steps to christ-第11章
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eternal life were granted on any condition short of this； then the happiness of the whole universe would be imperiled。 The way would be open for sin； with all its train of woe and misery； to be immortalized。
It was possible for Adam； before the fall； to form a righteous character by obedience to God's law。 But he failed to do this； and because of his sin our natures are fallen and we cannot make ourselves righteous。 Since we are sinful； unholy； we cannot perfectly obey the holy law。 We have no righteousness of our own with which to meet the claims of the law of God。 But Christ has made a way of escape for us。 He lived on earth amid trials and temptations such as we have to meet。 He lived a sinless life。 He died for us； and now He offers to take our sins and give us His righteousness。 If you give yourself to Him； and accept Him as your Saviour； then； sinful as your life may have been； for His sake you are accounted righteous。 Christ's character stands in place of your character； and you are accepted before God just as if you had not sinned。
More than this； Christ changes the heart。 He abides in your heart by faith。 You are to maintain this connection with Christ by faith and the continual surrender of your will to Him； and so long as you do this； He will work in you to will and to do
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according to His good pleasure。 So you may say； 〃The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God； who loved me； and gave Himself for me。〃 Galatians 2：20。 So Jesus said to His disciples； 〃It is not ye that speak； but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you。〃 Matthew 10：20。 Then with Christ working in you； you will manifest the same spirit and do the same good works works of righteousness； obedience。
So we have nothing in ourselves of which to boast。 We have no ground for self…exaltation。 Our only ground of hope is in the righteousness of Christ imputed to us； and in that wrought by His Spirit working in and through us。
When we speak of faith； there is a distinction that should be borne in mind。 There is a kind of belief that is wholly distinct from faith。 The existence and power of God； the truth of His word； are facts that even Satan and his hosts cannot at heart deny。 The Bible says that 〃the devils also believe； and tremble；〃 but this is not faith。 James 2：19。 Where there is not only a belief in God's word； but a submission of the will to Him； where the heart is yielded to Him； the affections fixed upon Him； there is faithfaith that works by love and purifies the soul。 Through this faith the heart is renewed in the image of God。 And the heart that in its unrenewed state is not subject to the law of God； neither indeed can be； now delights in its holy precepts； exclaiming with the psalmist； 〃O how love I Thy law！ it is my meditation all the day。〃 Psalm 119：97。 And the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us； 〃who
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walk not after the flesh； but after the Spirit。〃 Romans 8：1。
There are those who have known the pardoning love of Christ and who really desire to be children of God； yet they realize that their character is imperfect； their life faulty； and they are ready to doubt whether their hearts have been renewed by the Holy Spirit。 To such I would say； Do not draw back in despair。 We shall often have to bow down and weep at the feet of Jesus because of our shortcomings and mistakes； but we are not to be discouraged。 Even if we are overcome by the enemy； we are not cast off； not forsaken and rejected of God。 No； Christ is at the right hand of God； who also maketh intercession for us。 Said the beloved John； 〃These things write I unto you； that ye sin not。 And if any man sin； we have an advocate with the Father； Jesus Christ the righteous。〃 1 John 2：1。 And do not forget the words of Christ； 〃The Father Himself loveth you。〃 John 16：27。 He desires to restore you to Himself； to see His own purity and holiness reflected in you。 And if you will but yield yourself to Him； He that hath begun a good work in you will carry it forward to the day of Jesus Christ。 Pray more fervently； believe more fully。 As we come to distrust our own power； let us trust the power of our Redeemer； and we shall praise Him who is the health of our countenance。
The closer you come to Jesus； the more faulty you will appear in your own eyes； for your vision will be clearer； and your imperfections will be seen in broad and distinct contrast to His perfect nature。 This is evidence that Satan's delusions have lost their
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power； that the vivifying influence of the Spirit of God is arousing you。
No deep…seated love for Jesus can dwell in the heart that does not realize its own sinfulness。 The soul that is transformed by the grace of Christ will admire His divine character； but if we do not see our own moral deformity； it is unmistakable evidence that we have not had a view of the beauty and excellence of Christ。
The less we see to esteem in ourselves； the more we shall see to esteem in the infinite purity and loveliness of our Saviour。 A view of our sinfulness drives us to Him who can pardon； and when the soul； realizing its helplessness； reaches out after Christ； He will reveal Himself in power。 The more our sense of need drives us to Him and to the word of God； the more exalted views we shall have of His character； and the more fully we shall reflect His image。
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Growing Up Into Christ
The change of heart by which we become children of God is in the Bible spoken of as birth。 Again； it is compared to the germination of the good seed sown by the husbandman。 In like manner those who are just converted to Christ are； 〃as new…born babes；〃 to 〃grow up〃 to the stature of men and women in Christ Jesus。 1 Peter 2：2； Ephesians 4：15。 Or like the good seed sown in the field； they are to grow up and bring forth fruit。 Isaiah says that they shall 〃be called trees of righteousness； the planting of the Lord； that He might be glorified。〃 Isaiah 61：3。 So from natural life； illustrations are drawn； to help us better to understand the mysterious truths of spiritual life。
Not all the wisdom and skill of man can produce life in the smallest object in nature。 It is only through the life which God Himself has imparted； that either plant or animal can live。 So it is only through the life from God that spiritual life is begotten in the hearts of men。 Unless a man is 〃born from above；〃 he cannot become a partaker of the life which Christ came to give。 John 3：3； margin。
As with life； so it is with growth。 It is God who brings the bud to bloom and the flower to fruit。 It is by His power that the seed develops； 〃first the blade； then the ear； after that the full corn in the ear。〃 Mark 4：28。 And the prophet Hosea says of Israel； that 〃he shall grow as the lily。〃 〃They shall revive as the corn； and grow as the vine。〃 Hosea 14：5； 7。 And Jesus bids us 〃consider the lilies how
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they grow。〃 Luke 12：27。 The plants and flowers grow not by their own care or anxiety or effort； but by receiving that which God has furnished to minister to their life。 The child cannot； by any anxiety or power of its own； add to its stature。 No more can you； by anxiety or effort of yourself； secure spiritual growth。 The plant； the child； grows by receiving from its surroundings that which ministers to its life air； sunshine； and food。 What these gifts of nature are to animal and plant； such is Christ to those who trust in Him。 He is their 〃everlasting light；〃 〃a sun and shield。〃 Isaiah 60：19； Psalm 84：11。 He shall be as 〃the dew unto Israel。〃 〃He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass。〃 Hosea 14：5； Psalm 72：6。 He is the living water； 〃the Bread of God 。 。 。 which cometh down from heaven； and giveth life unto the world。〃 John 6：33。
In the matchless gift of His Son； God has encircled the whole world with an atmosphere of grace as real as the air which circulates around the globe。 All who choose to breathe this life…giving atmosphere will live and grow up to the stature of men and women in
