Part 9
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.
The Twenty-First Sermon, the Sixth
on the Third Chapter, and the first on the Fourth
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love. - Ephesians 3:20-4:2
When God has done us much good, although we feel indebted to Him and obliged to offer Him due praise, we cannot fulfil our duty with a willing heart unless we have hope that He will continue to be the same in the future
as we have known Him to be in the past. Without faith, we cannot have hope. Thus, it becomes impossible for God to receive the praise due to Him from humanity, even if He has come to our aid and granted our every wish.
If we were to think that His help in our time of need was merely a fleeting moment, soon to vanish, and that henceforth, we could expect nothing more from His hand, we would be discouraged from seeking Him. Our hearts would be burdened with sorrow and despair. To maintain our praise of God, we must unite two things: firstly, we must remember the good we have received from Him, and secondly, we must maintain hope that He will remain steadfast in His benevolence until the end, continuously bestowing His blessings upon us.
This is the order that St. Paul underscores here when he says, "Praise and glory be yielded unto God, and how unto him," adding, "who is able to do all things beyond our asking, yea, and beyond our thinking too." St. Paul has this in mind, as we have seen before, that God has revealed the boundless riches of His goodness by spreading the gospel, which is the message of salvation, throughout the world.
Nevertheless, he encouraged the faithful to discharge their duty cheerfully by assuring them that they should not doubt that God would withdraw His hand, as if His generosity towards them had been temporary and fleeting. His intention was to convey that God would continue His work, allowing them to praise His name without interruption. This means that we should express our gratitude not only for the blessings we have already received but also in anticipation of God's continued faithfulness. This is the essential point we should draw from this statement.
This statement is an exhortation for "glory to be yielded to God in the church." It emphasizes that it is insufficient for each individual to privately acknowledge the blessings bestowed by God. Instead, believers should unite in their thankfulness and praise. When the body (the church) prospers
and grows in number and spiritual gifts, it is not only the recipients of these blessings who should strive to praise God but also the entire body. Believers should be bound together in a holy union, as the Apostle Paul will later explain. This is why he specifically mentions the church, indicating that God's goodness should inspire every individual to glorify Him. In this way, we recognize that whatever God does for our fellow believers should be considered as if it were done for us.
Paul also addresses a potential obstacle to unified praise among believers. There was a historical animosity between Jews and Gentiles, with Jews often feeling a sense of superiority due to their heritage and adherence to the law. Gentiles, on the other hand, were seen as having no claim to such privileges. Paul reminds them that since God has called both groups as brothers and sisters to share in the inheritance of salvation, they should be united in praising Him. He says, "Let glory be yielded to God, yay, even forevermore from world to world, and by Jesus Christ." Paul's intention is to stress that the church will be preserved forever, and there will always be a remnant in the world. Thus, the message of salvation will never be in vain, and there will always be people who can serve as a mirror reflecting the immeasurable mercy of God, which He has shown us through our Lord Jesus Christ.
So, we understand St. Paul's meaning, which assures us that even though Satan may attempt everything within his power to erase the memory of God and disrupt the church, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ will ultimately prevail. The church will endure, and the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ will remain effective, despite the cruelty of tyrants and the schemes of enemies, whether they are within households or seek to destroy the entire structure. This is why St. Paul emphasizes the name of Jesus Christ.
It is indeed true that we can only give thanks to God through Jesus Christ because we would be unworthy to receive any good without Him. By nature, we are enemies of God, and even though He is generous even to unbelievers, it only increases their condemnation, for "to him that is unclean, all things are unclean," as St. Paul mentions elsewhere. Therefore, we can never express our gratitude to God except through the name of Jesus Christ, through whom we receive all good things.
However, St. Paul's main message in this passage is to make us understand that God's intention, through His only Son, was to reveal Himself as a Father to all humanity. He ordained His Son to establish an everlasting atonement that would continue for all eternity. We should be assured that God will uphold His truth in this world and will always have a flock gathered to Him where His name will be invoked.
