let your fruit be holiness

Holiness is the strength of the soul. It comes by faith and through obedience to God’s
laws and ordinances. God then purifies the heart by faith, and the heart becomes
purged from that which is profane and unworthy.
James E. Faust

(antique stainglass window as seen in an old barn / Julie Cook / 2020)

The Golden Treasury for the Children of God (1895)
January 29

The Gospel is made known to all nations for the obedience of faith
Romans xvi. 26.

The obedience of faith here spoken of,
is the same thing as believing the report of the Gospel ( Rom. x. 16).
A hearty submission to the righteousness of God, even to Christ,
who is the end of the law for righteousness to every one who believeth,
-this is the obedience of faith, strictly speaking, by which we give glory to God,
take full shame to ourselves, renounce all that nature is proud of, and are brought to rest,
for our justification and acceptance with God,
on that alone which has satisfied His law and justice.
However slightly we may be disposed to pass over this, it is a high point of obedience,
not easily brought about in such a creature as man, and needing an effectual light and energy from above.
It is taught purely from above;
and he who would learn it, must seek it by much prayer continually;
for in vain shall we strive to obey God in other things,
until we learn to obey Him in this. Careless reader, we see to it that you learn your need of Christ.
Awakened and distressed sinner! seek not to heal yourself by forced obedience of faith,
that you may be purged in your conscience from dead works to serve God.
Self-despairing sinner! obey the gospel-call of God to your soul and live.
Believer! let your fruit be holiness.

Within us, Lord, they Spirit place.
Conveying health, and peace, and pow’r;
And let us daily grow in grace,
That we may love and serve thee more.

Oh! may they Spirit seal our souls,
And mould them to they will,
That our weak hearts no more may stray,
But keep thy precepts still.