Faith Alone, Equivalent to Nothing?

[rcwitness]

By no means. I don’t see in any way that James contradicts Paul, or the reverse. I see James speaking to the law, and how the regenerate should live the godly life. No Lutheran (should) believe that being justified by grace alone through faith alone is license to not live the godly life, to work out their salvation in fear and trembling.

What we do recognize is that no one comes to the Father but through Christ, that we come to justification only because of grace, and it is accessed by faith. those who live by faith are bound (required) to do His will, to follow His commands.

There is no justification without sanctification, no forgiveness without renewal of life, no real faith from which the fruits of new obedience do not grow. - Luther

Jon

Does the Catholic faith teach something other than saved by grace alone? No

And we agree, we access (receive) Grace through faith. But what is the faith? That we are deserving of death and Jesus accomplished reconciliation to God for mankind in order for men to do will of the Father. this “doing” is what the Church calls works of the spirit. So the faith is nothing without works.

I think its more a matter of justification being a continuous journey.
This is an endless debate for many.
But blessed are those who are not offended.
Michael

 

[DavidWJackson]

I dont think the Church tells us we are saved BECAUSE of faith and works, but THROUGH faith and works are we saved.

I remember reading were Christ told one, “your faith has saved you.”

The thief on the cross had baptism of desire. He repented in His heart! This is the first work of the Spirit! Conversion.

Exactly, he did no charitable works.

The Church does not say there are a certain number of good works that one must do.

No. And niether did I.

What are the works the Church is saying are neccessary? Works of the Spirit, beginning with repentence, which is acknowledging our faults, foolishness and that we actually deserve to be cast from God and all His blessings and life! “If we say we are without sin, our sin remains.”

Faith and repentence are absolutly required. But, to achive this at a young age and not progress beyond this point and live to be of old age will comdem you. Many parables point to this. The most blatant being the parable of the coins. We do not burry our faith within us. We must take it to others. In one Godly form or another. Though the teaching of His Word. Acts of love and charity etc… Once we are brothers of Christ we are priest also. And, we have a priestly duty to such or we will comdem ourselves.

How this is misinterpreted by accusers of the Church is difficult to understand sometimes. They are so quick to find the good meaning in biblical passages that are misinterpreted by nonbelievers, but then do the same to Catholics. Why?

Some critics gather without comsuming.

 

[rcwitness]

DavidWJackson,
Im a little confused with your post and responding in my quotes?
I did not say all those things in there.

Please clarify,
Michael

 

[SteveVH]

We must search the sins in us, Repent them before God, change ourself,and pray to the Lord for help. We obey the Ten Commandments. Paul wrote we must let the old self die, and let the new self live in the name of Jesus Christ. It is the Lord that changes us, but we must do our part. When the Lord said ,behold I make all things new, He meant the soul man would be made new.

Harry

Agreed.

 

[JonNC]

Does the Catholic faith teach something other than saved by grace alone? No

And we agree, we access (receive) Grace through faith. But what is the faith? That we are deserving of death and Jesus accomplished reconciliation to God for mankind in order for men to do will of the Father. this “doing” is what the Church calls works of the spirit. So the faith is nothing without works.

I think its more a matter of justification being a continuous journey.
This is an endless debate for many.
But blessed are those who are not offended.
Michael

I agree Michael. I think a lot has to do with the way we view justification and sanctification.

BTW, I knew that the CC teaches that it is by grace we are saved.

Jon

 

[Jerry-Jet]

It is impossible for faith to be alone for faith like grace flows–it can’t be discrete and it can’t be stationary.

The flow of it can be stopped by mortal sin.

Who cares about faith or faith alone or justification?

The only thing that matters is that the flow of God’s grace is CONTINUING in you the moment that you die!

That means NO HELL!

Nothing else matters!

We are Grace Fully saved if our faith is continuing through God willed works at the moment of our death!

And yes folks if you are offering your spirit to God in humble resignation when you die that is a work that God wills.

Actually if the only work you are doing is NOTHING and you are not raising an impediment to God’s grace and thus mortally sinning–then you are LETTING God’s grace FLOW through you.

ALL that matters is whether God’s grace is flowing at the moment of death.

Good works–faith–faith alone–God willed works–faith plus works–ANYTHING you have ever done–whether with God’s help alone or whether with you COOPERATING with God–whether you’ve done zillions of miracles or cast out demons in the Lord’s name–NOTHING matters if God’s grace isn’t flowing in you at the moment of death!

Who cares about the nature of INITIAL justification–who cares if it is by faith or faith alone or faith continuing through God willed works?

