God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)
Understanding the freedom from darkness that God’s law provides helps us reconcile biblical calls to duty with the gospel promises of grace (1 John 2:7-11)… Grace does not forbid giving directions, promises, corrections, and warnings. Only cruelty would forbid such help.
1. A losing our first love – When iniquity abounds, the love of many waxes cold (Rev 2:4; Mat 24:12). The affections get dull and blunted.
2. Losing the edge of our conscience – The conscience ceases to be sensitive and tender. It does not shrink from sin as it used to do.
3. Callousness as to truth – We get so familiarized with truth that it ceases to affect us. It loses its power over us.
4. Insensibility to sin – Our own evils are not felt as they used to be; sin itself is not so hated and shunned as formerly.