Now, let's move on to the second part of this passage, where St. Paul emphasizes that it is not enough for us to have experienced God's goodness in the past. We must be filled with hope that God will continue to show His mercy towards us in the future. This is why St. Paul mentions that God is "able to do all things exceedingly, abundantly above our asking or thinking." St. Paul's message here is a warning that if God has shown great mercy to us in the past, we should not doubt that He will continue to do so. God is not like fickle human beings, and we should not fear that His blessings will run dry after bestowing great benefits upon us. On the contrary, God has an abundance of blessings, and the more we receive, the greater His abundance becomes.
Therefore, to prepare ourselves to acknowledge and honour the good that God has bestowed upon us, we must always be fully convinced and persuaded that we will find Him to be a Father because He has promised to be so. When St. Paul speaks of God's power, we should not imagine it as idle power, as worldly people often do.
They will readily admit that God is all-powerful, but in the meantime, they trust in Him less and less. To them, it seems like He is resting in heaven, or that He doesn't concern Himself with the affairs of this world until He thinks of them. However, when God speaks to us about His power, it is so that we may use it as our shield against all the distress, hindrance, and doubt that the devil throws before our eyes to make us question God's promises.
For instance, when it is said that Abraham believed in God's almighty power, it wasn't a vague belief but a belief in the context of God's infinite power being applied to the promise given to him. The promise was that through his descendants, all the nations of the earth would be blessed. Abraham, looking at himself, saw that he was a man rapidly decaying, almost at death's door. His wife had been barren all her life, and she was beyond childbearing age. The promise given by God seemed utterly impossible. Why, then, did Abraham still have unwavering faith in God's promise? It was because he had faith in God's infinite power, which could overcome all obstacles and hindrances. Abraham applied God's power to his own situation, believing that God's truth and power were inseparable.
Similarly, consider what the Apostle Paul wrote about being entrusted with God's message. Paul saw himself as a frail and vulnerable creature. He was pursued and despised, and the message he carried was hated and opposed. His life was constantly at risk, and he faced numerous troubles that could have overwhelmed him. Even when imprisoned and facing death, how did he achieve victory against so many temptations and challenges? He knew that God was the keeper of his soul and trusted in God's infinite power, which could accomplish everything He intended.
Therefore, let us learn this lesson, as it is emphasized in both the Old and New Testaments. The frequent repetition of this message is not without reason. We are often frail and easily shaken, so even when God promises to
protect us, a slight adversity can quickly dishearten us. However, if we truly honoured and acknowledged God's Almighty power, we would boldly face anything that appears to be against us. For as Paul said, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" We also see how David defied all his enemies and even death, saying, "Though I should walk in the shadow of death and within the grave, yet should I be safe, because God is my shepherd, and His shepherd's staff will guide me." In another place? He says, "Though I were surrounded by a million enemies, I would not shrink." And why? Because God is with me. If we were as firmly persuaded of God's mightiness as we confess it with our mouths, we would not be easily dismayed, nor would our faith be shaken at every little threat. Therefore, let us conclude that since we are so weak and the smallest things can terrify us, our confession of God's almightiness does not come from our hearts. We must, therefore, make a conscious effort to instil and practice this lesson day and night, that we may truly experience it.
The reason why it is mentioned to us so often is that we do not consider it of great importance. But when our Lord repeatedly tells us that He holds all things in His hand, that He governs His creatures as He pleases, and that nothing can thwart His purposes or the fulfillment of His promises, it is so that we may give His promises the weight they deserve. When we find ourselves on the brink of despair, and the devil engages us in such fierce battles that we see no way of escape or end to our troubles, we should reflect on this. Who is it that has spoken and promised to be our defender? Is it not the Almighty One who, with a single breath, could dispel all the devil's schemes, even if the whole world were against us? If God has deigned to take our side, what could anyone do against us? In this manner, we must exalt God's power above the entire world so that we may rest in His promises.
