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