2 Peter 1:4

Let all thought of indulging the flesh vanish forever if you would live in the power of your risen Lord. It would be ill for a man who is alive in Christ to dwell in the corruption of sin. “Why seek ye the living among the dead?” said the angel to Magdalene.

Should the living dwell in the sepulcher? Should divine life be immured in the charnel house of fleshly lust? How can we partake of the cup of the Lord and yet drink the cup of Belial? Surely, believer, you are delivered from open lusts and sins: have you also escaped from the more secret and deceptive snares of the Satanic fowler?

Have you come forth from the lust of pride? Have you escaped from slothfulness? Have you completely escaped from carnal security? Are you seeking day by day to live above worldliness, the pride of life, and the ensnaring vice of avarice? Remember, it is for this that you have been enriched with the treasures of God.

If you are indeed the chosen of God, and beloved by him, do not allow all the lavish treasure of grace to be wasted on you. Pursue holiness; it is the Christian’s crown and glory. An unholy church! It is useless to the world, and of no esteem among men.

It is an abomination, hell’s laughter, heaven’s abhorrence. The worst evils that have ever come upon the world have been brought upon it by an unholy church. O Christian, the vows of God are upon you. You are God’s priest: act as such. You are God’s king: reign over your lusts. You are God’s chosen: do not associate with Belial. Heaven is your portion: live like a heavenly spirit, so shall you prove that you have true faith in Jesus, for there cannot be faith in the heart unless there is holiness in the life.

“Lord, I desire to live as one
Who bears a blood-bought name,
As one who fears but grieving You,
And knows no other shame.”