Телеграм канал «Ecce Verbum»

We are saved by Grace judged by works.
Scriptural Edification

(A) “Faith Alone” is not Scriptural

John 15:6 “ Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned.”
Matthew 16:24 “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me”
James 2:17 (“So also Faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead”).
James 2:24 (“See how a person is justified by works and not faith alone”). Matt 7:21-27 (Only those who do the Will of the Father will be saved). Matthew 19:16-17 “ 16 Now someone approached him and said, “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?”[l] 17 He answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good.[m] If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
Romans 1:5 (“Apostleship to bring about the obedience to Faith”).
Romans 2:13 “For it is not those who hear the law who are just in the sight of God; rather, those who observe the law will be justified.”
Romans 16:26 (“the mystery . . . to bring about the obedience of faith”).
1 Corinthians 13:2 (If we have faith without love we have nothing).
1 Corinthians 13:13 (“Faith, hope, love abode . . . but the greatest of these is love”).
Galatians 5:6 (Only “Faith working through love” amounts to anything). James 2:18-19 “Indeed someone may say, “You have faith and I have works.” Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works. You believe that God is one. You do well. Even the demons believe that and tremble.” James 2:20 (“Do you want to be shown . . . Faith apart from works is barren”).
1 John 3:10  “In this way, the children of God and the children of the devil are made plain; no one who fails to act in righteousness belongs to God, nor anyone who does not love his brother.” 1 John 3:24 “Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them, and the way we know that he remains in us is from the Spirit that he gave us.”

(B) We will be judged according to our works

Romans 2:6 “render to every man according to his works.”
Jeremiah 17:10 “Giving to all according to their ways, according to the fruit of their deeds.”
Matthew 16:27 “He will repay every man for what he has done.”
2 Corinthians 5:10 “receive good or evil according to what he has done.”
1 Peter 1:17 “Now if you invoke as Father him who judges impartially according to each one’s works, conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your sojourning,”
Apocalypse of Saint John 20:12 “I saw the dead, the great and the lowly, standing before the throne, and scrolls were opened. Then another scroll was opened, the book of life.[j]The dead were judged according to their deeds,” Apocalypse of Saint John 22:11-15 “Let the wicked still act wickedly, and the filthy still be filthy. The righteous must still do right, and the holy still be holy. Behold, I am coming soon. I bring with me the recompense I will give to each according to his deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Blessed are they who wash their robes so as to have the right to the tree of life and enter the city through its gates. Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the unchaste, the murderers, the idol-worshipers, and all who love and practice deceit.”
Matthew 12:36 “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will render an account for every careless word they speak.” Matthew 7:21 ““Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven,[j] but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.”

#faith@ecceverbum #justification@ecceverbum
#salvation@ecceverbum

Christian Higher Education in Europe: A Historical Analysis (2011)
D. W. Bebbington

Summary: A historical analysis of Christian influence in European higher education, examining seven distinct eras from scholasticism to civil law.

#education@ecceverbum

An Introduction to the History of the Assyrian Church – 100-640 A.D. (2004)
Williiam Ainger Wigram

#churchhistory@ecceverbum

Today is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

This day is also called the Triumph of the Cross, Elevation of the Cross, Holy Cross Day, Holy Rood Day, or Roodmas. This Feast was observed in Rome before the end of the seventh century. It commemorates the recovery of the Holy Cross, which had been placed on Mount Calvary by St. Helena and preserved in Jerusalem, but then had fallen into the hands of Chosroas, King of the Persians. The precious relic was recovered and returned to Jerusalem by Emperor Heralius in 629. The liturgy of the Cross is a triumphant liturgy. When Moses lifted up the bronze serpent over the people, it was a foreshadowing of the salvation through Jesus when He was lifted up on the Cross. Our Mother Church sings of the triumph of the Cross, the instrument of our redemption. To follow Christ we must take up His cross, follow Him and become obedient until death, even if it means death on the cross. We identify with Christ on the Cross and become co-redeemers, sharing in His cross. We make the Sign of the Cross before prayer which helps to fix our minds and hearts to God. After prayer we make the Sign of the Cross to keep close to God. During trials and temptations our strength and protection is the Sign of the Cross. At Baptism we are sealed with the Sign of the Cross, signifying the fullness of redemption and that we belong to Christ. Let us look to the cross frequently, and realize that when we make the Sign of the Cross we give our entire self to God — mind, soul, heart, body, will, thoughts. O cross, you are the glorious sign of victory. Through your power may we share in the triumph of Christ Jesus.

On the Nature of Mortal Sins

A mortal sin is a conscious and voluntary turning away from God and a contempt for His love through the breaking of divine law in a serious matter. A mortal sin is called deadly because it deprives a person of sanctifying grace, which is the supernatural life of the soul.

Sanctifying grace is the necessary foundation through which a person enters into a friendly bond with God. By committing a mortal sin, a person consciously and voluntarily severs this bond, making themselves an enemy of God.

A mortal sin is a true spiritual suicide, for it is a rejection of God's grace, which is the source of eternal life. A mortal sin is a true rebellion against God's authority, for it consists in rejecting His divine commandments.

A mortal sin is a true contempt for God because it involves disregarding the promises that the Lord God has attached to a virtuous and pious life in grace. Whoever truly loves God desires to fulfill His will, keep His commandments, and remain in a state of sanctifying grace, for sanctifying grace is the only way to abide in a deep relationship of love with God.

Love for God must always be linked with a hatred of sin and a desire for a virtuous life, for there is no relationship with God when one simultaneously persists in mortal sin, which by its nature is a denial of God and His holiness.

There is no alternative path to union with God apart from the path of sanctifying grace, which also requires our own striving and growth in virtue. We must therefore be aware of the horror and ugliness of mortal sin, but at the same time, we must remember the weakness of human nature and God's great mercy toward us. We are weak, so we fall, but let this not be a cause for despair, for God has a remedy for our sins and offers it to everyone who desires to improve.

The work of Redemption accomplished by our Savior, Jesus Christ, is the best example that the Lord God does not desire our damnation but longs for our salvation. He offers us salvation and the necessary help for it, yet at the same time, He does not violate our free will. He allows the possibility of turning away from Him, but He also clearly and explicitly warns against this disastrous path that leads to damnation.

Jesus Christ, in bringing the Good News of Salvation to the world, also spoke of the danger of eternal damnation. Even if someone, out of human weakness, has fallen into sins, as long as they live, they still have a real chance at salvation. It is offered to every human being, and God's grace is more powerful than any human flaw. One need only trustingly and sincerely desire to detach from one's sinful life and turn to God, who gives us in the sacraments (Baptism and Penance) the essential and sure means of reconciliation with Him.

Sincerity consists in acknowledging one's sinful actions as true evil and desiring to turn away from them, while trust consists in accepting that God offers grace to everyone (and thus to us as well), which, surpassing human strength, enables the repair of all evil and the healing of all weakness. If someone is damned, it is not because God deprived them of the possibility of receiving grace, but because the person themselves did not want to accept that grace in order to break free from sin with its help.

We must defend the truth toward our neighbors out of love for them, for truth and love are inseparably linked. God, who is Truth, is at the same time Love. Truth and love must therefore always be united in our actions.

based on: 1. M. Sieniatycki, Catholic Ethics (Chapter V - Sin) 2. M. Sieniatycki, Outline of Catholic Dogmatics (Volume III - On Grace and Virtues)

#sin@ecceverbum