The contingency is not in the doing of these things perfectly, and regardless of the righteousness of Christ to cover our transgressions and compensate for our daily shortcomings; but if, added to our faith in the imputed righteousness of Christ, we have cultivated all these graces to the extent of our ability, we shall not fall. When we have done all that we can do, we are still unprofitable servants, not daring to trust in our own righteousness, but in the ample robe which is ours by faith in Christ, while, with consistent "diligence," we work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, knowing that the righteousness of Christ is only applied to such as desire to forsake sin and pursue that "holiness without which no man shall see the Lord".
Doing these things implies three distinct activities: first, adding--i.e., developing the graces mentioned above; second, being in you--i.e., exercising these graces after they are developed; and third, abounding--i.e., using these graces, so that they act properly toward one another, and in such action control all our other graces and our affections, thoughts, words and acts. These three activities faithfully performed develop perfection of character in Christlikeness. Through these three modes of character activity and development one is kept from falling from God's special favor, and is enabled ultimately to come off more than conqueror through our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us make a most faithful use of this, the most important of all character development instructions.
Ex. 19:5; 2 Pet. 3:18; Jude 1:24; Mal. 3:2; Matt. 10:22; Mark 13:13; 1 Cor. 15:2, 58; Gal. 6:9; 2 Tim. 2:11; Rev. 2:10; 16:15; Jas. 1:22-25; Psa. 24:3, 4.
