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2 Corinthians 5：17。
A person may not be able to tell the exact time or place； or trace all the chain of circumstances in the process of conversion； but this does not prove him to be unconverted。 Christ said to Nicodemus； 〃The wind bloweth where it listeth； and thou hearest the sound thereof； but canst not tell whence it cometh； and whither it goeth： so is everyone that is born of the Spirit。〃 John 3：8。 Like the wind； which is invisible； yet the effects of which are plainly seen and felt； is the Spirit of God in its work upon the human heart。 That regenerating power； which no human eye can see； begets a new life in the soul； it creates a new being in the image of God。 While the work of the Spirit is silent and imperceptible； its effects are manifest。 If the heart has been renewed by the Spirit of God； the life will bear witness to the fact。 While we cannot do anything to change our hearts or to bring ourselves into harmony with God； while we must not trust at all to ourselves or our good works； our lives will reveal whether the grace of God is dwelling within us。 A change will be seen in the character； the habits； the pursuits。 The contrast will be clear and decided between what they have been and what they are。 The character is revealed； not
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by occasional good deeds and occasional misdeeds； but by the tendency of the habitual words and acts。
It is true that there may be an outward correctness of deportment without the renewing power of Christ。 The love of influence and the desire for the esteem of others may produce a well…ordered life。 Self…respect may lead us to avoid the appearance of evil。 A selfish heart may perform generous actions。 By what means； then； shall we determine whose side we are on？
Who has the heart？ With whom are our thoughts？ Of whom do we love to converse？ Who has our warmest affections and our best energies？ If we are Christ's； our thoughts are with Him； and our sweetest thoughts are of Him。 All we have and are is consecrated to Him。 We long to bear His image； breathe His spirit； do His will； and please Him in all things。
Those who become new creatures in Christ Jesus will bring forth the fruits of the Spirit； 〃love； joy； peace； long…suffering； gentleness； goodness； faith； meekness； temperance。〃 Galatians 5：22； 23。 They will no longer fashion themselves according to the former lusts； but by the faith of the Son of God they will follow in His steps； reflect His character； and purify themselves even as He is pure。 The things they once hated they now love； and the things they once loved they hate。 The proud and self…assertive become meek and lowly in heart。 The vain and supercilious become serious and unobtrusive。 The drunken become sober； and the profligate pure。 The vain customs and fashions of the world are laid aside。 Christians will seek not the 〃outward adorning；〃 but 〃the hidden man of
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the heart； in that which is not corruptible； even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit。〃 1 Peter 3： 3； 4。
There is no evidence of genuine repentance unless it works reformation。 If he restore the pledge； give again that he had robbed； confess his sins； and love God and his fellow men； the sinner may be sure that he has passed from death unto life。
When； as erring； sinful beings； we come to Christ and become partakers of His pardoning grace； love springs up in the heart。 Every burden is light； for the yoke that Christ imposes is easy。 Duty becomes a delight； and sacrifice a pleasure。 The path that before seemed shrouded in darkness； becomes bright with beams from the Sun of Righteousness。
The loveliness of the character of Christ will be seen in His followers。 It was His delight to do the will of God。 Love to God； zeal for His glory； was the controlling power in our Saviour's life。 Love beautified and ennobled all His actions。 Love is of God。 The unconsecrated heart cannot originate or produce it。 It is found only in the heart where Jesus reigns。 〃We love； because He first loved us。〃 1 John 4：19； R。V。 In the heart renewed by divine grace； love is the principle of action。 It modifies the character； governs the impulses； controls the passions； subdues enmity； and ennobles the affections。 This love； cherished in the soul； sweetens the life and sheds a refining influence on all around。
There are two errors against which the children of Godparticularly those who have just come to trust in His graceespecially need to guard。 The first； already dwelt upon； is that of looking to their
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own works； trusting to anything they can do； to bring themselves into harmony with God。 He who is trying to become holy by his own works in keeping the law； is attempting an impossibility。 All that man can do without Christ is polluted with selfishness and sin。 It is the grace of Christ alone； through faith； that can make us holy。
The opposite and no less dangerous error is that belief in Christ releases men from keeping the law of God； that since by faith alone we become partakers of the grace of Christ； our works have nothing to do with our redemption。
But notice here that obedience is not a mere outward compliance； but the service of love。 The law of God is an expression of His very nature； it is an embodiment of the great principle of love； and hence is the foundation of His government in heaven and earth。 If our hearts are renewed in the likeness of God； if the divine love is implanted in the soul； will not the law of God be carried out in the life？ When the principle of love is implanted in the heart； when man is renewed after the image of Him that created him； the new…covenant promise is fulfilled； 〃I will put My laws into their hearts； and in their minds will I write them。〃 Hebrews 10：16。 And if the law is written in the heart； will it not shape the life？ Obediencethe service and allegiance of loveis the true sign of discipleship。 Thus the Scripture says； 〃This is the love of God； that we keep His commandments。〃 〃He that saith； I know Him； and keepeth not His commandments； is a liar； and the truth is not in him。〃 1 John 5：3； 2：4。 Instead of releasing man from obedience； it is faith；
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and faith only； that makes us partakers of the grace of Christ； which enables us to render obedience。
We do not earn salvation by our obedience； for salvation is the free gift of God； to be received by faith。 But obedience is the fruit of faith。 〃Ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins； and in Him is no sin。 Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not： whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him； neither known Him。〃 1 John 3：5； 6。 Here is the true test。 If we abide in Christ； if the love of God dwells in us； our feelings； our thoughts； our purposes； our actions； will be in harmony with the will of God as expressed in the precepts of His holy law。 〃Little children； let no man deceive you： he that doeth righteousness is righteous； even as He is righteous。〃 1 John 3：7。 Righteousness is defined by the standard of God's holy law； as expressed in the ten precepts given on Sinai。
That so…called faith in Christ which professes to release men from the obligation of obedience to God； is not faith； but presumption。 〃By grace are ye saved through faith。〃 But 〃faith； if it hath not works； is dead。〃 Ephesians 2：8； James 2：17。 Jesus said of Himself before He came to earth； 〃I delight to do Thy will； O My God： yea； Thy law is within My heart。〃 Psalm 40：8。 And just before He ascended again to heaven He declared； 〃I have kept My Father's commandments； and abide in His love。〃 John 15：10。 The Scripture says； 〃Hereby we do know that we know Him； if we keep His commandments。 。 。 。 He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk even as He walked。〃 1 John 2：3…6。 〃Because Christ also
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suffered for us； leaving us an example； that ye should follow His steps。〃 1 Peter 2：21。
The condition of eternal life is now just what it always has been；just what it was in Paradise before the fall of our first parents；perfect obedience to the law of God； perfect righteousness。 If eternal life were granted on any condition short of this； then the happiness of the whole universe would be imperiled。 The way would be open for sin； with all its train of woe and misery； to be immortalized。
It was possible for Adam； before the fall； to form a righteous character by obedience to God's law。 But he failed to do this； and because of his sin our natures are fallen and we cannot make ourselves righteous。 Since we are sinful； unholy； we cannot perfectly obey the holy law。 We have no righteousness of our own with which to meet the claims of the law of God。 But Christ has made a way of escape for us。 He lived on earth amid trials and temptations such as we have to meet。 He lived a sinless life。 He died for us； and now He offers to take our sins and give us His righteousness。 If you give yourself to Him； and accept Him as your Saviour； then； sinful as your life may have been； for His sake you are accounted righteous。 Christ's character stands in place of your character； and you are accepted before God just as if you had not sinned。
More than this； Christ changes the heart。 He abides in your he