Preach Holiness by Example
Living holiness is essential to manifesting true preaching and proving one's words through actions.
Arthur Vess emphasizes the importance of preaching holiness by example, urging believers to not only speak about holiness but to live it out daily, demonstrating its power in their lives. He highlights the need to live above reproach so that even those who oppose us will witness our holy lives and be impacted by the transformation. Vess stresses that true holiness will stand the test of time and keep us pure and blessed, ultimately leading to perfect rest and the casting out of fear through perfect love. He concludes with a powerful reminder of God's great love and salvation as depicted in John 3:16, encouraging believers to focus on eternal life through Jesus Christ.
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Preach Holiness by example. Not only in your preaching, but in your daily life, manifestand prove your preaching. Live it and give it. Get it, live it and preach it. Live above reproach sothat those who oppose your life and ministry will have to realize your holy life and power. If you cannot live it, you cannot give it to others. "True holiness will stand the test, and keep you pure andever blessed," only this will stand the test, only this will keep me blessed. Give me holiness."Only this gives perfect rest.
"Perfect love casteth out fear." In degeneration we have fear withoutlove, in regeneration we have fear with love, in sanctification, we have love without fear, inglorification, we have love without anything to fear. In closing, here is the great vision of God, wrapped up in the Golden Text of the Bible,John 3:16, "For God so loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son, thatwhosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Soninto the world, to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved."
Here is the substance of God's great salvation: I. A great love; "For God so loved the world," or loved the world so much II. A great scope: "The World." "The field is the world." "'The world is my parish" Wesley-- or pastorate. III. A great faith: "That whosoever believeth in Him." IV. A great deliverance: "Should not perish," -- be lost in hell. V. A great life: "But have everlasting life: "The gift of God is eternal life through JesusChrist our Lord." How many of us are more interested in eternal life than we are in this present, fleeting life?
Which do we talk, act and think most about? In which do we invest the most time and money? "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection." Possessing, preaching and living holiness is the sum total of the Christian life and character-- here and hereafter. Let us all go back home to live, preach and testify to holiness.
Sermon Outline
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The Importance of Living Holiness
- Manifest holiness in daily life
- Prove preaching through living example
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The Consequence of Not Living Holiness
- Cannot give what you do not have
- Opposition to ministry due to unholiness
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The Benefits of Living Holiness
- Perfect rest and peace
- Love without fear
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The Vision of God's Great Salvation
- Great love for the world
- Great scope of salvation
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The Call to Possess, Preach, and Live Holiness
- Sum total of Christian life and character
- Testify to holiness in daily life
Key Quotes
“True holiness will stand the test, and keep you pure and ever blessed.” — Arthur Vess
“Perfect love casteth out fear.” — Arthur Vess
“Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection.” — Arthur Vess
Application Points
- Make a conscious effort to live a holy life, demonstrating the power of God's love to others.
- Reflect on your priorities: are you more interested in eternal life or the fleeting life of this world?
- Testify to the importance of holiness in your daily life, preaching, and ministry.