Here’s the paragraph immediately preceding it:

SC 28, 29
We may have flattered ourselves, as did Nicodemus, that our life has been upright, that our moral character is correct, and think that we need not humble the heart before God, like the common sinner: but when the light from Christ shines into our souls, we shall see how impure we are; we shall discern the selfishness of motive, the enmity against God, that has defiled every act of life. Then we shall know that our own righteousness is indeed as filthy rags, and that the blood of Christ alone can cleanse us from the defilement of sin, and renew our hearts in His own likeness. {SC 28.3}

And here’s the same chapter a few paragraphs later:

SC 31
If you see your sinfulness, do not wait to make yourself better. How many there are who think they are not good enough to come to Christ. Do you expect to become better through your own efforts? "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil." Jeremiah 13:23. There is help for us only in God. We must not wait for stronger persuasions, for better opportunities, or for holier tempers. We can do nothing of ourselves. We must come to Christ just as we are. {SC 31.1}

And again, later on:

SC 32, 33
Beware of procrastination. Do not put off the work of forsaking your sins and seeking purity of heart through Jesus. Here is where thousands upon thousands have erred to their eternal loss. I will not here dwell upon the shortness and uncertainty of life; but there is a terrible danger--a danger not sufficiently understood--in delaying to yield to the pleading voice of God's Holy Spirit, in choosing to live in sin; for such this delay really is. Sin, however small it may be esteemed, can be indulged in only at the peril of infinite loss. What we do not overcome, will overcome us and work out our destruction. {SC 32.2}

And then:

SC 34
Christ is ready to set us free from sin, but He does not force the will; and if by persistent transgression the will itself is wholly bent on evil, and we do not desire to be set free, if we will not accept His grace, what more can He do? We have destroyed ourselves by our determined rejection of His love. "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." "Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts." 2 Corinthians 6:2; Hebrews 3:7, 8. {SC 34.2}

This chapter, and these paragraphs in particular, make it very clear that once God reveals to us our defective traits of character we cannot delay our conversion but at the peril of our soul.

Good to know that if you willfully continue to sin, think that you are sinless and upright that it can be at the price of your soul. Thank God that we have Jesus who intercedes for us, and the goodness of God to lead us to repentance.
God Bless,
Will

Greetings Brother Mike and Brother Will,

Regarding your questions which pertain to:

quote:

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Is it all at once?

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It is by steps that we walk to Christ, it is also by steps that we are revealed the true nature of His glory. With each passing step we see God more clearly and see our poor character next to the loveliness of Christ's.

In these steps we learn there are two types of hate. One of God and one of Satan. Satan's lesson of hate is cruel. God's hate is one that it does not touch the unclean thing. In order to learn our steps to Christ we must learn through study and prayer while asking for the Holy Spirit so that we learn all truth and not of our own reasoning powers.

Today we may see through dark glasses, but with each step along the path with the Holy Spirit teaching we see with better eyesight. If you recall Christ provides the eyesalve, we dearly need that.

So in each step that we walk with Christ, if we obey our lessons a miracle begins to happen. The miracle is that we have learned to hate some sins, to draw on Christ's power that we will overcome and move forward in our education rather than just accepting we are sinners.

The miracle of rebirth begins as we accept Christ as our Savior. The seeing Christ with increasing eyesight comes in steps. The life of sin becomes a path of the past through steps by learning to hate sin.

As we hate sin, we begin to truly understand Isa. 64:6 and begin to understand our unworthiness before our dear and precious Savior, Christ Jesus. This lesson of unworthiness continues to happen over and over as we draw closer to Christ Jesus because we are seeing Christ more clearly with each passing step.

Brother Mike...you asked 'how long does it take to penetrate the soul?' It takes a moment like the theif on the cross, and yet it may take a life time.


Your Sister in Christ Jesus,
Cheri Fritz