steps to christ-第5章
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ssage is addressed； 〃Let him that is athirst come。 And whosoever will； let him take the water of life freely。〃 Revelation 22：17。
You who in heart long for something better than this world can give； recognize this longing as the voice of God to your soul。 Ask Him to give you repentance； to reveal Christ to you in His infinite love； in His perfect purity。 In the Saviour's life the principles of God's lawlove to God and manwere perfectly exemplified。 Benevolence； unselfish love； was the life of His soul。 It is as we behold Him； as the light from our Saviour falls upon us； that we see the sinfulness of our own hearts。
We may have flattered ourselves； as did Nicodemus； that our life has been upright； that our moral character is correct； and think that we need not humble the heart before God； like the common sinner： but when the light from Christ shines into our souls； we shall see how impure we are； we shall discern the selfishness of motive； the enmity against God； that
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has defiled every act of life。 Then we shall know that our own righteousness is indeed as filthy rags； and that the blood of Christ alone can cleanse us from the defilement of sin； and renew our hearts in His own likeness。
One ray of the glory of God； one gleam of the purity of Christ； penetrating the soul； makes every spot of defilement painfully distinct； and lays bare the deformity and defects of the human character。 It makes apparent the unhallowed desires； the infidelity of the heart； the impurity of the lips。 The sinner's acts of disloyalty in making void the law of God； are exposed to his sight； and his spirit is stricken and afflicted under the searching influence of the Spirit of God。 He loathes himself as he views the pure； spotless character of Christ。
When the prophet Daniel beheld the glory surrounding the heavenly messenger that was sent unto him； he was overwhelmed with a sense of his own weakness and imperfection。 Describing the effect of the wonderful scene； he says； 〃There remained no strength in me： for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption； and I retained no strength。〃 Daniel 10：8。 The soul thus touched will hate its selfishness； abhor its self…love； and will seek； through Christ's righteousness； for the purity of heart that is in harmony with the law of God and the character of Christ。
Paul says that as 〃touching the righteousness which is in the law〃as far as outward acts were concerned he was 〃blameless〃 （Philippians 3：6）； but when the spiritual character of the law was discerned； he saw himself a sinner。 Judged by the letter of the law as
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men apply it to the outward life； he had abstained from sin； but when he looked into the depths of its holy precepts； and saw himself as God saw him； he bowed in humiliation and confessed his guilt。 He says； 〃I was alive without the law once： but when the commandment came； sin revived； and I died。〃 Romans 7：9。 When he saw the spiritual nature of the law； sin appeared in its true hideousness； and his self…esteem was gone。
God does not regard all sins as of equal magnitude； there are degrees of guilt in His estimation； as well as in that of man； but however trifling this or that wrong act may seem in the eyes of men； no sin is small in the sight of God。 Man's judgment is partial； imperfect； but God estimates all things as they really are。 The drunkard is despised and is told that his sin will exclude him from heaven； while pride； selfishness； and covetousness too often go unrebuked。 But these are sins that are especially offensive to God； for they are contrary to the benevolence of His character； to that unselfish love which is the very atmosphere of the unfallen universe。 He who falls into some of the grosser sins may feel a sense of his shame and poverty and his need of the grace of Christ； but pride feels no need； and so it closes the heart against Christ and the infinite blessings He came to give。
The poor publican who prayed； 〃God be merciful to me a sinner〃 （Luke 18：13）； regarded himself as a very wicked man； and others looked upon him in the same light； but he felt his need； and with his burden of
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guilt and shame he came before God； asking for His mercy。 His heart was open for the Spirit of God to do its gracious work and set him free from the power of sin。 The Pharisee's boastful； self…righteous prayer showed that his heart was closed against the influence of the Holy Spirit。 Because of his distance from God； he had no sense of his own defilement； in contrast with the perfection of the divine holiness。 He felt no need； and he received nothing。
If you see your sinfulness； do not wait to make yourself better。 How many there are who think they are not good enough to come to Christ。 Do you expect to become better through your own efforts？ 〃Can the Ethiopian change his skin； or the leopard his spots？ then may ye also do good； that are accustomed to do evil。〃 Jeremiah 13：23。 There is help for us only in God。 We must not wait for stronger persuasions； for better opportunities； or for holier tempers。 We can do nothing of ourselves。 We must come to Christ just as we are。
But let none deceive themselves with the thought that God； in His great love and mercy； will yet save even the rejecters of His grace。 The exceeding sinfulness of sin can be estimated only in the light of the cross。 When men urge that God is too good to cast off the sinner； let them look to Calvary。 It was because there was no other way in which man could be saved； because without this sacrifice it was impossible for the human race to escape from the defiling power of sin； and be restored to communion with holy beings；impossible for them again to become partakers
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of spiritual life；it was because of this that Christ took upon Himself the guilt of the disobedient and suffered in the sinner's stead。 The love and suffering and death of the Son of God all testify to the terrible enormity of sin and declare that there is no escape from its power； no hope of the higher life； but through the submission of the soul to Christ。
The impenitent sometimes excuse themselves by saying of professed Christians； 〃I am as good as they are。 They are no more self…denying； sober； or circumspect in their conduct than I am。 They love pleasure and self…indulgence as well as I do。〃 Thus they make the faults of others an excuse for their own neglect of duty。 But the sins and defects of others do not excuse anyone； for the Lord has not given us an erring human pattern。 The spotless Son of God has been given as our example； and those who complain of the wrong course of professed Christians are the ones who should show better lives and nobler examples。 If they have so high a conception of what a Christian should be； is not their own sin so much the greater？ They know what is right； and yet refuse to do it。
Beware of procrastination。 Do not put off the work of forsaking your sins and seeking purity of heart through Jesus。 Here is where thousands upon thousands have erred to their eternal loss。 I will not here dwell upon the shortness and uncertainty of life； but there is a terrible dangera danger not sufficiently understoodin delaying to yield to the pleading voice of God's Holy Spirit； in choosing to live in sin； for such this delay really is。 Sin； however
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small it may be esteemed； can be indulged in only at the peril of infinite loss。 What we do not overcome； will overcome us and work out our destruction。
Adam and Eve persuaded themselves that in so small a matter as eating of the forbidden fruit there could not result such terrible consequences as God had declared。 But this small matter was the transgression of God's immutable and holy law； and it separated man from God and opened the floodgates of death and untold woe upon our world。 Age after age there has gone up from our earth a continual cry of mourning； and the whole creation groaneth and travaileth together in pain as a consequence of man's disobedience。 Heaven itself has felt the effects of his rebellion against God。 Calvary st
