20
Steps to Christ
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” (
Philippi-
ans 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 men apply it to
[30]
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 guilt and shame he came before God, asking for His mercy.
[31]
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