The topics in this short book were first introduced by Albert the Great (1193-1280). It is considered that the initial work (first 9 chapters) by Albert was later added onto by others over the decades and centuries thereafter. This book is considered a classic of Western contemplative Christianity. Among the topics covered in this book are: Cling To And Seek Christ Alone • On Purity Of Heart Which Is To Be Sought Above All Things • Man Should Cleave To God With Understanding And Will • Commit Yourself To God In All Circumstances • Cleaving To God With One's Will Above One's Emotions • How To Resist Temptations And Bear Trials • We Should Seek The Verdict Of Our Conscience In Every Decision • How Humility Of Himself Can Be Produced In A Man • How God's Providence Includes Everything
In Matthew 7:21 Jesus clearly states that those that never got to know Him will be cast away: "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord, ' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from Me, you evildoers!' - Mat 7:21-23 For very many this is a very real risk. But it need not be a risk at all. Everything we have from God - including salvation - comes from coming to Him, totally surrendering our will to Him, and from hearing His voice so that God can lead us into eternal life everlasting. And this is not only for the initial commitment to Christ. It is also for keeping us in Christ and bringing us into a closer and closer relationship with our Creator, Lord, and Savior. Without the continual nearness to God we will die like a branch dies when not attached to the vine.
We must he holy on earth before we die, if we desire to go to heaven after death. If we hope to dwell with God for ever in the life to come, we must endeavour to be like Him in the life that now is. We must not only admire holiness, and wish for holiness: we must be holy. We must be holy, because this is the only sound evidence that we have a saving faith in Christ. “Faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:17,26). We must be holy, because this is the only proof that we love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. What can be more plain than our Lord's own words? “If ye love Me, keep my commandments.” “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me.” (John 14:15,21). We must be holy, because this is the only sound evidence that we are God's children. “As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” “Whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God” (Rom. 8:14; I John 3:10). Lastly, we must be holy, because without holiness on earth we should never be prepared and meet for heaven. It is written of the heavenly glory, “There shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie” (Rev. 21:27). St. Paul says expressly, “Without holiness no man shall see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14). Ah, reader, the last text I have just quoted is very solemn. It ought to make you think. It was written by the hand of inspired man: it is not my private fancy. Its words are the words of the Bible: not of my own invention. God has said it, and God will stand to it: “Without holiness no man shall see the Lord.” What tremendous words these are! What thoughts come across my mind as I write them down! I look at the world, and see the greater part of it lying in wickedness; I look at professing Christians, and see the vast majority having nothing of Christianity but the name; I turn to the Bible, and I hear the Spirit saying, “Without holiness no man shall see the Lord.”
1. Dealing with temptation helps us deal with evil before we fall into sin.2. The mortification of sin helps us avoid or get rid of sin so that it does not continue,3. Repentance helps us to get forgiveness after we sin as well as avoiding sin in the future. With God's help we need to get good at all three areas so that we overcome all sin – permanently. This work by John Owen is very helpful in the mortification (the killing) of sin. I use the word “killing of sin” because as John says: “Kill Sin Or Sin Will Kill You.” With humility and great care, read the following work by John Owen in order to finally kill all sin that has been defeating you in the past. Satan would have you believe that you cannot conquer sin, but Jesus says that you CAN conquer sin with His help and the help of His Holy Spirit. Don't despair. You CAN conquer sin – once and for all. Study it. Believe it. Pray For It. Do it.
In spite of the age of this teaching the works of John Owen on sin and temptation have helped countless number of believers to overcome sin. This specific work indeed can help you immensely in overcoming sin. Don't let the old English slow you down in understanding this material. Earnestly ask the Holy Spirit to teach you what He (the Holy Spirit) is wanting to teach you about overcoming sin. You will find this treasure to be more value than all the gold and gems in the world. Keep mining this work as well as the Bible itself as if there be tons of Gold in there - in fact more precious than all the gold in the world.
So many people seem to be so miserable. They are depressed, filled with worry and have so little joy in their lives. This book speaks specifically to those problems. We are miserable because we are trying to find joy in other people and in other things and everything out there will fail us and let us down. The only thing that provides true happiness, peace and contentment is Our Loving and Eternal Creator - God. The Imitation of Christ explains on how we can separate ourselves from worldly things to focus on God. Once we focus and trust solely on God we will rest assured that God will provide everything we need. Then and only then will we really enjoy the world around us. Enjoy it because once we receive true happiness from God we can see how beautiful the world is and enjoy it as the gift God created it to be, instead of something that we grab onto in the hopes that it will provide us with our happiness and security. "The Imitation of Christ" appears to have been originally written in Latin circa 1450. Manuscripts of the Latin version survive in considerable numbers all over Western Europe, and they testify to its almost unparalleled popularity.
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