Does any of that matter if a person MORTALLY sins–the FLOW of grace is cut off–and man dies and goes to Hell?

There’s two things the devil doesn’t want us to think about–whether we are in a state of mortal sin or not and whether a thing such as mortal sin exists–AND what the state of our soul is at ANY moment because that MOMENT could unexpectedly be the moment of our deaths!

That is the moment of Heaven or Hell!

That moment is the same for every human being that will have ever lived throughout all history!

Every moment before death is a time to ask for God’s mercy!

The biggest miracle that God ever did was not the Incarnation or the Resurrection–it was the justification of sinners!

It was impossible for man but the INFINITE love of God could accomplish the impossible!

I say this from the bottom of my heart–I disagree with people who do not accept the Catholic faith. I once was a Methodist and I went to an Episcopal church a few times and I went to a Lutheran church for a few months.

I converted to the Catholic faith and it was the happiest moment of my entire life.

But one thing I can say is that I pray that when the moment of death comes for ANY human being that God has ever created is that His flow of grace will be flowing through them at the moment of their death.

How exactly that happens in all situations I can never know because I do not have the mind of God.

Jesus said to be ready for you do not know the hour when death will come and your soul will be required of you.

If Jesus says to always be ready–If Jesus says if you do not ABIDE in Him that you will be cut off and thrown into the fire–then all I can say and I pray this for everyone is Lord Jesus have mercy!

 

[bbbeatt]

I interpret your post to mean that you believe that salvation is intermittent depending on mortal sin.

This passage came to mind:

"For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, since on their own they are crucifying again the Son of God and are holding him up to contempt. Hebrews 6:4 New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

The passage seems to say that if you stop being a Christian, you can’t become a Christian, again.

I have interpreted “fallen away” to mean a rejection of the faith, not a weakness of faith or disobedience to the 10 commandments.

How do you interpret the passage?

 

[Isaiah45_9]

I interpret your post to mean that you believe that salvation is intermittent depending on mortal sin.

This passage came to mind:

"For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, since on their own they are crucifying again the Son of God and are holding him up to contempt. Hebrews 6:4 New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

The passage seems to say that if you stop being a Christian, you can’t become a Christian, again.

I have interpreted “fallen away” to mean a rejection of the faith, not a weakness of faith or disobedience to the 10 commandments.

How do you interpret the passage?

1 Cor 2:11 For what person knows a man’s thoughts except the spirit of the man which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

To be a Christian is a way of Faith. Not because you say you are. Your beliefs AND your actions determine whether you are a Christian or not. That’s why Paul didn’t say by Faith Alone.

Of all the writers of the New Testament, it was Paul who said:

Philippians 3:7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, based on law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith; 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that if possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
12 **Not that I have already obtained this (Resurrection from the Dead that can only be obtained through Salvation)**or am already perfect; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brethren, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature be thus minded; and if in anything you are otherwise minded, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained. (Emphasis and parenthesis mine).

That is Faith! Action, Pressing towards the goal, Growing and being mature in the Faith. Not a Faith that is alone, but a Faith that Works in Love by Grace in Christ Jesus.

Peace,

Jose

 

[bbbeatt]

Jose,

"For it is IMPOSSIBLE TO RESTORE AGAIN TO REPENTANCE those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have FALLEN AWAY, since on their own they are crucifying again the Son of God and are holding him up to contempt. Hebrews 6:4 New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

If Mortal Sin causes the loss of one’s salvation, and since the passage above states that one who has fallen away CANNOT repent again… how can salvation be restored by repentance?

Lord of Heaven and Earth, please reveal yourself to Jose and I! Amen.

 

[Isaiah45_9]

Jose,

"For it is IMPOSSIBLE TO RESTORE AGAIN TO REPENTANCE those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have FALLEN AWAY, since on their own they are crucifying again the Son of God and are holding him up to contempt. Hebrews 6:4 New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

If Mortal Sin causes the loss of one’s salvation, and since the passage above states that one who has fallen away CANNOT repent again… how can salvation be restored by repentance?

Lord of Heaven and Earth, please reveal yourself to Jose and I! Amen.

bbbeatt,

Salvation belongs to the Lord.

If you hold to OSAS then my conversation ends, as this is a novelty invented in the 16th century.

If you don’t hold to OSAS then:

The fact that you repent means that you are still in the vine (Jesus) (John 15:4) and as such you obey Him and if you Love Him, you will obey His commandments (John 14:15).

Mortal sin when deprived of repentance will make you fall away.

