Obedience to this imperative is only possible as the congregation is reminded and keeps grasping the message of justification by faith. He saw himself not only as a sinner, but as the sinner. He felt that no one could be a sinner like he. He stood before God as if he were all the world's sin. This is the man whom God counts righteous.
Christian existence is gospel existence.
Sanctification is justification in action. Appeals to live the good life which are not based on the truth of justification by faith can only lead to moralism and legalism. But justification puts the believer on vantage ground-legally, psychologically, efficiently and positionally. It makes the yoke of sanctification easy and the burden of holiness light. The eternal truth is that the law never stands by itself but can be found only, as under the old Dispensation, in the ark of the Covenant.