The way that leads to the Victory Gate is not found on Easy Street.
“Forasmuch then as Christ has suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.” 1Peter 4:1
Christians are engaged in a war for the souls of men; they do not know who is chosen by God’s abundant grace to receive the gift of eternal life, so they must regard all men as potential brothers. Put another way, when men treat Christians like enemies, fools, hypocrites, outsiders, and just plain dirt they are to love them as potential family.
As God He died for the ungodly, as a friend of sinners he was forsaken, one preferred nakedness than to stay by his side, no one testified on his behalf, and He suffered all the indignities of one betrayed. While we were His enemies, He died for us!
When the Christian arms himself with this mindset, he suffers in the flesh but ceases from sin because love is the fulfillment of the law. The way to the Victory Gate is not on easy street, it is on the highway of holiness!