Faith Alone

[Timmy_Z]

Quote:

Originally Posted by guanophore
This is a bit of a sidebar, but it also relates to Jesus’ teaching on baptism. Most fundamentalists and many evangelicals attempt to separate the Baptism from water, a rather recent innovation in Christianity. They do this by trying to say that the “water” Jesus’ was speaking about in John. 3 is related to the first birth (natural birth) and that Christian Baptism is only about Spirit. However, this passage in Lev. and in Luke clearly demonstrates that the salient element of physical birth is blood, otherwise, a ritual purity sacrifice for blood spilling would not be required of Mary. Scripture also is clear that natural birth proceeds from physical elements that distinguish it from the spiritual birth.

“…children of God; 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12-13

The purity offering is also a foreshadowing of the heavenly birth that is to come. Human children, born of blood, the will of the flesh, and the desires of the heart, despite their preciousness in the sight of God, will never be able to rise to the dignity of the children of God, born of the Spirit. This is the meaning of “unclean” - to fall short of HIs glory and purity.

Women were not required to make an offering because their water broke!

Great insight Guanophore. The more and more I learn the more awaken and shaken I become at the realization of just how utterly Holy God calls us to be and wants us to be - just as He is. By current standard the Jews were utterly fanatical and even paranoid about keeping themselves ritually clean. This makes me reflect on my own condition. It is very disturbing to me since an honest assessment shows us that none of us living a secular life can achieve the levels of purity and holiness that our God requires of us. We really must fully cooperate daily with Jesus and his saving and cleansing grace to make ourselves acceptable to God and avoid sin. There are two aspects here - avoidance and washing ourselves when we “step in it”.

Clearly, from insights of these ancient purification rituals we must work hard at keeping ourselves spiritually “clean”. Given the frequent exposure to temptation to sin in our “modern” culture anyone not regularly using the sacraments of reconciliation and attending mass to clean the filth of even venial sins is “unclean” and unpresentable before God. To me this all just reinforces the need for the Mercy of Purgatory to give us a final preparatory of cleansing to burn away the imperfections that may seem small to us now but won’t under full light. These imperfections and uncleanliness are inadmissible to the presence of God’s Holiness. With even a trace of sin, in the presence of God’s Holiness we ourselves would judge ourselves naked before God just as Adam did in the garden after he sinned. A single selfish thought or unkind word is sufficient to make us “unclean” and unpresentable to God. Penance needs to be as regular a habit as washing one’s hands and taking a daily shower. I say the Miserere (Psalm 51) every morning for this reason and by nightfall (and after participating in these forums ) I need another shower.

So when I reflect on the severe degree of ritual purity that the Jews observed I have to think back on my past sins. I just want to cry at ever submitting myself to the filth of a prior life. Scriptures clearly tells us that what has become unclean and utterly useless will land us outside the Holy City in the burning rubbage and waste dump of Gehenna. God help us all since not many seem to think about it too much these days…

James posted this on the other thread (about Mary).

To me he here illustrates the difficulty of the RC view of justification. Constant failings that lead us to damnation until penance. All my Evangelical eyes read is working to attain the attainable.

God simply calls us to be too holy. It is impossible. Being cloaked in Christ’s righteousness seems to be our (well at least my) only chance.

This is probably my biggest theological problem with the RCC. Try as I might, I do not believe any of me (my works, nature, efforts, etc…) can stand before God and His righteous throne on judgement day. I plan to hide behind Christ and his work.

Thanks,
Tim

 

[brycelaliberte]

God simply calls us to be too holy. It is impossible.

Which Catholics affirm. And not even ‘too holy,’ but perfect.

This is probably my biggest theological problem with the RCC. Try as I might, I do not believe any of me (my works, nature, efforts, etc…) can stand before God and His righteous throne on judgement day. I plan to hide behind Christ and his work.

What is faith if it has no works? Our works are not made good by ourselves, everything that is good comes from God. To say that good works cannot bring us closer to God (considering good comes from God) is to deny the goodness of God, at least in part.

It is true that works, by ourselves, will never bring us to God, and that we are irrevocably beyond saving, except for Christ’s sacrifice. This is the point of humility; we may be less so that Christ’s work in us (and through to others) may be more.

Just from someone who once had your idea.

 

[DCD]

James posted this on the other thread (about Mary).

