Humilty

To the christian humility is absolutely indispensable. It's needed for salvation, {the fist thing that happens} it's also needed for sanctification {the rest, till you get to heaven and are glorified}.

The way God sanctifies people is to give them the acceptance to be themselves and deal with what comes out. Imagine an old car that needs fixing. In order to properly fix and clean it the parts will need to be loosened up so they can get a good wash. The repairer isn't disgusted and discouraged to find some dirty, smelly old parts, nor does he think it would be better to leave it together. On the other hand he may be annoyed if the engine remains tight and jammed. It's the same with people. How terrible the proud and arrogant who think that because they have spent there whole lives buffing and shinning the outside, wiping the oil away that appear between there seams before anyone sees, that they are better then the ones who let the grease come out.

So with Christians, God is pimping them up, they are being renewed day by day, they understand that in order for them to truly grow they need to loosen up and be exactly who the are, that gives them not just the allowance, but the obligation to be exactly themselves, and not try to clean or fix them self spiritually, stuffing it up and becoming fake. The stiff, tight, outwardly clean christian is a contradiction in terms. Christians are forgiven and accepted enough to be exactly who they are with not a hint of pretension, and the world has every right to believe that Christians are fake that don't realize this. Christians acknowledge they are sinners and waste no time trying to prove there ability to look righteous. By the same token the humble person doesn't care how proud or sinful they appear, they are not interested in finding virtue in themselves, they only care what God thinks of them. So, being themselves, they give all they find back to Him.

Jesus said "if you show love to those who love you, what is that" {what does it say about your ability to love} It's the same with how the world verses God's people see goodness and decency. If you look at a person who goes to church, wears long robes and doesn't drink or sware and conclude "God accepts this person" what does that say about your understanding of God's righteousness. However, if you look at rough diamond and conclude "God accepts this person" that shows you are aware of what God's righteousness and power really is.

Imagine being yourself yet on your way to heaven. That's the way it has to be.

I leave ye with a simple quote from A.W.Tozer. "I know two kinds of Christians: the proud who imagine they are humble and the humble who are afraid they are proud. There should be another class: the self-forgetful who leave the whole thing in the hands of Christ and refuse to waist any time trying to make themselves good. They will reach the goal far ahead of the rest."