Look at what Peter says:

2 Peter 2:20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overpowered, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.

What was Jesus 1st word when He started His ministry? (Matthew 4:17)

Repent

The Catholic Catechism explains better what Mortal Sin is and its consequences:

scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s1c1a8.htm

1854 Sins are rightly evaluated according to their gravity. The distinction between mortal and venial sin, already evident in Scripture,129 became part of the tradition of the Church. It is corroborated by human experience.

1855 Mortal sin destroys charity in the heart of man by a grave violation of God’s law; it turns man away from God, who is his ultimate end and his beatitude, by preferring an inferior good to him.

Venial sin allows charity to subsist, even though it offends and wounds it.

1856 Mortal sin, by attacking the vital principle within us - that is, charity - necessitates a new initiative of God’s mercy and a conversion of heart which is normally accomplished within the setting of the sacrament of reconciliation:

When the will sets itself upon something that is of its nature incompatible with the charity that orients man toward his ultimate end, then the sin is mortal by its very object . . . whether it contradicts the love of God, such as blasphemy or perjury, or the love of neighbor, such as homicide or adultery. . . . But when the sinner’s will is set upon something that of its nature involves a disorder, but is not opposed to the love of God and neighbor, such as thoughtless chatter or immoderate laughter and the like, such sins are venial.130
1857 For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must together be met: "Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent."131

1858 Grave matter is specified by the Ten Commandments, corresponding to the answer of Jesus to the rich young man: "Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and your mother."132 The gravity of sins is more or less great: murder is graver than theft. One must also take into account who is wronged: violence against parents is in itself graver than violence against a stranger.

1859 Mortal sin requires full knowledge and complete consent. It presupposes knowledge of the sinful character of the act, of its opposition to God’s law. It also implies a consent sufficiently deliberate to be a personal choice. Feigned ignorance and hardness of heart133 do not diminish, but rather increase, the voluntary character of a sin.

1860 Unintentional ignorance can diminish or even remove the imputability of a grave offense. But no one is deemed to be ignorant of the principles of the moral law, which are written in the conscience of every man. The promptings of feelings and passions can also diminish the voluntary and free character of the offense, as can external pressures or pathological disorders. Sin committed through malice, by deliberate choice of evil, is the gravest.

1861 Mortal sin is a radical possibility of human freedom, as is love itself. It results in the loss of charity and the privation of sanctifying grace, that is, of the state of grace.** If it is not redeemed by repentance and God’s forgiveness, it causes exclusion from Christ’s kingdom and the eternal death of hell, for our freedom has the power to make choices for ever, with no turning back. However, although we can judge that an act is in itself a grave offense, we must entrust judgment of persons to the justice and mercy of God.**

I hope this helps,

In Christ’s Mercy,

Jose

 

[bbbeatt]

Thank you Jose,

No, I don’t believe that the scriptures teach OSAS.

But, I still do not understand:

"For it is IMPOSSIBLE TO RESTORE AGAIN TO REPENTANCE those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have FALLEN AWAY, since on their own they are crucifying again the Son of God and are holding him up to contempt. Hebrews 6:4 New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

The passage says that the fallen CAN NOT REPENT. The passage says that it is impossible. Yet, you are saying that the answer to the loss of salvation is to repent. The passage says that repentance is IMPOSSIBLE for such a person.

Perhaps I have misunderstood you. But if I did understand you correctly…

HOW CAN THE FALLEN REPENT WHEN REPENTANCE IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE FALLEN?

Father of Heaven and Earth, please reveal yourself to Jose and I! Amen.

 

[DavidWJackson]

DavidWJackson,
Im a little confused with your post and responding in my quotes?
I did not say all those things in there.

Please clarify,
Michael

I simply broke your quote up into individual statements and responded to each one in turn.

The problem with this thread in general is both sides are parcially right; however, neither side is understanding this correctly. And, I don’t know why. Paul sort of explains it this way. We enter into the Faith through faith and this is sufficient at that point in time for salvation; while we are still babes suckling milk. Once we advance beyond the point of understanding repentance, faith in God, baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead and eternal judgement, we are now at a point where we put the milk behind us and eat solid food. Now, we are mature and able to discern good from evil. We are required to do the work of Christ. If we are to continue towards salvation. If we stop and remain in faith alone after learning the aforementioned, we well surly comdem ourselves. For we were selfish with are gift and keep it hidened away from others. Living in faith alone: brings no one to the wedding banquet, sows no seed for harvest, increases no wealth, ect., ect., ect…

 

[Isaiah45_9]

Thank you Jose,

No, I don’t believe that the scriptures teach OSAS.

