Words of Challenge and Encouragement for Pastors 2009

Command and teach these things. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers (1 Timothy 4:11-16, ESV).

It is unmistakably clear that gospel holiness is an absolute necessity if we are concerned about true, saving, biblical religion. According to the Scriptures, gospel holiness is essential if we would go to Heaven and not to Hell. A hundred years from now every single one of us will be in Heaven or in Hell. We must be passionately concerned about this matter of gospel holiness if we would go to Heaven and not to Hell. (Hebrews 12:14; Matthew 5:8; Romans 6:22.) We must know purity of heart, something far beyond a mere external holiness. Change of masters, change of practice, leading to change of destiny, but no change of destiny without change of masters, leading to the change of practice! It’s what our Lord taught in the metaphorical way when He spoke of a narrow gate that leads to a restricted, constricted, compressed way which leads unto life. If we would attain life, we must go through the narrow door. If we would go through the narrow door, the only proof that we have come through the narrow door is that we are on the compressed, restricted, narrow way: the way of gospel holiness, which leads unto life. There is no skipping the narrow way if we would attain life. Although gospel holiness is not the ground of our acceptance, it is the proof of our acceptance, and it is the way into the consummate blessings of eternal life. So that we may say with equal conviction: “No Christ, no Heaven; no holiness, no Heaven.”

—Excerpt from “Timely Words of Challenge to the Servants of God, Part 1,” preached by Albert N. Martin.