The Holy Spirit opens the inner recesses of our hearts and enables us to see the moral cesspools hidden there.
Scripture speaks of a holiness which we have in Christ before God and a holiness which we must strive after.
Because we have a natural tendency to look within ourselves for the basis of God’s approval or disapproval, we must make a conscious daily effort to look outside ourselves to the righteousness of Christ, then to stand in the present reality of our justification.
Our worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God’s grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God’s grace.
So often we try to develop Christian character and conduct without taking the time to develop God-centered devotion. We try to please God without taking the time to walk with Him and develop a relationship with Him. This is impossible to do.
The gospel is not only the most important message in all of history; it is the only essential message in all of history.