But, I still do not understand:

"For it is IMPOSSIBLE TO RESTORE AGAIN TO REPENTANCE those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have FALLEN AWAY, since on their own they are crucifying again the Son of God and are holding him up to contempt. Hebrews 6:4 New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

The passage says that the fallen CAN NOT REPENT. The passage says that it is impossible. Yet, you are saying that the answer to the loss of salvation is to repent. The passage says that repentance is IMPOSSIBLE for such a person.

Perhaps I have misunderstood you. But if I did understand you correctly…

HOW CAN THE FALLEN REPENT WHEN REPENTANCE IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE FALLEN?

Father of Heaven and Earth, please reveal yourself to Jose and I! Amen.

Brother,

Because they don’t accept repentance. They have turned their backs to the Gospel and believe that they are not in sin. Thus, these branches, after being in the vine are thrown away into the fire as they can’t produce good fruit. One of those fruits is repentance.

These branches can’t be put back into the vine because they reject the vine.

Hopefully we are not talking past each other, lol.

Peace,

Jose

 

[Third_Day]

=Gaelic Bard;10593391]Although I agree with some of the points you make, my disagreement is that in the cases where Paul uses the phrase “works of law,” he does not, in every instance, mean the Mosaic Law. The context of Paul’s topic at hand will determine this. In the case of the Galatians, circumcision itself is NOT a part of the Mosaic Law, as circumcision was given to Abraham, not Moses. The Jews after Moses practiced it, of course, but not because it was given under the Sinai covenant.

I have to disagree with you. Acts 15:1 states: “Some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brethren,“Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

Paul warns the Galatians: “If you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you….you are severed from Christ you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen from grace.” Galatians 5:2-4

Paul clearly considered circumcision as the the premier act of the Law which could not restore men to God.

Another area where you would run into that problem is Romans 3, where Paul says that by works of law no one will be justified. Paul has in mind here the whole world - Jews and Gentiles. Gentiles were never under the Mosaic Law. So clearly what Paul has in mind here is not restricted to dietary laws, circumcision and Sabbath keeping - none of which were ever required of non-Jews.

The Jews were trying to force the Gentiles to first become Jews through circumcision and therefore bound to keep the whole law. That is what Paul means that no one, Jew or a Gentile that is circumcised and becomes part of the Old Covenant could be justified.
The New Covenant, made in Christ’s Blood, provided the restoration of mankind’s relationship with God. This is why St. Paul speaks of the “works of the Law” as not being able to save or make men righteous. It did not have the power to do so because it was attached to the Old Covenant. And circumcision which St. Paul was fighting the Judaizers was the premier act of the Law which could not restore men to God.

It is more consistent to view works of law as being comprehensive of that which is required for holiness in God’s sight, either by the dictates of the conscience (especially in the casebof Gentiles, which Paul calls law), as well as what is reflected in the apodictic mandates of the Mosaic Law. To restrict it to being Jewish rite and ritual is to make a whole lot of passages nonsensical. For example, Eph. 2:8-10, taking the “works always means the Mosaic law” interpretation in mind, would read “For it is by grace that you are saved through faith, and this not of yourselves, it is a gift, not of works of the Mosaic Law, lest anyone should boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do **good **works of the Mosaic Law…” Clearly, that’s not what Paul has in mind.

This verse can be rightly translated: “For by grace you have been saved through faith and not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not because you have done works like circumcision or kept dietary laws and not just because you are a Jew and you boast.”

Notice that Paul says “good” works and not just “works “in verse 10. In verse 10 Paul is not talking about the works of the Mosaic law but works of “grace” which God has prepared for us. Those are good works
The Jews believed they could obligate God to save them just because they are Jews and had the Law which the Gentiles did not have.

Your citation of Rom. 2:6 is well taken, however, doing the law (as Paul directs this section to Jews) is something Paul later goes on to say that no Jew does (nor Gentiles, in disobeying their conscience).

Again I disagree. Paul does not “direct this section to Jews”.

In verse 1 he says “Therefore you have no excuse, O man, whoever you are.”

Verse 6 “For he will render to everyman according to his works”

Verse 9 Tribulation for every human who does evil the Jew first and also Greek “

Verse 10 “Glory and honor for everyone who does good the Jew first and also the Greek”

Verse 16 “According to my gospel”

Everything Paul just said was the Gospel of Jesus Christ that Paul was teaching.To say that Romans 2:6-7 is directed only to the Jews is totally false and is proven to be false by the context.

