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The Golden Chain - Robert J. Wieland

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the world can "look unto Jesus" meaningfully. He<br />

can see his own cross looming up before him<br />

whereon self or "I" can be "crucified with Christ."<br />

Christ's identity with us (the objective gospel)<br />

becomes our identity with Him (the subjective<br />

gospel). <strong>The</strong> sinner can overcome because now he<br />

sees how Christ "overcame." And that, we insist, is<br />

not a ludicrous, contemptible "perfectionism," a<br />

strawman, as it is sometimes portrayed.<br />

(Incidentally, for Laodicea to "overcome even as<br />

[Christ] overcame" does not involve the eradication<br />

of the sinful nature, but overcoming within fallen,<br />

sinful nature).<br />

21. David says that he was "shapen in<br />

iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me"<br />

(Psalm 51:5, KJV). Was there anything in the<br />

words of Jesus that parallels this cry?<br />

If one understands that all human acts are<br />

inherently sinful apart from redemption, David is<br />

giving voice to the realization of the compulsion<br />

that self-seeking imposes on us all. <strong>The</strong> virgin<br />

Mary was a sinner, for she said "My spirit has<br />

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