God's Word and His power to fulfill what is contained therein are inseparable. We blaspheme God whenever we doubt or waver, wondering if
He is able to defend us as He has promised. Since He has made the promise, there is no doubt that He will fulfill it, lest His power be diminished, which is impossible. This is why St. Paul speaks of God's power here. The prophets also, when speaking of the sackcloth that God always has ready to rescue the faithful from death when they are plunged into it, often say, "Is it not the God who made both heaven and earth?" This may seem far-fetched, but when I am in distress, seeking refuge only in God's pity, and He tells me that He created heaven and earth, He seems to be sending me far away and steering me out of God's blessing into the sun.
But God's declaration that He created heaven and earth is meant to convey that He also governs His creation, cares for us as His children, and has authority over all things above and below. He directs everything according to His will, and nothing is beyond His control. So, if He says so, we must immediately apply it to our benefit and have no doubt that His power is superior and capable of uprooting anything that appears to be against us. This is how we should always connect God's promises and His ability to fulfill them. St. Paul states that God can do everything beyond our asking or thinking, and it is not without reason that he includes everything related to our salvation. For the one who trusts in God for one thing will not hesitate to question whether He will add a second or a third benefit. Therefore, St. Paul wants us to expect everything from the hand of our God.
He says, "Above our asking, it is true that we must not fall asleep when we are helped and governed by God, thinking that His hand will be filled with His benefits. But if we believe in His Word, we must also be moved to pray for it as a true proof of our faith when we resort to our God. For that reason, it is said that the faithful must cast all their cares into His lap, as a true testimony that at all times of our need, we resort to Him, who wants us to seek all our welfare in Him alone.
Therefore, the faithful must be diligent in prayer, as St. Paul mentions in another text, where he exhorts us to prayer and supplication, setting before us this diligence so that we are not slothful. Even if we give ourselves wholly to praying unto God, God must still exceed our requests and do much more for us than we require. As proof of this, when any of the faithful feels his own weaknesses, he will immediately humble himself and resort to God, not just once, but every minute of an hour. Afterward, he will continue to seek Him, both for his body and soul, and even if he does this many times, it is not too much. I must emphasize that the faithful thoroughly examine the miseries to which they are subject to provoke themselves to pray unto God.
However, we should not underestimate the devil, who has many tricks that we do not perceive, and God must be found to provide for them, or else what would become of us? Although we may feel various things afflicting us, there are many others that are unknown and hidden from us. So, it will always be true that God exceeds all our prayers and wishes. Take note of this one point: let us do what we can to continually resort to God, but let us also be fully persuaded that He must be found to watch over us and be much more vigilant than we are in recognizing our needs and the appropriate means to help us. All these things must be entrusted to Him, as I mentioned earlier from the Psalm.
So, when he adds "above our ability to think," he shows that even though people, enlightened by the gospel, learn to distrust themselves and walk in fear, and are humbled by their own wretchedness, they still perceive only a fraction of it. The rest must be left to God, and we must look for more from His hand than we can imagine. This also shows us that we cannot go too far in trusting God and asking Him for what we need. However, we must not use this liberty foolishly to ask God for this or that, driven by our fleshly desires. We must fully commit ourselves to Him, and especially in prayer, we must fight against our own lusts so that we do not become too
demanding. We see what happened to those who demanded their desires to be satisfied; the children of Israel were fed with meat until they were ready to burst."
But while the meat was yet in their throats, God's wrath and vengeance fell upon them. It would have been no better for them if their request had been denied than granted. Therefore, when we pray, we must not take such liberty as to say that God should be subject to our affections and desires. Instead, we must ask Him for the things that He has promised us, assuring ourselves that He will approve of our requests. As I mentioned before, let us not fear that we will be too excessive, for we will see that He will do even more. So, this is what we should do, and let us not be afraid of being accused of presumption or arrogance when we rely on His promises.
