Written by A. W. Tozer
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The self-sins are self-righteousness, self-pity, self-sufficiency,
self-admiration, self-love and a host of others like them. They dwell
too deep within us and are too much a part of our natures to come to our
attention till the light of God is focused upon them. p 45
The grosser manifestations of these sins--egotism, exhibitionism,
self-promotion--are strangely tolerated in Christian leaders, even in
circles of impeccable orthodoxy.
They are so much in evidence as actually, for many people, to become
identified with the gospel. I trust it is not a cynical observation to
say that they appear these days to be a requisite for popularity in some
sections of the church visible.
Promoting self under the guise of promoting Christ is currently so common
as to excite little notice. p 45
One should suppose that proper instruction in . . .justification through
the righteousness of Christ alone would deliver us from the power of the
self-sins, but it does not work that way.
Self can live unrebuked at the very altar.
It can watch the bleeding Victim die and not be in the least affected by
what it sees. It can fight for the faith of the reformers and preach
eloquently the creed of salvation by grace, and gain strength by its
efforts. To tell the truth, it seems actually to feed upon orthodoxy and
is more at home in a Bible conference than in a tavern. pp 45-46
We must confess, forsake, repudiate the self-life, and then reckon it
crucified. p 47
We must prepare ourselves for an ordeal of suffering in some measure like
that through which our Savior passed when He suffered under Pontius
Pilate. p 46
To rip through the dear and tender stuff of which life is made can never
be anything but deeply painful. Yet that is what the cross did to Jesus
and it is what the cross would do to every man to set him free. p 46
Self is the opaque veil that hides the face of God from us. It can be
removed only in spiritual experience, never by mere instruction. We may
as well try to instruct leprosy out of our system. There must be a work
of God in destruction before we are free. p 46
We dare not rest content with a neat doctrine of self-crucifixion. That
is to imitate Saul and spare the best of the sheep and the oxen. p 47
The cross is rough and it is deadly, but it is effective. It does not
keep its victim hanging there forever.
There comes a moment when its work is finished and the suffering victim
dies. After that is resurrection glory and power, and the pain is
forgotten for joy that the veil is taken away and we have entered in
actual spiritual experience the presence of the living God. p 47
Lord, show us how to die, that we may rise again to newness of life. Rend
the veil of our self-life from the top down as You did rend the veil of
the Temple.
We would draw near in full assurance of faith. p 47
Camp Hill: Christian
Publications, Inc., l982
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