O my reader, be not deceived on this vital matter:
to mortify the lusts of the flesh,
to be crucified unto the world,
to overcome the Devil,
to die daily unto sin,
to live unto righteousness,
to be meek and lowly in heart,
trustful and obedient,
pious and patient,
faithful and uncompromising,
loving and gentle;
in a word, to be a Christian, to be Christlike is a task far, far beyond the poor resources of fallen human nature!
The demands of Christ are too humbling to our natural pride,
too searching for the callous conscience,
too exacting for our fleshly desires.
A miracle of grace has to be wrought within us before this awful depravity of our nature, this dreadful state of affairs, is changed!
[A. W. Pink]
John 15:5 ... I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Philippians 4:13 ... I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. ❤
