Romans 8[:13]: “If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the flesh, you will live.” 2 Timothy 2[:11]: “If we have died with Him, we sh
Romans 8[:13]: “If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the flesh, you will live.” 2 Timothy 2[:11]: “If we have died with Him, we shall also live with Him,” etc.
§ 24. The third foundation by which Bellarmine tries to prove that the Gospel promises are conditional he draws from the teaching of the apostles, who teach conditions of works throughout their writings: “If by the Spirit you put to death the works of the flesh, you will live. We are fellow heirs of Christ, provided we suffer with Him” (Rom. 8:13, 17). “If we have died with Him, we shall also live with Him; if we endure, we shall also reign with Him” (2 Tim. 2:11–12). “If you fulfill the royal Law” (James 2:8). “There will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom” (2 Pet. 1:11:). “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins” (1 John 1:9). “He who conquers, to him I shall grant to sit with Me on My throne” (Rev. 3:21).
We respond. These statements are not of one kind since some demand repentance, some prescribe a new obedience, some preach about the cross, which is the perpetual visitor and companion of the devout. In general we say that in these and similar declarations the following are required of the reborn: a mortification of the old man, a zeal for the new obedience, and patience in [bearing] the cross. These are not the sort of condition or cause on account of which they obtain righteousness, salvation, and eternal life, since righteousness is imputed to us through faith from the grace of Christ, since eternal life is the free gift of God and not the merit of our works, and, finally, since these statements are made to the reborn—that is, they were written to those who have been justified through true faith in Christ and are heirs of eternal life.
Rather, these conditions are added to express: (1) Who they are who finally obtain the full possession of eternal life in actuality, namely, those who have worked in the vineyard of the Lord [cf. Matt. 20:1–16], who have persevered, who have overcome, etc. “He who endures to the end will be saved” (Matt. 10:22). “He who conquers will be clad thus in white garments,” etc. (Rev. 3:5).
(2) To what end righteousness, eternal life, and the gift of the Holy Spirit are conferred upon us through true faith in Christ, namely, that from now on we may give thanks to God and no longer live according to the flesh but in the newness of the Spirit [cf. Rom. 7:6; 8:5, 12–13]. “God6 made redemption so that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve Him in holiness and righteousness” (Luke 1:74). “Christ gave Himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for Himself a people of His own who are very zealous for good deeds” (Titus 2:14).
(3) In what works we can and should test our obedience to God so that we are not only called but also indeed are the children of God. “Love your enemies that you may be the children of your heavenly Father” (Matt. 5:44–45). “If you fulfill the royal Law according to Scripture—‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself ’—you do well” (James 2:8).
(4) In what way they who have received the forgiveness of sins, who are contending for the offered prize of eternal life, must walk. “Run that you may obtain the prize” (1 Cor. 9:24). “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7).
(5) So that, given the exception of the cross, there might be an understanding of the promises of the bodily and spiritual rewards, of temporal and eternal rewards, and that [it might be understood that] it is glory to finally attain the cross. “Through much tribulation we must enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Acts 14:22). “We are heirs together with Him if we suffer with Him” (Rom. 8:17).
(6) That forgiveness of sins, salvation, and eternal life by no means come to the secure, to the impenitent, to those who continue in their sins but rather to those who grieve over them sincerely, who embrace Christ in faith, and who show their faith by their works. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins” (1 John 1:9).
(7) By what external signs inner faith and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit are shown. “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love one for another” (John 13:35). “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love” (John 15:10). “By this we may be sure that we know Him, if we keep His commandments” (1 John 2:3).
(8) Finally, these conditions are added because through sins against conscience the reborn do fall away from the grace of God, because they do strike away the Holy Spirit, because they do lose faith and eternal life. “If a righteous man turns away from righteousness, will he live?” (Ezek. 18:24). “If you live according to the flesh, you will die” (Rom. 8:13).
Briefly, these arguments and reasons prove the necessity of works in the reborn, and because of them these conditional particles are added. This will be fully discussed in the treatise On Good Works [Commonplace XX, §§ 21–61].