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To: ebb tide; metmom; aMorePerfectUnion; daniel1212; Mark17
Paul wrote that he considered all things to be rubbish that he might try to hold up as value.

There are no reparations we can make that are worthy based on what Paul is writing. There are no works that are good enough.

Perhaps though, this would be a good time for you to toss that idol that’s around your neck dragging you down to the hell-fire. That scapular condemns you to the very place you’re trying to avoid.

You want to honor Christ?

Trust in Him and only Him for your salvation.

Will you toss that idol in the trash, repent, and ask for His forgiveness and begin to follow Christ, and only Christ?

104 posted on 06/06/2024 7:44:17 PM PDT by ealgeone
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To: metmom; aMorePerfectUnion; Mark17; Elsie
There are no works that are good enough.

Of course! Nothing is good enough for Our Lord and Savior.

With that in mind I refer you to this the post-Holy Communion prayer of St. Augustine:

Before Thine eyes, O Lord, we bring our sins and we compare them with the stripes we have received.
If we examine the evil we have wrought, what we suffer is little, what we deserve is great.
What we have committed is very grievous, what we have suffered is very slight.
We feel the punishment of sin, yet withdraw not from the obstinacy of sinning.
Under Thy lash our inconstancy is visited, but our sinfulness is not changed.
Our suffering soul is tormented, but our neck is not bent.
Our life groans under sorrow, yet amends not in deed.
If Thou spare us, we correct not our ways: if Thou punish, we cannot endure it.
In time of correction we confess our wrongdoing: after Thy visitation we forget that we have wept.
If Thou stretchest forth Thy hand, we promise amendment; if Thou withholdest the sword, we keep not our promise.
If Thou strikest, we cry out for mercy: if Thou sparest, we again provoke Thee to strike.
Here we are before Thee, O Lord, confessedly guilty: we know that unless Thou pardon we shall deservedly perish.
Grant then, O almighty Father, without our deserving it, the pardon we ask; Thou who madest out of nothing those who ask Thee. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
v. Deal not with us, O Lord, according to our sins.
R. Neither reward us according to our iniquities.

Let us pray.-- O God, who by sin art offended and by penance pacified, mercifully regard the prayers of Thy suppliant people, and turn away the scourges of Thy wrath, which we deserve for our sins. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

121 posted on 06/06/2024 8:44:40 PM PDT by ebb tide
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To: ealgeone
There are no reparations we can make that are worthy based on what Paul is writing. There are no works that are good enough.

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:5)
Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 4:4-5)

The works being excluded as meriting eternal life are not simply those of the Law, but which represents any system of salvation by the merit of works of righteousness, "for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law." (Galatians 3:21)

However, while eternal life is a unmerited gift, the fruit of faith justifies one as being a true believer of salvific faith, as James is teaching in the contextual contrast btwn inert faith and that of Abraham's fruit-bearing "complete" faith, though he was justified by faith long before he most manifestly evidenced this in offering up Issac. (Gn. 15:6; Romans 4:3; James 2:21-24)

And thus works of faith, led by the Spirit, (Rm. 8:14) evidence salvific faith and thus fitting for such believers to be rewarded for works, (1 Co. 3:8-14; Heb. 10:34; Rev. 3:4) even though the believer owes both the motivation and means behind such to God, apart from which he/she would never have come to justificatory repentant faith, nor acted it out in any way. For God draws souls, opens hearts, grants repentance and gives faith (Jn. 6:44; 12:32; 16:8; Acts 11:18; 16:14; Eph. 2:8, 9) and moves us to obey, (Phil.2:13) thus both motivating and enabling us to do what we otherwise could not and would not do.

But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. (Hebrews 6:8-9)

By which evidence Paul was persuaded that Timothy was of the faith, (2 Timothy 1:5) and that the Thessalonians were of the elect, 1 Thessalonians 1:4-7) and thus the apostle requires certain Corinthians to, "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? (2 Corinthians 13:5)

And to which faith believers are exhorted to continue in, and warned of departing from, and thus God works to bring repentance via chastisement. (Gal. 5:1-4; 1 Co. 11:32; Heb. 3:12; Heb. 10:25-39)

Bless and glory to God.


156 posted on 06/07/2024 5:40:58 AM PDT by daniel1212 (Turn 2 the Lord Jesus who saves damned+destitute sinners on His acct, believe, b baptized+follow HIM)
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