Indeed, if people trust themselves more than what God's word will support or indulge in hopes that go beyond what is reasonable, such hopes will undoubtedly lead them astray. But if we ground ourselves in God's truth, which is sure and indisputable, let us have unwavering trust in Him, and let us not doubt that He will fulfill it completely and even more. As I mentioned earlier, God is with us here. We see then that one of the things to remember in this context is that we must consider God's blessings, not only those we have experienced ourselves but also those that are evident throughout the world. They should inspire us to praise God's name and create a harmonious melody among all the faithful, honoring God for all the benefits He has bestowed upon His entire church.
Furthermore, we must hope that He will continue what He has begun and that, since we have already experienced His mercy when we were far from Him and rescued from the depths of our despair, we should not doubt that He will continue and increase the blessings we have already partially received. In our prayers, we must also consider the many necessities that compel us to turn to Him and recognize that He will do much more for us
than we can wish. We are weak-minded and unskilled, and we do not know what is best for us. However, God remedies this in two ways: first, by stirring up unutterable groanings in us, as He more fully explains in Romans 8, and second, by supplying us with His grace, so that He not only answers our pleas but also anticipates us through His mercy, even when we are in our wretchedness and do not perceive a tenth of what we need.
Now, on this basis, Paul encourages the faithful to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which they have been called. This is not only so that they should thank God with their mouths, as he urges them to do, but also to benefit themselves with the spiritual gifts they receive and use them to glorify God. For if we were to proclaim God's praises, but people could see no zeal for honoring and serving God in our lives, it would be mere pretense, and such a confession would be empty and hollow when our lives do not align with it. Therefore, for good reason, Paul adds here that people should walk in accordance with the calling to which they have been called.
In this regard, we should first note that because we are naturally sluggish, there is always too much sloth and coldness in us. We cannot find a better way to stir ourselves to greater obedience to God than to contemplate His infinite mercy, which He has shown to us. In this regard, Paul, in Romans 12, encourages the faithful to be teachable and to place their trust in God. He sets before them the mercy they have received from His hand. It is as if he were saying that whenever we hear the stone that ought to be removed or reflect on the immeasurable goodness that God has shown us by not sparing His only Son but giving Him up for our salvation, allowing Him to be offered as a sacrifice to remove the memory of our offenses and wrongdoings, it should deeply affect our hearts.
Therefore, in this text, he speaks the truth when he mentions God's calling before our eyes. It is indeed a sufficient binding force by nature to serve and honour God, for we derive our life from Him and exist at His sustenance.
We witness how all His creatures serve us. This obligation is great enough to direct our lives according to God's will. But God deems it insufficient merely to place us in the world and provide for our physical needs. He also takes us to be His own children, nurturing us in His church, which is His house. Through His adoption of us, He bequeaths us the inheritance of heaven and assures us of it, having given us the pledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Knowing that God, out of His infinite love for us, has offered us so much, should kindle the fire within us to run to Him. By renouncing ourselves more and more, we should strive to give ourselves entirely to Him so that He may have the full use of our entire lives. Our sole purpose should be to exalt His name. This is what St. Paul was emphasising when he said that he desired the Ephesians to walk in a manner befitting the vocation to which God had called them.
Therefore, we can conclude from this text that to overcome the slothfulness within us and especially to subdue the stubbornness that hinders us from pleasing God in all aspects, we must learn to direct our attention towards the infinite grace that God has bestowed upon us. He has made us partakers of the spiritual blessings through our Lord Jesus Christ by allowing us to become members of His body and adopting us as His children and heirs.
Furthermore, we should contemplate the purpose God had in mind, so He would not have to rebuke us as He did the Israelites through His prophet Isaiah. He complained about their ingratitude, likening them to a vineyard or a precious vineyard that He had cared for. Despite His care, they produced nothing but wild grapes and bitter fruit. We must be mindful that God has reason to reprimand us today, just as He did them. If the ancient Israelites received great gifts, then we, since the advent of our Lord Jesus Christ, are even more obligated to thank and acknowledge God. Consider that what He gave to our forefathers in olden times through symbols and shadows, He has granted us in reality and substance today. We live in the fullness of time, during which it has been God's will to abundantly pour out
all His blessings upon us. Therefore, we will be less excusable if we are ungrateful and fail to acknowledge the good that God has done for us. This is what we should bear in mind.