 

[PRmerger]

Jose,

"For it is IMPOSSIBLE TO RESTORE AGAIN TO REPENTANCE those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have FALLEN AWAY, since on their own they are crucifying again the Son of God and are holding him up to contempt. Hebrews 6:4 New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

If Mortal Sin causes the loss of one’s salvation, and since the passage above states that one who has fallen away CANNOT repent again… how can salvation be restored by repentance?

Lord of Heaven and Earth, please reveal yourself to Jose and I! Amen.

Our Catechism teaches, regarding this verse, that “by rejecting grace in this life, one already judges oneself, receives according to one’s works, and can even condemn oneself for all eternity by rejecting the Spirit of love.” CCC 679 (bold mine).

 

[bbbeatt]

Thank you.

But I still have a question.

How is it possible for repentance to restore the fallen to salvation, since the passage states that it is impossible for the fallen to repent?

"For it is IMPOSSIBLE TO RESTORE AGAIN TO REPENTANCE those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have FALLEN AWAY, since on their own they are crucifying again the Son of God and are holding him up to contempt. Hebrews 6:4 New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

God Bless.

 

[PRmerger]

Thank you.

But I still have a question.

How is it possible for repentance to restore the fallen to salvation, since the passage states that it is impossible for the fallen to repent?

"For it is IMPOSSIBLE TO RESTORE AGAIN TO REPENTANCE those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have FALLEN AWAY, since on their own they are crucifying again the Son of God and are holding him up to contempt. Hebrews 6:4 New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

God Bless.

The “impossible to restore again to repentance” refers to final impenitence.

 

[rcwitness]

I simply broke your quote up into individual statements and responded to each one in turn.

The problem with this thread in general is both sides are parcially right; however, neither side is understanding this correctly. And, I don’t know why. Paul sort of explains it this way. We enter into the Faith through faith and this is sufficient at that point in time for salvation; while we are still babes suckling milk. Once we advance beyond the point of understanding repentance, faith in God, baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead and eternal judgement, we are now at a point where we put the milk behind us and eat solid food. Now, we are mature and able to discern good from evil. We are required to do the work of Christ. If we are to continue towards salvation. If we stop and remain in faith alone after learning the aforementioned, we well surly comdem ourselves. For we were selfish with are gift and keep it hidened away from others. Living in faith alone: brings no one to the wedding banquet, sows no seed for harvest, increases no wealth, ect., ect., ect…

Thanks for clarifying! I agree, for the most part. But you make the “initial” faith of the convert sound like it is only understanding. That is what James compares to demons. I know thats not what you mean! I am not trying to twist your words. But I think this “early” stage of the faithfull convert IS actually “working” out things and changing interiorlly. It can be some of the most excruciating for some. This is work. The righteous work that James and the Catholic Church has been urging as neccessary to complete the gift of faith and revelation from the Father. Yes, it takes a more solid form in its mature nature, but never the less work of the Spirit in us. That is why there is Baptism of desire. They are willing to do the work, but unable due to circumstances out of their hands. It was Gods will that they just convert their hearts. God doesnt need our good works of charity to give us life. But he needs the work of our soul turning from ourselves and giving our will to Him to do as He wishes.

Thanks for your posts David,
Michael

 

[Harry1941]

In so far as anyone does not look to the Lord and shun evils because they are sins, he remains in them. Man is born into evils of every kind. His will, which is his proprium, is nothing but evil. Unless, therefore, a man is reformed and regenerated, he not only remains just as he was born, but becomes even worse, because he adds actual evils himself to those hereditarily acquired. A man remains such if he does not shun evils as sins. Shunning them as sins is shunning them as diabolical and hellish, and thus deadly, and because accordingly there is eternal damnation in them. If a man so regards them, then he believes that there is a hell and a heaven; he also believes that the Lord can remove evils, if he, too, as from himself, makes an effort to remove them

All evils are innately delightful, because man is born into the love of self, and that love delights in all the things that are of his proprium, that is, the things that he wills and thinks. Unless these inbred delights are subdued, everyone remains in them until death; and they are not subdued unless they are regarded as sweet poisons which kill, or as flowers beautiful in appearance but inwardly toxic, that is, unless the delights of the evils are regarded as being fatal, and this until they become undelightful.

Harry

 

[Isaiah45_9]

Man is born into evils of every kind. His will, which is his proprium, is nothing but evil. Unless, therefore, a man is reformed and regenerated, he not only remains just as he was born, but becomes even worse, because he adds actual evils himself to those hereditarily acquired.

Would you please explain the evils on these little guys?



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Thanks.