A young man of the world once accosted a lady, well-known as a Christian, with the words: "I suppose, Miss Mary, that you are at your old work of trying to persuade us to give up dancing and card-playing and all these things?”
"No," she answered. "No, my friend. I want you to accept everything—to accept everything in Christ, and to do it right now! Then when you have accepted Him, you will judge all these things you mention from the standpoint of one who is accepted in God's beloved Son.”
Forgiveness, salvation, eternal life are all the gift of God. We cannot purchase them by "giving up" anything. "The wages of sin" is what we deserve; but "the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23).
The young man did "accept everything," and came out boldly and clearly on Christ's side. He found in Him complete satisfaction, and he delighted to proclaim to others the rich blessing of God that is bestowed upon everyone who receives His Son. Then having received Christ Jesus the Lord, he was content to walk with Him.
"Jesus Christ: whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory." 1 Peter 1:7, 87That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: (1 Peter 1:7‑8).