Moreover, we should realise that, like Simon Peter, our Lord has redeemed us from the clutches of death and called us to His kingdom of light. He did this so that we may proclaim His virtues and dedicate our entire lives to magnifying Him to the fullest extent, in accordance with the present text, which states that we must live in a manner consistent with the calling to which God has summoned us.
Now, this significant gathering and drawing of us unto ourselves, as though God intended to make a new world of us, indeed, this was accomplished by the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. The purpose was to separate us from the impurities of the world. Since we have been set apart by God and dedicated to Him, with the intention of making us His inheritance, let us not disappoint Him in His purpose. If we are indeed the children of light, as He says elsewhere, then let us not walk in darkness as the unbelievers do. Rather, let us make effective use of the grace we have received. This, in essence, is what we need to remember about the term "vocation" or calling. In short, we shall be much more blameworthy than ignorant and blind souls if we do not strive to hold ourselves under God's guidance and subjection.
The truth is that in the present age, there is no corner of the world that is not corrupted, to a horrifying extent. Even those who have never encountered the gospel but have been continually immersed in superstition will justly face condemnation from God. As for us, it is certain that we will have an even greater accountability, since God has illuminated us with His Word. While others wander astray in destruction, He has shown us the path to salvation, calling and luring us daily closer to Him. Therefore, we must consider this privilege carefully and not extinguish the light or cast aside the special grace granted to us. Instead, we should be even more motivated
to serve Him. However, we must pay close attention to how the Apostle Paul advises us. He says that this must be done with utmost submission, humility, patience, and gentleness. By this, he means to express that it is not enough for each individual to strive to do their duty alone. We must also extend our hands to our neighbours and brothers, so that God may be served with one common consent among us.
Thus, we must understand that, as St. Paul states, this is not directed towards each person individually. Rather, it encompasses the entire body and community of the church. It is as if he were saying, "My friends, it is not enough for each of us to withdraw from evil, abstain from it, and demonstrate zeal to live in the fear of God and with uprightness. We must also care for one another and be fully resolved that it is insufficient to serve God if we do not strive by all means possible to encourage others to do the same. Therefore, he who leads should reach out his hand to his neighbour, and together, let us go forward. Those who are strong should assist those who are weak, bearing them up when necessary, so that we may all be drawn closer to God. This must be done not only within every town and village but also to those whom we do not know personally. Nevertheless, they are part of the body of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we should serve as mirrors and examples to them, encouraging them to lead a godly life by showing them the way to follow us.
Furthermore, let us also benefit ourselves by doing so. If we see others who are more virtuous, zealous, and steadfast than we are, we should be ashamed and think to ourselves, "How can I lag behind when others march so boldly and eagerly towards God?" Therefore, the main point we must take from this is that since God has not called us individually or separately, but has directed His voice to all of us, and wishes it to be a holy bond among us, we must respond to Him, not only with our mouths but with our entire lives. There must be true unity among us, and we must strive to ensure that God is worshipped purely everywhere. Since we are all called to
one inheritance, we should consider each other as brothers and sisters. Since we call God our Father, it is fitting that we be joined to our head, that is, to our Lord Jesus Christ. When we are joined to Him, we will certainly not be cut off from those whom He has included in His body. The hand should not despise the foot, nor should the foot scorn the hand. Since we know that our life solely depends on Jesus Christ, we should strive to support one another. We should pray to God to strengthen us against all of Satan's attacks, and to thwart his attempts to divide us. We should continue to battle with unwavering determination and follow the path that God has shown us until we reach the inheritance that He has promised us and purchased so dearly through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Now, let us humble ourselves before the majesty of our good God, acknowledging our sins and praying that He draws us to true repentance. May we be utterly cast down in our own eyes, only to be raised up again to serve Him. This should not be for a single day but for our entire lives. As His grace never wanes, may we never cease to serve Him. May His gifts to us increasingly inflame us to draw nearer to Him and be firmly united with Him. Let us all say, "Almighty God, Heavenly Father, etc."
