n. cloying sentimentality or flattery.
Few things pose more of a potential stumbling block to us than our virtues. No one is proud of their vices. They may be proud of things you call vices, but they aren't proud of them if they agree with you. Whatever is considered a vice is not something which can considered a source of pride. But our virtues, those are our favorite things about ourselves. When another likes what they see, they're merely agreeing with what we've already decided. When they want to put their approval on us, they have to stand in line.
No one can flatter our faults. We wouldn't tolerate it. They can flatter our favorite parts, but sickly sweet sentimentality doesn't work on vices.
“The Christian life is not an exodus from vice to virtue, but rather from virtue to grace.” ~ Gerhard Forde
Salvation is seeing even your best as something of which to repent. It is scrapping your souvenirs and renouncing every sickly sweet sentimentality and flattery that excuses your depravity. It is calling treacle matters fecal matter and turning away from them entirely.
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Faith is counting that which could be credited to your account as loss so that you have room to inherit all that Christ has done on your account.
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