Rough Edges, Imperfections and Weaknesses

These are expressions used by those who lack self-acknowledgment to excuse and explain things away. We can see how it applies to those who say that the entire self-life is removed. When the old life has gone, is it the rough edges of the new life that are to be polished? Does the new life have such edges? When they now imagine themselves and others to be free from self-life, but at the same time have rough edges, this shows that, in complete opposition to their confession of freedom from living in bondage, they improve the old by polishing it up! But to cover their bondage they cry out loudly about their freedom. It is always the method of darkness. A spirit of pride always cries out to others, that it is the others who are proud, just because others do not want to submit to them. And in this way they cover their own pride. The same principle applies in all areas.