The Twenty Second Sermon, the Second on the
Fourth Chapter
"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism." - Ephesians 4:1-5
We have seen this morning how God's children should be joined together so that everyone may assist and strengthen their fellow believers, and all of us should strive together to serve God. To accomplish this, we need to address the vices within us. On one hand, we observe that people are inclined towards pride, self-indulgence, and self-aggrandizement, which gradually give rise to scornfulness. When one desires to elevate oneself, they must necessarily regard others as inferior. Hence, it is impossible for there to be harmony among us until we have rid ourselves of this pride and excessive self-regard.
Once we are united, we will also exhibit meekness. Why are we often harsh towards our neighbours, with nothing but severity and roughness in our dealings? It's because each of us aspires to dominate others. Therefore, the absence of gentleness among us is due to this pride. That's why St. Paul pairs meekness with humility because humility gives birth to meekness. Finally, he advises us to exercise patience or endurance, bearing with others' weaknesses and faults. If we meticulously scrutinize and highlight every fault in every individual, we will find cause to reject both the great and the small, as there is no person without some flaws. However, if we first overcome the pride I mentioned and conform ourselves to meekness and
gentleness, enabling us to be forbearing and accommodating toward others, viewing them as brethren, then the church will thrive through such means.
In addition, St. Paul emphasizes that if we aim to maintain unity of spirit, we must live together in peace. We are well aware that when strife flares up, everyone wishes ill upon their adversaries. As soon as we give free rein to our emotions, leading us to resent this person or that, and nurture ill will or grudges, discord within the church becomes inevitable. Therefore, if we wish to be in unity, which is essential if we are to be God's children, we must take great care not to allow Satan to sow discord or division among us. We must strive for tranquillity and seek to prevent conflicts when we perceive any potential for them. This is how we ought to conduct ourselves if we intend to assist our fellow believers and ensure that God is honoured among us with one accord.
Here, we must first observe how St. Paul warns us that if we do not exercise self-control individually, the devil will always find easy access to us, causing trouble. Why? As I mentioned earlier, each of us carries the disease of ambition within us to some extent. So, there is none among us who would not seek some semblance of superiority, at least until God humbles them and, through His Holy Spirit, eradicates all pride, making them clean.
But consider all those who follow their own natural inclinations; they are invariably so proud that they refuse to be content unless they are elevated and esteemed. Thus, St. Paul thought it necessary to caution us against this vice and encourage us to dislike it and strive to rid ourselves of it. This will not be easy, for it is a fierce battle. Nevertheless, we must not give up until we have gained the upper hand over our own pride and realised that there is nothing within us for which we should be esteemed. Rather, we should be thoroughly ashamed of our own wretchedness.
As proof of this, when we carefully examine everything we believe entitles us to gain favour, dignity, or reputation among people, we will find that
every bit of it is a free gift from God. Consequently, we should humble ourselves because, otherwise, we cannot truly honour God. So, considering that all the virtues for which we might be praised are testimonies to God's goodness, and that He has shown Himself to be a loving Father to us by allowing us to draw near to Him in this manner, it should humble us and cause us to walk in all humility.
Moreover, if we compare our virtues to our vices, we will find that there are many more reasons to humble ourselves than to exalt ourselves. For when a person thoroughly examines themselves, they will realise that even though they have a genuine zeal to serve God, they still fall short and stumble in their efforts. There is no virtue in them that is not marred by some flaw, reminding them that they should not be proud. Furthermore, their vices often outweigh their virtues. Thus, they have no reason to be proud of themselves. We do indeed defile holy things when we mix our own imperfections with the gifts of God's Spirit.