To me he here illustrates the difficulty of the RC view of justification. Constant failings that lead us to damnation until penance. All my Evangelical eyes read is working to attain the attainable.

God simply calls us to be too holy. It is impossible. Being cloaked in Christ’s righteousness seems to be our (well at least my) only chance.

This is probably my biggest theological problem with the RCC. Try as I might, I do not believe any of me (my works, nature, efforts, etc…) can stand before God and His righteous throne on judgement day. I plan to hide behind Christ and his work.

Thanks,
Tim

We can be holy and we must be perfect. We are under the system of grace. Do not limit God. Under the law we could not be holy and perfect.

Peace,
DCD

 

[guanophore]

James posted this on the other thread (about Mary).

To me he here illustrates the difficulty of the RC view of justification. Constant failings that lead us to damnation until penance. All my Evangelical eyes read is working to attain the attainable.

It helps that you already know that you are reading through an evangelical “lens”. This view is not just RC though, it is Apostolic Teaching,and is shared by all those who have recieved the Sacred Traditions of the Apostles. Since before the time John came baptizing, it was taught that people should bear fruit that befits repentance.

I think Evangelicals and Catholics agree that human beings are unable, of ourselves, to come to God. To be in right relationship with Him, we must rely on grace, through faith. In the Latin, the turning away from sin and turning to God’s grace is translated “penance”. In Gk. it is rendered “repentance”,but the concept is the same. I think too many times the idea is conveyed that in “penance” people can “work” their way to heaven, which is not possible.

God simply calls us to be too holy. It is impossible. Being cloaked in Christ’s righteousness seems to be our (well at least my) only chance.

Nothing is impossible with God, and God will not command us to do the impossible. Once we are cloaked in His righteousness through the work of Christ on the cross, we have a responsibility to make sure our garment stays clean, and that we continue to wear it.

This is probably my biggest theological problem with the RCC. Try as I might, I do not believe any of me (my works, nature, efforts, etc…) can stand before God and His righteous throne on judgement day. I plan to hide behind Christ and his work.

That is very Catholic of you to say.

Once we are “in Christ” however, our works are no longer as filthy rags, but as fragrant offerings. The merit comes after the grace, and is built upon grace. God does not want snow covered dunghills, but He wants to actually transform our nature into His nature. In the Eastern tradition this is called Theosis.

 

[Timmy_Z]

It is true that works, by ourselves, will never bring us to God, and that we are irrevocably beyond saving, except for Christ’s sacrifice

How does Christ save you, if you are judged by your works (or whether or not you are “in mortal sin”)?

We can be holy and we must be perfect. We are under the system of grace. Do not limit God.

Are you saying man can be perfect in this life? (Among Evangelical circles Wesley is mocked for this view.)

The merit comes after the grace, and is built upon grace.

Please elaborate on what the merit is and attains.

Thanks,
Tim

 

[brycelaliberte]

How does Christ save you, if you are judged by your works (or whether or not you are “in mortal sin”)?

Christ saves us by His grace. He holds out His hand, we simply have to hold on.

Understanding, of course, that our works are made good by God, not by ourselves. We didn’t make who we are. My intelligence is not my own creation; it was a blessing from God. (As to how bright I am, I choose to be skeptical)

Look at it this way;

Our works are affirmations of our faith. They are not our faith, but neither is our faith our works. By faith, we will have works, and these works shall be good. God will not hold us against our will, and He won’t push us away against our will, our will being determined by our faith and works.

Sinning is separating ourselves from God, isn’t it? So if we still sin, we are still separating ourselves from God, so hence, why we must fill our lives with good and stay from bad if we want to stay with God.

 

[DCD]

How does Christ save you, if you are judged by your works (or whether or not you are “in mortal sin”)?

Are you saying man can be perfect in this life? (Among Evangelical circles Wesley is mocked for this view.)

Please elaborate on what the merit is and attains.

Thanks,
Tim

Bear with me here I might have a hard time expressing my thoughts.

Yes we can be perfect in this life by God’s grace. We are called to that Mt.5:48. Does that mean perfection like the Divine? No

Perfection in the sense that christians are capable of attaining by His grace. Perfect love. God is perfect because He is omnipotent. We are commanded to be perfect to reach the fullness of our being and in that sense we will be like God.

