The Twentieth Sermon, the Fifth on the Third Chapter - Ephesians 3:14-19

"For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." - Ephesians 3:14-19

This morning, we learned the approach we must take when offering our prayers to God if we wish to be heard and have confidence that our prayers will be accepted. It is essential that Jesus Christ is our guide and advocate, interceding for us so that we speak through Him. We follow His rule in prayer, calling God our Father. Some may wonder how we can be so bold as to call God our Father when we have no inherent right to such a dignity. Even the angels do not have this privilege except through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is impossible for us to pray to God as He commands, in the manner He teaches in His Word, without Jesus Christ as our advocate.

Are the angels akin to us? Is the Virgin Mary our great aunt or grandmother? Are the apostles our relatives? No, we must turn to our Lord Jesus Christ for our spiritual kindred, through whom God accepts us as His adopted children. When we have this, we need not doubt whether God will hear our prayers. We should not approach God rashly, presuming upon our natural reason or self-liking, but with obedience to His command and trust in His promise. Those who seek favour with God through other means have gone astray and shut themselves out.

We must simply follow the Gospel's guidance to come to God in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ without adding any other creatures, as the whole world does. Those who appoint multiple patrons and advocates in heaven hope to be welcomed by God, but who has promised them that God will accept their devotion and offerings? We cannot appoint officers in heaven; we must obey God's Word. As Paul says, our prayers and supplications are worthless and vain unless they conform to God's Word. How can we call upon a God we do not know? How can we know how to pray and what language to use? We must seek guidance from God's Word and pray with modesty and sobriety, not speaking at random, but in obedience to His Word.

Prayer is the primary sacrifice God requires. While we must worship the one God with both body and mind, this worship is not confined to ceremonies like kneeling. It means honouring God by acknowledging that all good things come from Him. In prayer, we approach God as poor souls destitute of all that is necessary, fully aware that without Him, we are utterly miserable. Just as the law forbade using strange fire in sacrifices, signifying that we should avoid our own devotions when offering something to God, we must also remember that our offerings to God should be seasoned with His Word. Without it, our sacrifices will lack taste and savour.

In our present day, we have the substance and truth of the figures of the law. Therefore, when we offer our prayers, supplications, praises, and thanks to God, we should do so through our Lord Jesus Christ, as the apostle to the Hebrews exhorts us. Let us remember that in praying unto God, we must not be given to our worldly affections, but seek that God may be glorified, and that the residue may be but as an appurtenance to it. That is the cause why he spoke purposely of the inward men.

For if God should give us the bridle to ask whatsoever came in our head, or if we on our side should take such liberty, what a thing we're at. If he should give us all our own asking, it would turn to our ruin and confusion, for our desires are often misguided, more so than those of little children or sick folks. By experience, we find in ourselves that we'd be firmly fixated on earthly matters, unable to lift our heads towards heaven. We tend to be grovelling downward, deeply immersed in the world, unable to lift ourselves up. Therefore, it is imperative for us to understand the lesson that the Scriptures convey in this text. We ought to pray to God to renew and strengthen us by His Holy Spirit, and to increase His gifts within us, so that as we journey through this world, we may always set our sights on the heavenly goal. We should regard ourselves as wayfarers, knowing that our Lord will acknowledge us as His children, and the inheritance He has promised us, bought so dearly through the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, is preserved for us.

Now, here St. Paul emphasises that Jesus Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith. This signifies that without Christ, we can never partake in any drop of God's grace. Although God possesses the fullness of life, light, righteousness, and all goodness within Himself, this wellspring is hidden from us. We can never access it through our own efforts or inventions. If we think that we can do good by relying on our own ideas, we are deceiving ourselves. Such efforts will lead us to dig pits, but these pits will be full of holes and devoid of springs of water.

Consider this: when men follow their own inventions, they often end up wandering aimlessly, making no real progress. However, our Lord Jesus Christ is a fountain from which we can draw abundantly. We don't need elaborate tools to reach Him because He beckons to us, saying, "All of you who are thirsty, come to me and drink. Whoever drinks of the living water that I provide will have enough for themselves and even to share with their neighbors."