Therefore, even those who are esteemed as pearls and elevated almost to the status of angels must always restrain themselves, recognising that there is no flaw in them that should not be considered grievous, just as in those who have not received such great gifts. In addition, we must realise that there are vices within us by nature. If there is any goodness in us, it is solely due to God's mercy and grace. Hence, we must attribute all evil to ourselves. Those who truly understand this will quickly cast down their pride and selfdeception.
Now, for those who consider themselves to be of lowly stature and have nothing to boast of, they are fighting against their own nature if they attempt to humble themselves. They will often find that those who know themselves best esteem themselves least. However, we must go even further and acknowledge that we are nothing of ourselves and incapable of accomplishing anything of value. The goodness that God has placed in us
should teach us humility. Once we grasp this truth, we will be truly humbled. True humility does not involve putting on a facade or feigning a meek countenance, as many do, speaking gently and lovingly while appearing mild on the outside but harbouring pride within.
Humility, in essence, means being brought low within ourselves and not seeking to elevate ourselves to any degree of honour or to seek higher esteem than our neighbours. True humility requires us to lower ourselves to the point where we can embrace our true brothers and sisters, especially since we know that we need to be patient with one another.
For behold, it is said of our Lord Jesus Christ that He easily allows us to come to Him because He Himself was tempted and made like unto us. He bore our weakness and infirmity because He had experienced them Himself. Now, it is certain that our Lord had no vice in Him, for He is the source of all goodness. Nevertheless, to encourage us to approach Him and to be heard by God His Father for His sake, it is said that He had compassion on us because He had experienced human weaknesses, albeit without any sin, as I mentioned earlier.
So, what shall we do if we foolishly believe that we are entirely perfect, especially when pride is so deeply rooted in our nature? How can we have compassion for those we see in misery if we do not first recognise that we are no better than they are? Therefore, it is crucial to understand that to be compassionate, kind-hearted, gentle, and friendly, pride must first be eradicated within us. Additionally, kindness is the mother of patience and continuously bears that fruit. If we are too stern, it is a sign of cruelty within us, akin to wild beasts. This harshness also convicts us of pride and overestimation, indicating that we have not grasped the important lesson here.
Indeed, we should all be concerned about our neighbours' faults, not encouraging them with flattery, as is common in the world. However, our
correction should be measured, for we also need to be patient with others and not be hasty in condemning them as we would not want others to be with us. This reflects the essence of the law and the prophets, as stated by our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, zeal should be combined with kindness, for if it is mixed entirely with vinegar, it loses its taste. There must be some moderation in all rebukes to sweeten them so that they are not excessively harsh.
St. Paul intended to show us that while we should not overlook any evil, we must also not reject the weaker members as if they were reprobates. We should strive to win them back, as previously discussed. There are two extreme customs to avoid. One is the practice of flattering others to maintain worldly favour. Those who indulge in this must close their eyes to their friends' faults, which is a form of betrayal. The other extreme is excessive rigidity, where even minor faults lead to outbursts of anger. Such individuals will never possess the spirit of meekness unless they are guided by God's Spirit.
This shows that pride lurks within us when we become excessively harsh and take too much upon ourselves. There is no excessive rigour without cruelty, and no cruelty without pride. Whoever despises their neighbour sets themselves up as the judge, and those who can tolerate nothing are terribly stern, considering all sins as unpardonable. Therefore, it is essential to remember what St. Paul has shown us: to forgive and forbear. We should not condone others' vices, nor allow them to commit evil without rebuke. Instead, we should patiently correct their faults, show empathy, and bear with our neighbours' frailty and weakness so as not to shame them or drive them to despair by showing no forbearance or forgiveness. This is what we should keep in mind.
And this is the very reason why Paul insists that people should bear with one another in charity or love. He suggests that since we are all brothers, we
need no other rules to make us kind-hearted, patient, and humble. As proof of this, Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13 that charity, or love, possesses three qualities: first, it is gentle and kind-hearted; second, it moves us to be humble and meek; and third, it is patient and endures all things. These three qualities are attributed to love by Paul, and they teach us about charity.