Look at your character and position from a legal point of view, and you won't just despair at the end of your reckoning—if you're wise, you'll despair at the beginning! For if we are to be judged on the footing of the law, there shall no flesh living be justified.

How blessed to know that we dwell in the domains of grace and not of law! When thinking of my state before God, the question is not "Am I perfect in myself before the law?" but "Am I perfect in Christ Jesus?" That is a very different matter. We need not ask, "Am I without sin naturally?" but "Have I been washed in the fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness?" It is not "Am I in myself well-pleasing to God?" but "Am I accepted in the Beloved?"

The Christian climbs to the top of Sinai to examine his evidences, and grows alarmed about his salvation. How much better to read his title by the light of Calvary! "Why," he says, "my faith has unbelief in it—it cannot save me." But suppose he had considered the object of his faith instead of his faith itself? Then he would have said, "There is no failure in Him, and therefore I am safe."

He sighs over his hope: "Ah! my hope is marred and dimmed by anxious carefulness about present things. How can I be accepted?" Had he regarded the ground of his hope, he would have seen that the promise of God stands sure, and that whatever our doubts may be, the oath and promise never fail.

Ah, believer, it is safer always for you to be led of the Spirit into gospel liberty than to wear legal fetters. Judge yourself at what Christ is rather than at what you are. Satan will try to mar your peace by reminding you of your sinfulness and imperfections—you can only meet his accusations by faithfully adhering to the gospel and refusing to wear the yoke of bondage.