Therefore, since our Lord Jesus Christ generously offers us the benefits we receive from God the Father, it's no wonder that St. Paul states that Christ must dwell in our hearts for our reformation by God's Spirit. We must also acknowledge that Jesus Christ possesses the fullness of all goodness, not only because He is the eternal Son of God but also in His human nature, which He took from us. In this nature, He became our brother and received the fullness of divine wisdom, understanding, the fear of God, righteousness, and strength. He did not need these attributes for Himself but to distribute them to all His followers, from the greatest to the least.

We need not fear that this fountain will run dry because our Lord Jesus Christ, through the gospel, continually communicates and offers us the things we require for our salvation. It is not without reason that St. Paul, after demonstrating that we can do nothing without being upheld by God's grace, emphasizes that God must dwell in our hearts. From these words, we must first understand that mere contemplation of God's goodness is not enough to remedy our shortcomings, sins, and needs. Instead, God has given Himself to us in the person of His only Son. If it were only to restore us to our original state before our father Adam's fall, it would already be a remarkable display of God's goodness. However, God has not only given us the earth and heaven, providing us with all that is necessary for our earthly life and everlasting salvation. He has also given Himself to us by giving us our Lord Jesus Christ, as the prophet Isaiah proclaimed. The Scriptures further guide us on how God gives Himself to us and how we may fully possess and enjoy Him.

We must conclude with what St. Paul states in Romans 8:32: Since God's Son, who possesses all excellence and dignity, has been given to us, will anything else be withheld from us? God has granted Himself to us to such an extent that His Son dwells within us. Should we doubt that we will obtain what we know to be beneficial for us? You can see, then, that our foremost consideration should be that God has demonstrated such generosity towards us. He hasn't merely allowed us to possess all His goods; He has gone so far as to become our portion and a cup Himself, as the Scripture illustrates. It uses such similes to convey that just as a person savors their regular meal and feels well-satisfied by it, so we should turn to God to have the true sustenance. We should be content with Him when He gives Himself so freely to us.

Let us always bear in mind what I mentioned earlier: we need not strive aimlessly or go to great lengths to attain God, for He has bound Himself to us through our Lord Jesus Christ. In Him, we partake not only of Him but also of all His benefits. St. Paul specifically uses the word "faith" to illustrate how the gospel should be to us. For it is not enough to say that Jesus Christ dwells within us, as we might question, "How can that be when we are so far below? He is in the glory of heaven, while we crawl on this earthly plane, beset by countless miseries." Given the great distance between Him and us, how can He dwell in us?

St. Paul makes it clear that the gospel has the power to unite us with God's Son, at least when we receive it through faith. We must consider the content and substance of what is preached to us regarding the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is not merely said that God willed to offer Him as a sacrifice for our reconciliation and the complete removal of all our sins, so that they may never be accounted against us. It is also proclaimed that full atonement has been made for all our sins through His death and passion, and that He was raised again for our justification, as St. Paul mentions in Romans 5. These truths are not the only things said about Jesus Christ. It is also declared that He is our head, as we have already discussed, and that we live off His very substance, like a tree drawing sap from its root. It is further stated that just as a man's head conveys power throughout his entire body, we share in a mysterious and wonderful union that transcends the natural order. This union allows Jesus Christ to dwell in us, even though He is in heaven.

Consider this: If the sun can brighten our day with its rays without leaving its place, providing us with daily refreshment and comfort, even the bedridden find solace in its warmth. Consider this: a creature, not only transitory and corruptible but also senseless and unmoving of itself, possesses such force and property, given by God, to bring joy and refreshment to us in this manner. Now, think of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is ordained to have the fullness of the Godhead dwelling in Him, and to bestow upon us all the gracious gifts of God His Father according to our individual measure, as stated in the 14th chapter of St. John. Therefore, if we approach Christ with faith, if we embrace the promises of the gospel, we can be certain that He will dwell in us through faith.

