April 14

Read: Hebrews 6:1-3

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection (Hebrews 6:1).

This Will We Do

How far have we come in our exploration of the high country of holiness? What has God shown us in the Scriptures about the place that holy living has in His grand design for our lives?

We have seen (1) that holy character was God’s purpose in creating us; (2) that man lost something essential in the Fall and is now born with a spirit of antagonism to God; but (3) God has provided a way for man to be freed from such indwelling sin; (4) that the method is through a second, instantaneous work of grace; and (5) that this work of grace is God’s will for all who are His redeemed children.

We come now to ask the question, How shall we enter in? As the Holy Spirit leads us into the experience, what steps must we take and by what signs shall we know that we are making progress toward our goal of heart holiness?

This is the real purpose of all our preceding study of the truth. Our better understanding of divine things is not an end in itself. We study in order to show ourselves approved unto God. The words themselves are only road signs on the highway of eternal life. We seek to understand the truth of holiness more clearly in order that we may enter in more quickly, or that we may aid others to do so. How can we be sanctified wholly? How can we guide our Christian friends to this high country? We start by wanting it. We are already moving in the right direction when we sincerely pray:

Purify our faith like gold, All the dross of sin remove; Melt our spirits down, and mold Into Thy perfect love.

— Wesley’s Hymns