God Bless,
DCD

 

[guanophore]

How does Christ save you, if you are judged by your works (or whether or not you are “in mortal sin”)?

Christ’s blood saves us. We are judged by our works.

Are you saying man can be perfect in this life? (Among Evangelical circles Wesley is mocked for this view.)

Yes, Wesley clung to this Catholic notion, and was ridiculed for it. Yes, a man can be perfect in this life. If this were not possible, then Jesus would not command it.

Please elaborate on what the merit is and attains.

All merit is based on being in a state of saving grace with God.

" For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God - 9 not because of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Eph 2:7-10

Merit is obtained by walking in the good works that God has prepared beforehand. Unlike works of the flesh, these “good works” (hagios) are based on grace, and proceed through faith to glorify our Maker.

They emanate from who we are in Christ, and function to declare His might to the world:

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people,** that you may declare **the wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:8-9

Merit (reward) will be found in those activities that are build on the foundation of grace, through faith.

" If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward." 1 Cor 3:14

Merit (reward) will come when we have the right attitude of the heart, at all times being mindful that we are serving the Lord Christ:

" Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever your task, work heartily, as serving the Lord and not men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you are serving the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. Col 3:22-25

Does this mean that we can “earn” the inheritance of eternal life? By no means. However, when we have laid hold of that which has laid hold if us, and hold fast to what we have attained, our “good work” will bind us stronger to that heavenly inheritance, until we acquire posession of it.

“Look to yourselves, that you may not lose what you have worked for, but may win a full reward.” 2 John 7-8

How does one “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven”?

“…make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:5-8

Can man, by way of “make every effort” enter heaven? Surely not! But, once we are grounded in grace, we can make every effort to supplement our faith with virtues, self control, and spiritual disciplines. Such devotional practices will help to make us more fruitful in the knowledge of Christ.

This is a nibbling, Jesus speaks of many rewards in the Gospels that I have not included here.

 

[MarcoPolo]

my biggest theological problem with the RCC. Try as I might, I do not believe any of me (my works, nature, efforts, etc…) can stand before God and His righteous throne on judgement day.

Here’s the rub. When we do righteous works or endure Christian suffering, it is our spirit cooperating with His Spirit. Without His grace, the work has no value. With His grace, our works have tremendous value, and that is why we are called to live the faith, not just have the intellectual faith alone.

Ironically, those who deny the value of good works are actually denying the power of Christ’s cross flowing through us…

 

[fdmilkis]

If once saved, always saved, is Judas Iscariot in heaven for protestants?

 

[guanophore]

If once saved, always saved, is Judas Iscariot in heaven for protestants?

Not all Protestants are OSAS. In fact, this theology is a rather recent innovation. It is my understanding that Judas falls into the category that is applied to all who appear to believe then fall away - they never were “really saved” in the first place, just thought they were.

 

[PinoyCatholic]

Rrrriiiigggghhhttt… Like being an Apostle really doesn’t mean you’ve accepted Christ as your “personal Lord and Saviour”. If one can be an Apostle and not do that, then who’s to judge whether anyone has?

 

[Jerry-Jet]

Faith Alone equals Hell and does not save.

We are gracefully saved only by that faith which continues through God willed works unto death.

Faith alone does not always continue through God willed works unto death.

When it doesn’t we are in a state of mortal sin–if we die we go to Hell.

The “I Am” continuing God offers salvation to those who continue their faith through His God willed works.

Faith Alone doesn’t continue–therefore it does not save.

Faith that is not Alone does continue through willed works–therefore it does save.

It really is that simple.

Faith alone is a lie of Satan so that people will be stranded in a state of mortal sin and will wind up in Hell thinking that there is no such thing as mortal sin and that faith always does continue–it doesn’t.

When we raise an impediment to God’s grace–continuing grace is interrupted and God let us do that because He gives us freedom of will.

Only faith that contiues through God willed works and results in us dying in a state of grace will be the faith that leads to salvation and absent perfect contrition we know of no way other than confession to a Catholic priest to reconcile us to God after mortal sin.

Protestantism says that mortal sin does not exist. That is a lie of the devil. Do not believe it!

Faith alone is also a lie of the devil–true faith in God is not alone-- it continues through God willed works.

Some may say–well it seems like many die in a state of mortal sin and that few go to heaven.

Was in not Jesus who said “Narrow is the road to eternal life and few there are that find it?”