We will delve more deeply into this topic in the fifth chapter. Nevertheless, it's essential to note that this text could not have been understood without acknowledging what I briefly mentioned just now: Jesus Christ dwells in us through faith. Our acceptance of Him as He offered Himself with all His grace through the gospel is not merely to view Him from afar or to acknowledge that He offered Himself in sacrifice for us once and for all. It is for the purpose of His dwelling in us through the power of His Holy Spirit, forming a bond between us and allowing Him to fulfill His role as our head. In this way, we become members of His Body and partake of His essence. This is why St. Paul included the word "faith" when he said that Jesus Christ ought to dwell in us.

Nevertheless, we must not attempt to pluck Jesus Christ out of His heavenly glory to be nearer to Him, as unbelievers do. They seek to reduce and reshape God according to their own desires, as seen in the practices of the papacy. Among them, there are no true gods; only a collection of puppets, known as images and idols. Recognizing that these are lifeless statues and stones, they have fabricated another god, whom they confine within a box, and they worship this figure as a living deity.

If they celebrated the Lord's Supper according to the institution of our Lord Jesus Christ, rather than the abominable concoction they have devised, Jesus Christ would indeed be present among them. However, not in the manner they imagine. In the Lord's Supper, we truly receive the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. We partake of His essence, just as He declares through His Word: He is our spiritual nourishment, satisfying us completely. The bread and wine in the Supper serve as tokens of how our Lord Jesus gives Himself to us, so that we may seek Him fervently in a spiritual manner.

Hence, it is evident that to unite with Jesus Christ, we must not indulge in our base instincts. Instead, our hearts and minds should ascend heavenward, seeking Him above, as previously explained. While it is true that He descends to us through His Word and the power of His Holy Spirit, it is for the purpose of elevating us toward Him. However, we must grasp a crucial point in St. Paul's statement that Christ must dwell in our hearts. Many merely speak of Christ, even understanding Him in their minds, and they think they have fulfilled their duty when they can talk extensively about Him. But in reality, there is no living connection within them.

Therefore, it is insufficient to possess only superficial knowledge of Christ or to gaze upon Him in the abstract. Mere verbal engagement is not enough.

Christ must reside within our hearts, forging an unwavering and genuine connection. This is the means by which we become recipients of God's Spirit. In essence, we can see that all those who seek God's favour without acknowledging our Lord Jesus Christ wander aimlessly and fruitlessly. They shall forever find themselves empty, even when they believe they are full, as their satisfaction is merely illusionary and filled with empty imaginations.

So, those who invent their own advocates and presume that God will favour them for it are gravely mistaken. In the meantime, those who exclude Jesus Christ from their understanding must realize that they are far from obtaining their requests. Instead, they gravely err, for when they attempt to deviate from the anchor that is laid out for us in Scripture, namely, having our Lord Jesus Christ as their guide, the angels of heaven, as well as the saints to whom they appeal, must forsake them. Even these holy beings will deny them, and they shall find themselves opposed by all of them as adversaries. To be in harmony with angels, prophets, apostles, and martyrs, we must have true unity with them. And how do we achieve this? Through faith, that is, by embracing the pure doctrine of the gospel. It is not sufficient for us to merely hear it; we must embrace the promises of God found there, forsaking all that Satan may set before us, and relying solely on our Lord Jesus Christ.

He has proclaimed Himself as the light of the world, and those who walk in Him shall not go astray. However, we must carefully examine ourselves so that we do not mistakenly cloak ourselves with the name of Jesus Christ, as many do today. They profess to follow the gospel, but in reality, they think that they have discharged their duty with superficial actions. They listen to the doctrine and speak a few good words, believing that God is highly indebted to them. But here we learn that we have no true acquaintance with Him until Jesus Christ truly dwells in our hearts. This is the means to partake in His benefits and to have His Holy Spirit residing and reigning within us. Unless we fear God and walk in obedience, aligning our behavior with His will, all our thoughts and desires remain earthly. This signifies living according to the flesh, as Paul stated to the Galatians. Therefore, our outward actions must manifest our true union with Jesus Christ and our participation in His Holy Spirit.

