“The Father is the only One who is able to undo what has been done and to blot out our former sins by the dew of the Spirit. He says, in effect, ‘I will judge you by the state in which I find you.’ So there may be a person who has done incredibly good deeds during his lifetime. But if he runs headlong into wickedness at the end of his life, then all his previous good deeds will fail to profit him. At the conclusion of the drama, he has given up his role. On the other hand, it’s possible for the man who once led a wicked and immoral life to eventually repent. During the remainder of his life after his repentance, he may overcome the evil conduct of a long time. But to do so requires great care, because he is like one who has suffered from a prolonged disease and needs to follow a certain regimen. He needs special attention. Thief, do you want to be forgiven? Steal no more. Adulterer, burn no more with lust. Fornicator, live purely in the future. You who have robbed, give back – and give back more than you took. False witness, practice truth. Perjurer, swear no more. All of you, get rid of the rest of your fleshly passions – wrath, lust, grief, and fear. In doing so, at the end of your life, you may be found to have already been reconciled to your adversary during your stay in this world (Luke 12:58). It is probably impossible to eradicate all your inbred passions at once. But by God’s power, by human intercession, by the help of the brothers, by sincere repentance, and by constant care, they will be corrected.”