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{Sermons on Ephesians 5:15
Evidence for the Absolute Necessity of Precise Godliness
From Reasons Drawn from Scripture: Six Propositions
Inward Holiness Is Indispensably Necessary for Salvation}
The Gospel requires, as indispensably necessary to salvation, inward holiness—that is, a renewed heart, or renewed inner person. Does this need any proof to those who understand the Scriptures? There must be:
A true heart, or an upright heart sprinkled from an evil conscience (Hebrews 10:22);
“Get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel?” (Ezekiel 18:31 NKJV).
“O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, that you may be saved” (Jeremiah 4:14 NKJV).
What do these Scriptures mean, especially the final clauses in the last two, “for why should you die” and “that you may be saved”? What do these teach, if not this: there is no salvation possible and there is nothing but certain death and destruction to those whose hearts are not washed and made new. “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again124 he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3 NASB). What is the product of this new birth, this conversion, except a new creature? There are some, it is true, who interpret this conversion, which is so necessary to salvation, to be nothing more than the coming of people from Judaism or Paganism to Christianity and their professing and embracing the Christian faith. But if this is true, then all will be saved who believe that Christ is the Messiah, are baptized, and profess the Christian faith.125 Come, you drunkards; come, you adulterers, liars, and covetous; come, all you profane company of nominal Christians; keep a holy day126 to the memory of these new theologians who bring to you such a large and easy “Gospel” that will carry you all to Heaven with all of your lusts and lewdness on your backs. But is this true? Is this the real Gospel? Is this all there is to the conversion that is necessary to salvation? It cannot be, and for these reasons:
First, there are many who embrace the Christian faith who are hypocrites. Will hypocrites be saved?
Second, there are many such converts who have disorderly lives: “whose god is their belly,” “whose glory is their shame,” and who “set their mind on earthly things.” The apostle tells us here (Philippians 3:19) that their “end is destruction.”
124As noted earlier, the Greek ἄνωθεν (anothen) may mean “from above,” or “anew, over again.” It is the editor’s considered opinion that the Scriptures intend both ideas, and thus both meanings apply in this and similar texts.
125This kind of faith, historical faith, mere knowledge that does not change the inner man, is not the saving faith that is the work of the Holy Spirit.
126holy day: a reference to the unbiblical practice of some denominations of setting aside certain mandatory days of worship in honor of (sometimes fictitious) historical persons or events.
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