Now, based on this, St. Paul proceeds to emphasize that we must be rooted and grounded in love. The term "love" may refer both to the love God has for us and the mutual love we should hold for one another. But the essence of Paul's message is that we should be firmly united in this regard, founded on God's free love towards us.

Now, he shows how faith is crucial for us to have brotherly love for one another. Holy Scripture consistently leads us to this point, emphasizing that when it comes to the full perfection of a virtuous life, faith precedes and charity follows. The starting point is the complete humility of ourselves so that we may seek all our well-being from God's hand. In seeking it, we must first acknowledge that He provides us with everything through the person of His only Son. Secondly, we must call upon Him to establish our faith in Him, to take refuge entirely in His mercy, and then, feeling deeply bound to Him, as we all indeed are, express our gratitude. He is our righteousness, holiness, victory, joy, glory, and happiness. We must, as Jeremiah says, "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord, for it is He who works righteousness, justice, and mercy." Therefore, we must wholly rely on our God, or else all the virtue we seem to possess before others will be like filth and dung.

Now, having faith, charity must be joined with it. We must live justly and uprightly with one another, acknowledging that we were not created for ourselves alone, nor to seek only our private benefit, but for the benefit of our neighbors as well. Let us, therefore, refrain from all wrongful acts, violence, malice, and strive to serve one another to the best of our abilities. This is the perfection of a virtuous life. So Paul, having spoken of faith earlier, now emphasizes that we must also be rooted in charity. In other words, we should not possess mere fleeting or sporadic bursts of love, as is common among many. Instead, there should be steadfastness and unwavering commitment to it throughout our lives. For a fire may blaze brightly for a while but then die down. Similarly, a massive building may collapse with a single gust of wind if it is not built on a solid foundation. Also, one may plant a tall tree, but if its root is severed, it will surely fall. Likewise, when we have great zeal that is not firmly rooted in our hearts, it will be nothing more than a facade or a temporary display before others. This is why St. Paul specifically exhorts us to be grounded in charity, aiming to correct the common practice of loving in sporadic or impulsive fits.

Nevertheless, it would be foolish to conclude that our salvation is grounded upon our good works, for here, the discussion pertains not to the cause of our salvation but solely to how we should conduct our lives. We know there is only one foundation for the church, as Simple says in the third chapter of the Second Epistle to Corinthians. As we have already seen in the same epistle, especially in the words of Jesus Christ Himself in the 16th chapter of St. Matthew, that foundation is Jesus Christ. No one can lay any other foundation than the one laid by the prophets and apostles, and we must adhere to it even until the end of the world. Nonetheless, we must continue to be rooted in love through our Lord Jesus Christ.

When people inquire about the cause of our salvation, by what means we obtain God's favor, and how we may come to Him and call upon Him with full confidence, we must answer that it is because our Lord Jesus Christ has given Himself to us. He is the one in whom the fullness of the Godhead dwells. Although we are far from such perfection, as long as we are grounded upon our Lord Jesus Christ, we have a steadfastness that endures throughout our lives.

Therefore, let us understand that Simple exhorts us to maintain true steadfastness so that we never grow weary of doing good, even when numerous temptations try to lead us astray. Some, despite their best intentions, become discouraged when they experience unkindness from others. They may feel that their good deeds are met with evil, leading them to lose heart. This is why so few continue to fear God and walk as they should.

The wicked take advantage of this situation, furthering their harmful actions. If a person lives with simplicity and bears patiently the wrongs done to them, they become a target for exploitation. Everyone seems eager to take advantage of their kindness. In a world marked by such injustice, where people seize every opportunity for personal gain, those who are easily approached and willing to share their possessions are seen as easy prey.

However, it is mentioned here that if we are rooted and grounded in charity, even if people cast us aside and discourage us with their ingratitude, we will not cease to do good because we have a strong and deep-rooted foundation. St. Paul, having spoken about the goodwill we should show towards our neighbors, returns to the matter of faith.

