steps to christ-第8章
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religion is worth nothing。 When Christ dwells in the heart； the soul will
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be so filled with His love； with the joy of communion with Him； that it will cleave to Him； and in the contemplation of Him； self will be forgotten。 Love to Christ will be the spring of action。 Those who feel the constraining love of God； do not ask how little may be given to meet the requirements of God； they do not ask for the lowest standard； but aim at perfect conformity to the will of their Redeemer。 With earnest desire they yield all and manifest an interest proportionate to the value of the object which they seek。 A profession of Christ without this deep love is mere talk； dry formality； and heavy drudgery。
Do you feel that it is too great a sacrifice to yield all to Christ？ Ask yourself the question； 〃What has Christ given for me？〃 The Son of God gave alllife and love and sufferingfor our redemption。 And can it be that we； the unworthy objects of so great love； will withhold our hearts from Him？ Every moment of our lives we have been partakers of the blessings of His grace； and for this very reason we cannot fully realize the depths of ignorance and misery from which we have been saved。 Can we look upon Him whom our sins have pierced； and yet be willing to do despite to all His love and sacrifice？ In view of the infinite humiliation of the Lord of glory； shall we murmur because we can enter into life only through conflict and self…abasement？
The inquiry of many a proud heart is； 〃Why need I go in penitence and humiliation before I can have the assurance of my acceptance with God？〃 I point you to Christ。 He was sinless； and； more than this； He was the Prince of heaven； but in man's
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behalf He became sin for the race。 〃He was numbered with the transgressors； and He bare the sin of many； and made intercession for the transgressors。〃 Isaiah 53：12。
But what do we give up； when we give all？ A sin…polluted heart； for Jesus to purify； to cleanse by His own blood； and to save by His matchless love。 And yet men think it hard to give up all！ I am ashamed to hear it spoken of； ashamed to write it。
God does not require us to give up anything that it is for our best interest to retain。 In all that He does； He has the well…being of His children in view。 Would that all who have not chosen Christ might realize that He has something vastly better to offer them than they are seeking for themselves。 Man is doing the greatest injury and injustice to his own soul when he thinks and acts contrary to the will of God。 No real joy can be found in the path forbidden by Him who knows what is best and who plans for the good of His creatures。 The path of transgression is the path of misery and destruction。
It is a mistake to entertain the thought that God is pleased to see His children suffer。 All heaven is interested in the happiness of man。 Our heavenly Father does not close the avenues of joy to any of His creatures。 The divine requirements call upon us to shun those indulgences that would bring suffering and disappointment； that would close to us the door of happiness and heaven。 The world's Redeemer accepts men as they are； with all their wants； imperfections； and weaknesses； and He will not only cleanse from sin and grant redemption through His blood； but
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will satisfy the heart…longing of all who consent to wear His yoke； to bear His burden。 It is His purpose to impart peace and rest to all who come to Him for the bread of life。 He requires us to perform only those duties that will lead our steps to heights of bliss to which the disobedient can never attain。 The true； joyous life of the soul is to have Christ formed within； the hope of glory。
Many are inquiring； 〃How am I to make the surrender of myself to God？〃 You desire to give yourself to Him； but you are weak in moral power； in slavery to doubt； and controlled by the habits of your life of sin。 Your promises and resolutions are like ropes of sand。 You cannot control your thoughts； your impulses； your affections。 The knowledge of your broken promises and forfeited pledges weakens your confidence in your own sincerity； and causes you to feel that God cannot accept you； but you need not despair。 What you need to understand is the true force of the will。 This is the governing power in the nature of man； the power of decision； or of choice。 Everything depends on the right action of the will。 The power of choice God has given to men； it is theirs to exercise。 You cannot change your heart； you cannot of yourself give to God its affections； but you can choose to serve Him。 You can give Him your will； He will then work in you to will and to do according to His good pleasure。 Thus your whole nature will be brought under the control of the Spirit of Christ； your affections will be centered upon Him； your thoughts will be in harmony with Him。
Desires for goodness and holiness are right as
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far as they go； but if you stop here； they will avail nothing。 Many will be lost while hoping and desiring to be Christians。 They do not come to the point of yielding the will to God。 They do not now choose to be Christians。
Through the right exercise of the will； an entire change may be made in your life。 By yielding up your will to Christ； you ally yourself with the power that is above all principalities and powers。 You will have strength from above to hold you steadfast； and thus through constant surrender to God you will be enabled to live the new life； even the life of faith。
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Faith and Acceptance
As your conscience has been quickened by the Holy Spirit； you have seen something of the evil of sin； of its power； its guilt； its woe； and you look upon it with abhorrence。 You feel that sin has separated you from God； that you are in bondage to the power of evil。 The more you struggle to escape； the more you realize your helplessness。 Your motives are impure； your heart is unclean。 You see that your life has been filled with selfishness and sin。 You long to be forgiven； to be cleansed； to be set free。 Harmony with God； likeness to Himwhat can you do to obtain it？
It is peace that you needHeaven's forgiveness and peace and love in the soul。 Money cannot buy it； intellect cannot procure it； wisdom cannot attain to it； you can never hope； by your own efforts； to secure it。 But God offers it to you as a gift； 〃without money and without price。〃 Isaiah 55：1。 It is yours if you will but reach out your hand and grasp it。 The Lord says； 〃Though your sins be as scarlet； they shall be as white as snow； though they be red like crimson； they shall be as wool。〃 Isaiah 1：18。 〃A new heart also will I give you； and a new spirit will I put within you。〃 Ezekiel 36：26。
You have confessed your sins； and in heart put them away。 You have resolved to give yourself to God。 Now go to Him； and ask that He will wash away your sins and give you a new heart。 Then
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believe that He does this because He has promised。 This is the lesson which Jesus taught while He was on earth； that the gift which God promises us； we must believe we do receive； and it is ours。 Jesus healed the people of their diseases when they had faith in His power； He helped them in the things which they could see； thus inspiring them with confidence in Him concerning things which they could not seeleading them to believe in His power to forgive sins。 This He plainly stated in the healing of the man sick with palsy： 〃That ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins； （then saith He to the sick of the palsy；） Arise； take up thy bed； and go unto thine house。〃 Matthew 9：6。 So also John the evangelist says； speaking of the miracles of Christ； 〃These are written； that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ； the Son of God； and that believing ye might have life through His name。〃 John 20：31。
From the simple Bible account of how Jesus healed the sick； we may learn something about how to believe in Him for the forgiveness of sins。 Let us turn to the story of the pa
