Having These Promises
Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 7:1) There are those who preach that Jesus is somehow sympathetic with our struggles against self and sin. I have even heard those struggles called a "beautiful mess!" Nothing could be more foolish! Our "mess" is not attractive or beautiful to God, and we only need to look to the tragedy of Calvary to see what God thinks of our mess. Jesus dealt with sin ruthlessly on the Cross, where He set us free from the law of sin and consequences. Therefore, we must never tell the Lord that He is not able to sanctify us and make us holy, or we are too broken and helpless for Him to perfect us. If He cannot do that, He is not God. But He is God, and God Almighty. He has sanctified us wholly; and now we must put the mess of selfishness and sin to death in our members. That is the supreme effort we put f...