Indeed, the most crucial point for us is to know that God is with us as His children and that our sins are forgiven, so that He considers us righteous. Without this assurance, how can we find joy in serving and honoring Him? How can we pray to Him with courage and sincerity? It is essential for us to be certain of the infinite goodness bestowed upon us by our Lord Jesus Christ. This certainty should captivate us with love for our God and kindle a true zeal to obey Him, to humble ourselves before Him, and to honor Him with all our thoughts, affections, and hearts.

The reason why St. Paul continues with this topic is to impress upon the minds of the faithful where their salvation lies and how they can be certain of it. Furthermore, we can see the sorry state of the world, for there is no other assurance but to call upon God on this foundation. Through faith, a person can lift themselves up to His presence. On the contrary, we observe how some have acted without shame. Indeed, they have not hesitated to say that we should always be uncertain about our salvation, and that we cannot have a sure belief in it. It is not just the ignorant who hold this view, but even the learned doctors in their assemblies consider it an article of their faith that we should always be in doubt. This is as good as casting people recklessly into the clutches of Satan.

Therefore, it is all the more necessary for us to remember the doctrine contained here. That is, once we truly understand the love that God has for us in our Lord Jesus Christ, witnessed through His death and daily confirmed by His Gospel, we gain perfect knowledge that brings us complete happiness. This is why St. Paul says, "So that you may learn with all the saints what his height and depth, and width and length is." He did not mean to make us into carpenters or masons, speaking of heights as one would in construction, nor did he intend to teach us the craft of masonry when he spoke of width. No, he clarifies his meaning by stating that it is the love that has been revealed to us in Jesus Christ.

Therefore, when we desire to understand how deeply God loves us and how immeasurable His mercy is, considering that He has given us such a profound pledge in the person of His only Son, we have everything that can be said. Even if we were to employ all our intellect, looking both upward and downward, delving into the depths of the earth, and exploring sea and land, we would find nothing but emptiness and falsehood.

Once we have completed all our intricate arguments, we may indeed engage in discussions like clever people who have learned the understanding of many things. However, there will be no substance within us. But when we seek to understand that God is our Father in Jesus Christ, and how this comes to pass, and by what means we obtain such a great benefit, that is where we must anchor ourselves. It is the true measure of our faith, the bonds that hold it together. Anyone who delves deeper may go astray, as if deliberately entering a maze from which they can never extricate themselves. Therefore, let us find contentment in Jesus Christ as He is, as He has revealed Himself through His gospel, and then we shall be fully satisfied.

We all have an innate desire for knowledge, some more intensely than others. There is no person, however ignorant, who would not seek knowledge. Since this desire is inherent in our nature, let us learn what true knowledge is. Indeed, there are sciences and arts, all of which are useful in this world. It is necessary for people to have skills and trades, as well as engage in liberal sciences. All of these are good if they serve their intended purposes. Yet, we must seek the science of sciences, the one that will never fail. For when a person has traversed the entire earth in pursuit of other sciences, what profit will they gain? It will all be in vain. Therefore, let us not seek anything outside of Jesus Christ; let us rest entirely in Him, never straying away.

Here, we must understand, first of all, what I have mentioned previously: if we truly knew who our Lord Jesus Christ is and the benefits He brings us, such as our ability to approach God in His name with full confidence, we would readily forsake all other things. As St. Paul said in Philippians 3, he considered all his former accomplishments as loss and rubbish, so that he might hold fast to Jesus Christ. He pursued this throughout his life, extending his arms as though to grasp it, as he himself testified. Therefore, what we should take note of here is that when we desire to understand Jesus Christ and the benefits He bestows, enabling us to approach God in His name with unwavering trust, our minds will no longer be tormented by restlessness. Instead, we will stand firm in the pure simplicity of the gospel.

