“No servant can serve two masters.” (Luke 16:13, KJV)

O unclean man, how can you dream of salvation while you are defiled with filthiness? What, you and your harlot, members of Christ! Oh, you know not my pure and holy Master. He receives sinners, but He rejects those who delight in their iniquities. You must have done with the indulgence of sin if you would be cleansed of it. There is no going on in transgression and yet obtaining salvation: it is licentious supposition.

Christ comes to save us from our sins, not make it safe to do evil. That blood that washes out the stain brings with it also a hatred of the thing that made that stain. Sin must be reliquished, or salvation cannot be received. I spoke very plainly just now, but some here of pure heart little know how plainly we must speak if we are to reach some men’s consciences, for it shames me when I think of some who year after year indulge in secret sin, and yet they are regular frequenters of the house of God.

You would think they surely were already converted or soon would be when you saw them here, but if you follow them home, you would quite despair of them. O lovers of sin, do not deceive yourselves; you will surely reap that which you sow. How can grace reign in you while you are slaves of your own passions? How can it be while you are anchored to a secret sin that you should be borne along by the current of grace toward the desired haven of safety?

Either you must leave your sin, or you must leave all hope of heaven; if you hold your sin, hell will ere long hold you. May God deliver us all from the love of sin, for such a deliverance is salvation. (Charles Spurgeon, At the Master’s Feet, November 7)