In order for us to reach this high ideal, that which causes the soul to stumble must be sacrificed. It is through the will that sin retains its hold upon us. The surrender of the will is represented as plucking out the eye or cutting off the hand. Often it seems to us that to surrender the will to God is to consent to go through life maimed or crippled. But it is better, says Christ, for self to be maimed, wounded, crippled, if thus you may enter into life. That which you look upon as disaster is the door to highest benefit.

Dersom du holder fast ved selvet og nægter at overgive jeres vilje til Gud, vælger I døden. Gud er en fortærende ild for synden, hvor denne end findes. Hvis I vælger synden og nægter at skilles fra den, må Guds nærværelse, der fortærer synden, også fortære jer.