steps to christ-第5节
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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 stands as a memorial of the amazing sacrifice required to atone for the transgression of the divine law。 Let us not regard sin as a trivial thing。
Every act of transgression； every neglect or rejection of the grace of Christ； is reacting upon yourself； it is hardening the heart； depraving the will； benumbing the understanding； and not only making you less inclined to yield； but less capable of yielding； to the tender pleading of God's Holy Spirit。
Many are quieting a troubled conscience with the thought that they can change a course of evil when they choose； that they can trifle with the invitations of mercy； and yet be again and again impressed。 They think that after doing despite to the Spirit of grace； after casting their influence on the side of Satan； in a moment of terrible extremity they can change their course。 But this is not so easily done。 The experience；
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the education； of a lifetime； has so thoroughly molded the character that few then desire to receive the image of Jesus。
Even one wrong trait of character； one sinful desire； persistently cherished； will eventually neutralize all the power of the gospel。 Every sinful indulgence strengthens the soul's aversion to God。 The man who manifests an infidel hardihood； or a stolid indifference to divine truth； is but reaping the harvest of that which he has himself sown。 In all the Bible there is not a more fearful warning against trifling with evil than the words of the wise man that the sinner 〃shall be holden with the cords of his sins。〃 Proverbs 5：22。
Christ is ready to set us free from sin； but He does not force the will； and if by persistent transgression the will itself is wholly bent on evil； and we do not desire to be set free； if we will not accept His grace； what more can He do？ We have destroyed ourselves by our determined rejection of His love。 〃Behold； now is the accepted time； behold； now is the day of salvation。〃 〃Today if ye will hear His voice； harden not your hearts。〃 2 Corinthians 6：2； Hebrews 3：7； 8。
〃Man looketh on the outward appearance； but the Lord looketh on the heart〃the human heart； with its conflicting emotions of joy and sorrow； the wandering； wayward heart； which is the abode of so much impurity and deceit。 1 Samuel 16：7。 He knows its motives； its very intents and purposes。 Go to Him with your soul all stained as it is。 Like the psalmist； throw its chambers open to the all…seeing eye； exclaiming； 〃Search me； O God； and know my heart： try me； and know
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my thoughts： and see if there be any wicked way in me； and lead me in the way everlasting。〃 Psalm 139： 23； 24。
Many accept an intellectual religion； a form of godliness； when the heart is not cleansed。 Let it be your prayer； 〃Create in me a clean heart； O God； and renew a right spirit within me。〃 Psalm 51：10。 Deal truly with your own soul。 Be as earnest； as persistent； as you would be if your mortal life were at stake。 This is a matter to be settled between God and your own soul； settled for eternity。 A supposed hope； and nothing more； will prove your ruin。
Study God's word prayerfully。 That word presents before you； in the law of God and the life of Christ； the great principles of holiness； without which 〃no man shall see the Lord。〃 Hebrews 12：14。 It convinces of sin； it plainly reveals the way of salvation。 Give heed to it as the voice of God speaking to your soul。
As you see the enormity of sin； as you see yourself as you really are； do not give up to despair。 It was sinners that Christ came to save。 We have not to reconcile God to us； butO wondrous love！God in Christ is 〃reconciling the world unto Himself。〃 2 Corinthians 5：19。 He is wooing by His tender love the hearts of His erring children。 No earthly parent could be as patient with the faults and mistakes of his children； as is God with those He seeks to save。 No one could plead more tenderly with the transgressor。 No human lips ever poured out more tender entreaties to the wanderer than does He。 All His promises； His warnings； are but the breathing of unutterable love。
When Satan comes to tell you that you are a
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great sinner； look up to your Redeemer and talk of His merits。 That which will help you is to look to His light。 Acknowledge your sin； but tell the enemy that 〃Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners〃 and that you may be saved by His matchless love。 1 Timothy 1：15。 Jesus asked Simon a question in regard to two debtors。 One owed his lord a small sum； and the other owed him a very large sum； but he forgave them both； and Christ asked Simon which debtor would love his lord most。 Simon answered； 〃He to whom he forgave most。〃 Luke 7：43。 We have been great sinners； but Christ died that we might be forgiven。 The merits of His sacrifice are sufficient to present to the Father in our behalf。 Those to whom He has forgiven most will love Him most； and will stand nearest to His throne to praise Him for His great love and infi
