. A Savior both to give remission of
sins, and to create in you a new heart, to renew a right spirit within you. This
is the gospel, the pure, genuine gospel; glad tidings of great salvation. Not
the new, but the old -the everlasting gospel.