There are many paradoxes in the Christian life. Paul speaks of being "unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things" (2 Cor. 6:9, 10). In the same way there is such a thing as contented discontent. We are happy in our work, though we may wish that it were more fruitful; we are happy in our living, though we desire that our lives were more holy. We may be both dissatisfied and satisfied with our lot, our task, our circumstances.
Our God is a demanding God, an exigent God. His very nature demands of Him that He demand of us more than we can ever supply. The requirement of His righteousness is a righteousness equal to His own. He could never accept human righteousness as a compromising payment. Perfection demands perfection; that is why salvation must be by grace, and why works are not sufficient.
There are many people who believe that conscience is a safe guide. There are those who refuse to accept Christ, as they claim to find sufficient light in their own consciences. The folly of such an attitude is apparent to those who know the truth about the human conscience, and even more apparent to those who know the Word of God.
Yes, there is an interrogation point after this title, for we are interested in making you think about the word, and want you to ask yourself if you have any Christian fellowship. If you begin to think about the number of faithful Christians you know, and the good times you have had together, you have brought yourself to the place of vulnerability, and are wide open to the thrust we wish to make into your complacency.
When a man becomes a Christian he not only gives assent to a new set of beliefs, but he also finds that he has a new life, a new stream of thought, and that he lives in an entirely different society. He is now a member of the body of Christ. He does not cease to be a member of his family, but he has a new relationship with that family. He does not cease to be a member of his work group, but he has a new relationship with that work group. He does not cease to be a citizen of his country, but he has a new relationship to his country.