However, for a clearer understanding, let us examine how people speak of our Lord Jesus Christ. They may call Him the Son of God and consider Him their Redeemer, yet they appoint others to perform His duties, even referring to them as priests. They claim the exclusive right to reconcile us with God, as many monks, friars, priests, and hypocrites do in the world. They sell their prayers as if Jesus Christ had delegated His role to them, accumulating wealth in the process, while Jesus Christ is pushed far into the background. Furthermore, it is said that through the one sacrifice He offered once for all, He has obtained grace and salvation for us, forever, so that His death and passion satisfied God's wrath, providing us with righteousness. However, the Mass has been introduced as if Jesus Christ's sacrifice offered in His own person were a mere figure, and what the papists have invented is presented as the only means to gain God's favor. They claim the Mass is necessary to pay one's ransom, just as the drunkard, the wicked, the swearer, the debaucher, the thief, the glutton, and the one who harms their neighbor all rely on the Mass to atone for their sins, believing that God is pleased with it, while the sacrifice of Jesus Christ is thrust aside.

Once more, it is said that Jesus Christ is our only advocate who intercedes for us with God His Father. Nevertheless, in the papacy, there are numerous patrons and intercessors, each concocted by individuals from their own imaginations. They are not satisfied with the apostles and martyrs alone; they also add the likes of St. Christopher and St. Catherine, even including mythical figures who never existed. Whatever nonsense the devil may have put into their heads, it has been embraced.

Again, it is acknowledged that Jesus Christ is our righteousness. But does that stop anyone? No, each person presumes to make amends with God through their own deeds, establishing merit as the basis, among other things.

Furthermore, it is affirmed that Jesus Christ is our guiding star and the path to God, His Father, and ultimately to eternal salvation. However, they insist on devising their own ways, believing that as long as they have good intentions, God should accept it. They thus lead others into their snares, compelling them to bend to their dictates, much like a shepherd drives sheep at his whim.

Notice how prideful people become when they turn away from God's pure truth to their own foolish inventions. They corrupt even the most pure and sound things.

So why have all things been turned upside down in popery? Because they did not recognize Jesus Christ as He is presented in the gospel. Instead, they made a lifeless and ineffective thing of Him, retaining nothing more than His name and titles.

It is not sufficient for us to merely say that we believe in Jesus Christ and consider Him our Redeemer. We must also understand the purpose for which God His Father has sent Him and the benefits He has brought us. Once we comprehend all of this, we will be filled with Him. We will no longer need to wander aimlessly or search for sustenance in impure sources. Our Lord Jesus Christ has informed us that we will find both sustenance and refreshment in Him, so we can fully satisfy our souls with nourishment suitable for them.

Therefore, it is even more essential for us to do this when we read the Holy Scripture. Our focus should always be on understanding the grace of God that He has revealed to us in the person of His only Son. By knowing this, we will have greatly profited in God's school and can cast away all other things, which are nothing more than filth and poison. Indeed, false doctrines may appear appealing at first glance, for we see how people often gravitate towards them, as mentioned in Colossians 2. This is because these deceptive ideas and speculations may initially seem wise to some.

We must understand that true sustenance comes only from what God provides, and it is His will to supply everything He knows we require. Can we then be satisfied without Him? Do we think that seeking the Virgin Mary and addressing her as the mother of grace, as is commonly done, will fulfill our needs? It is like trying to gather bits and pieces of food by snatching morsels here and there. However, Jesus Christ says, "Come unto me, and you shall find all that you need," for in Him are stored all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

So, when we seek to understand the love that God the Father has shown us through Jesus Christ, we will gain wisdom in abundance. We will no longer need to wander or search up and down, far and wide, for we will have all that is good and necessary for our well-being. When we hear this, it should be clear that we are misguided if we do not trust in God's provision and rely entirely on His salvation. We need not scatter our efforts or engage in fruitless pursuits.

This concept is illustrated in the words of the prophet Isaiah: "Go trade in your own ways, and when you have roamed around both heaven and earth, what will it profit you?" If we are so blinded by our aimless wanderings and cannot follow the path laid out for us, but instead dig pits of our own choosing and forsake the living water that God has placed before us, it is as if we hunger and thirst for our own foolish desires. We become like pregnant women craving charcoal to eat and dirty puddles to drink instead of clear spring water. Pursuing Satan's illusions and nonsense in this manner, being eager for his deceitful tricks, and not content with the good that our Lord has provided for us, makes us worse than bewitched and reduces us to mere beasts.

