John Owen on Where Holiness Comes From

John Owen on writing about sanctification points out the fallacious reasoning of his day that holiness can be achieved without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. There was an argument in the churches in his day that all holiness consists of is moral honesty and virtue. Many liberal churches make the same assertion today. Owen in the following paragraphs clarifies the issue of gospel holiness.

And hence we may detect many pernicious mistakes about this matter, both notional and practical. For there are some who would carry holiness beyond the bounds of a special relation to Christ, or that relation beyond the only bond it it, which is faith. For they would have it to be no more than moral honesty or virtue, and so cannot with any modesty deny it to those heathens, who endeavoured after it according to the light of nature. And what need then is there of Jesus Christ? I commend moral virtues as much any man ought to do, and am sure there is no such grace where they are not. Yet to make any thing to be our holiness that is not derived from Christ, I know not what I more abhor. Such an imagination dethrones Christ from his glory, and overthrows the gospel.

Others proceed much further. They have notions of good and evil, by the light of nature; these are improved by convictions from the law, and produce great effects. For where the soul is once effectually convinced of sin, righteousness, and judgement, it cannot but seek deliverance from the one, and the attainment of the of the other, that so it may be well with it at the last day. These convictions are still more improved, according to the means of knowledge men enjoy, or the errors and superstitions they embrace. From the latter proceed penances, vows, uncommanded abstinences, and other painful duties. Where the light received is in general according to truth, it will engage men to a reformation of life, a multiplication of duties, abstinence from sin, and a zealous profession of religion in one way or another. Such persons may have good hopes that they are holy, may appear to the world to be so, be accepted in the Church of God as such, and yet be utter strangers to true gospel holiness. And the reason is because they have missed it in the foundation; and not having in the first place obtained an interest in Christ, have built their house on the sand whence it will fall in the time of trouble.

Wherefore let them wisely consider these things, who have any conviction of the necessity of holiness. It may be that they have laboured hard in duties that materially belong to it; many things they have done, and many things forborne, on account of it; and it may be, they think that for all the world they would not be found among unholy persons on the last day. This may be the condition of many young persons, who have lately engaged in the ways of religion upon their convictions: it may be so with others, who for many years have followed after righteousness in a way of duty. But it is observable, that the duties of obedience seldom prove more easy and pleasant to such persons than they did at first, but rather more burdensome every day. Besides,they never arrive to a satisfaction in what they do, something still is wanting; and hence they often become apostates. But what is worse still, all they have done, or can do on this bottom, will come to no account, but perish with them at the great day. Would we prevent these fatal evils; would we have a real, thriving, everlasting holiness; let our first business be to secure a relation to Jesus Chris, without which it can never be attained. (pp. 275-276, The Holy Spirit: His Gifts and Power