HOLINESS – The Fruit of the Holy Spirit
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Alan C. Clifford
52 pages; pbk;
ISBN 978-1-0686236-0-8
£5.00 inc. p&p.
In ten short studies, the author explores and applies these famous words in Galatians 5, in which the Apostle Paul paints a portrait of Christian character. Believing in the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God, we present to others the evidence of God’s saving work. By this means, God reveals Himself in us and through us, thus showing Himself to the world. Christian living is living proof of the living God. The kind of people we are should demonstrate that ruined and sinful mankind can only be transformed by God’s power in Christ.
Holiness Endorsements
The warm exegesis on Galatians 5:22-23 is excellent and edifying. I admire your dedication and energy. Yes, I heartily endorse your book.
(A later comment) That book on HOLINESS dear brother is excellent. I’ve had great blessings myself from meditating on it…The Lord has given you the gift of expounding the Word and also to present truth in literature in a gripping manner.
The Revd Ifan J. George
The main reason for writing is to say how much I enjoyed reading ‘Holiness’. Difficult to read it and not to feel – all over again, as it were – the deepest awareness of God’s love, and of our own duty to live not unto ourselves but unto Christ. I finished it with a distinct sense of a sanctifying, as well as comforting, effect on my soul. And felt, at the same time, a renewed gratitude for all those years at NRC: my beloved church. All the faces – yours, Marian’s, Rosemary, Basil, Mike, Len, all of our people – still populate my imagination, and burn brightly in my memory. You all feel very much with me. All these thoughts were evoked by my reading of your book.
David Llewellyn Jenkins
What a truly encouraging book, a great work. Thank you so much, I will read it through again today and look up all the Bible references. You are a true man of God. Praise the LORD
Naomi King
Regarding your Holiness booklet – I have no idea why it isn’t a ‘best-seller’ – It’s a privilege to have a copy, Alan; I am using it in my daily devotions.
Sarah Edmondson
HOLINESS – The Fruit of the Holy Spirit,
Alan C. Clifford. Charenton Reformed Publishing, 2024.
A review by
The Revd Dr J. E. Hazlett Lynch
Rev. Dr Alan C. Clifford, a retired yet still active, reformed minister, has written this booklet of just ten short chapters explaining the holiness that God requires of Christian believers. It’s easy style makes for a pleasant, yet challenging, read. It is very informative, insightful, and most inspiring. Given originally in 1997 to help graduate teachers from Egypt who were studying at the University of East Anglia, these expositions of the ‘fruit of the Spirit’ reveal a depth of theological understanding that is presented in highly readable form. In their present form, God has used them in the conversion of African Muslims to the Christ of the Gospel.
After a helpful introduction to his subject, Dr Clifford expounds Galatians 5:22,23 which gives us ‘a portrait of Christian character,’ (p.5). Paul lists the fruit (singular) of the Holy Spirit, thus indicating that the fruit that Christians are to produce in their lives is an indivisible unit – they should all be seen in our lives. Paul contrasts this fruit of holiness with ‘the works of the flesh’ (Galatians 5:19-21) and Dr Clifford uncovers the stark contrast as seen in depraved contemporary western society with the beauty of the Christian life.
Moving systematically through each aspect of ‘the fruit of the Spirit.’ the author unfolds in order the essential teaching of the apostle. For example, he is rightly critical of the misunderstanding of the concept of ‘love’ (pp.9-12) in common parlance and practice, reducing it to conform to the wicked trends seen in a morally deformed humanity. Out of this mutilated root emerges these foul ‘works of the flesh.’
Over against these stands the produce of the Holy Spirit in all its glaring beauty. Quoting writers such as John Calvin, Richard Baxter, John Bunyan, John Newton, John Howe, J. C. Ryle, Matthew Henry, Philip Doddridge, Charles Hodge, and William Hendriksen, the author opens up the sheer riches of these verses in a most delectable way.
Christian joy is presented with precision as a characteristic of the believer. It is a sign of true holiness because it is a ‘holy joy’ (p.14), and Dr Clifford contrasts it with worldly happiness. ‘Peace’ is set over against that promoted by this world’s fools, and focusses on the peace Christians have in their hearts because they are at peace with God. This peace flows out to our relationships with others. He contrasts ‘long-suffering’ (NKJV) with ‘patience’ (NIV). This comment is helpful: ‘while patience may relate to situations and circumstances, long-suffering always relates to other people’ (emphasis mine, pp.21, 22). On gentleness/meekness/kindness, Dr Clifford corrects the mistaken idea that meekness equals weakness, adding, ‘If you think meekness is weakness, then try being meek for a week’ (p.26). He draws in OT situations to illustrate the true nature of meekness.
The author deals similarly with goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. This final piece of the Spirit’s fruit is worthy of a comment, which he contrasts with its opposite, namely, what we see in our permissive and promiscuous society – the total abandonment of self-control. He equates self-control with divine control (p.41), and distinguishes it from the fatalism of the philosophers. He asserts that the believer who lives under the lordship of Christ exercises self-control (p.42), a very helpful teaching.
The booklet ends with an exposition of the benediction as found in 2 Corinthians 13:14. These familiar words are explained and applied in a reassuring and uplifting way, and when we hear those words pronounced at the close of a service of worship, they should have deeper meaning and significance for us.
Dr Clifford is to be heartily congratulated for his labours. It is not surprising that its evangelistic content has been blessed by God to the conversion of the lost and encouragement of saints around the world. I commend with enthusiasm this booklet to every Christian reader, knowing that all who read it will be blessed by it!