Therefore, let us first understand that all the things people offer us on their own behalf are mere trifles or, rather, the illusions of Satan. Secondly, when the Scriptures tell us that Jesus Christ is for us, it is not in vain. We must rely entirely on Him and cleave to Him, for in Him lies the fullness of all goodness. We need not wander or go to great lengths to seek what we require. Finally, we must consider the infinite grace bestowed upon us through Jesus Christ. St. Paul, by mentioning "love," directs us to the source of this grace. Even if we were privy to all God's secrets and knew the entirety of His will, we would still need to be convinced of the love He has for us. Speaking of God to unbelievers brings sorrow, as they perceive only severity in Him. However, when His grace and fatherly kindness, as revealed through our Lord Jesus Christ, are declared to us, we can approach Him confidently, free from fear, with familiar access to His presence. This grace is an inestimable blessing, surpassing all our desires in this world, as St. Paul declares.

So, you can see how important the love of God is. St. Paul specifically mentions it as being in Jesus Christ because without Him, we would not be beloved by God. If we were to contemplate God and apply all our intellect to it, considering ourselves in the process, we would encounter an incomprehensible majesty in God, which would overwhelm us like a deep abyss. His perfect justice would make it even more impossible for us to stand before Him than for snow to endure in the presence of the sun.

When we turn our gaze inward, we must confront a sea of wretchedness within us. Our senses are blind, and we lack any virtue. We are given to all evil, held captive by sin, and even the things we perceive as excellent within ourselves are repulsive before God. Therefore, when we desire to understand these two aspects - the terror of God's majesty and the sight of our own despair - we must then seek every possible means. We may call upon the angels and saints for help, but how can they belong to us? In reality, we are separated from them. Furthermore, we may think that God, the source of all purity, would accept us, but we are such wretched creatures. Do we believe that He will involve Himself in our filth and uncleanness? No, instead, He must cleanse us.

Thus, it is not without reason that St. Paul explicitly speaks of God's love, so that we may understand that God rightfully detests us as long as He sees us in our natural state. However, this same love is founded on the shedding of our Lord Jesus Christ's blood. This cleansing washes away all our blemishes so that we may stand before God without bringing anything that might displease Him. Through this means, we are discharged from all our debts because Christ offered perfect obedience.

Our stubbornness is nullified and will not be held against us because Christ offered Himself as a sacrifice. We are liberated from sin's tyranny because Christ has overcome the devil, death, and sin on our behalf. We now partake in His victory and rejoice in it. Thus, we briefly see how God has loved us in Jesus Christ.

Once we understand this, we must no longer engage in fruitless speculations or futile imaginings, searching upwards or downwards. Instead, let us recognise that Jesus Christ is near us, dwelling within us. He desires us to be joined to Him as His body and living members of His substance. Therefore, we should remain so closely united to Him that nothing can separate us. Even if our own fancies tempt us to stray from Him, let us cut off such temptations with faith.

When we do so, we will find that God continues to show His love and kindness to us. Jesus Christ will fulfill His role as our shepherd if we listen to His voice and rely completely on Him. We should have no doubt that He will protect us, and we will be safe under His care. He has promised to receive all given to Him by God the Father and safeguard them so that none will perish but will be raised up on the last day.

Now, let us humble ourselves before the majesty of our good God, acknowledging our faults and praying for a deeper awareness of our miseries. May our weaknesses drive us to seek the good things offered to us through true faith. Let us not wander aimlessly in our own speculations and fantasies but remain firmly rooted in His Word. Let it be our sole source of wisdom, taking such firm hold in our hearts that it not only leads us to live righteously before God and seek His mercy through His only Son but also enables us to live harmoniously and fairly with one another.

May we grow in this understanding and reject the world's abuses. Knowing that we have Jesus Christ as our guide, we can trust that we will ultimately attain the same perfection that He has obtained for us. It is God's will for us, His fellow heirs, to reach this state. May He grant this grace not only to us but also to all people.