Believe Jesus–don’t believe the millions who fall for Satan’s lie of faith alone!

 

[Good_Fella]

Timmy:

God simply calls us to be too holy. It is impossible. Being cloaked in Christ’s righteousness seems to be our (well at least my) only chance.

This is probably my biggest theological problem with the RCC. Try as I might, I do not believe any of me (my works, nature, efforts, etc…) can stand before God and His righteous throne on judgement day. I plan to hide behind Christ and his work.

Thanks,
Tim

I believe Paul is telling us that our works would be in vain if it were not for our Lord’s death on the Cross [Romans 3, 21-25]. What salvific use would our good works have for our souls if the gates of heaven were still closed? Absolutely none. God infuses us with his grace so that we are made righteous in our response to his grace in light of the merits of Christ’s blood, as we freely open ourselves to God’s saving grace. Our response to God’s grace is a free act and salvific work which leads to our salvation. This free act of response is translated into works of mercy and acts of penance in a spirit of repentance, without which we cannot be saved; out of love of God and our neighbour, not merely out of love of self and our personal interest in our individual salvation: the Fundamentalist dream.

According to your erroneous theology, our Lord’s words make no sense: “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect” [Matthew 5, 48]. To be perfect is to obey the will of God. To obey the will of God is to do a good deed. Our Lord would not exhort us to act in accord with the will of God if we were incapable of doing so. After all, we are created in the image and likeness of God. Yet the merits of our good acts rest on Christ’s redemptive self-sacrifice.

“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit” [Luke 6, 43]. We are inherently good, for we are created by God. Evil is a digression away from goodness. It is not a positive force dualistically opposing God. For God is the only Creator, and he couldn’t have created anything ontologically evil. Even the fallen angels believe Jesus Christ is Lord, but they fear him [James 2, 19]. Are they saved? I think not. Faith is not merely an intellectual apprehension of a divine truth. It is something active involving good deeds and completed by good deeds in a spirit of repentance for our shortcomings. And demons do not repent, they blaspheme God and curse our Lord, revelling in their impudent mischief.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven will enter” [Matthew 7, 21]. To do something good as a free individual is to act in accord with the will of God in response to the infusion of his divine grace, without which we cannot be truly good. Our justification begins with faith, Paul tells the Hebrews, but works perfect and complete our justification in faith [cf.11, 6]. Faith is inactive without works [James 2, 22]. What good is our faith if we fail to live it by disobeying or neglecting the will of God in our deeds or inactivity? The evangelist James tells us: “Faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead” [James 2,17]. Indeed, faith can only increase as a result of our obedience to the will of God, and obedience is achieved by doing good works and trying hard not to neglect them. Scripture assures us the more good works, the stronger the faith [cf. 2 Corinthians 10,15]. Grace is added unto grace, which in itself is rewarding provided we don’t bury God’s gracious gift by being inactive and fruitless.

Plan to hide behind Christ and his work, and “sin boldly” or remain stagnant. In the parable we know how the master treated his lazy servant after he buried the talent that was graciously given to him [cf. Matthew 25, 24-30]. Faith is something active, not passive. Without works it is nothing.

“He from the essence of the Father, nor is the Son again Son according to essence, but in consequence of virtue, as we who are called sons by grace.”
Athanasius (A,D. 351)

Pax vobiscum
Good Fella

 

[fdmilkis]

so faith alone (Luther’s version if there is many) means you must constantly have faith in Christ until death to be saved?

 

[gardenswithkids]

How does Christ save you, if you are judged by your works (or whether or not you are “in mortal sin”)?..

Christ saves us by His grace through faith so that we can perform good works. (Ephesians 2:8-10.) By grace, through faith to perform good works. We can only do good work through His grace. We have faith that Jesus will give us His grace to save us from sin. He gives grace to save us from sins we commit and even further He can give us grace not to commit sins. We grow in holiness as we grow in grace. Grace, faith, works: all three mentioned in the Bible–it’s neither faith alone nor works alone.

 

[kaycee]

James posted this on the other thread (about Mary).

To me he here illustrates the difficulty of the RC view of justification. Constant failings that lead us to damnation until penance. All my Evangelical eyes read is working to attain the attainable.

God simply calls us to be too holy. It is impossible. Being cloaked in Christ’s righteousness seems to be our (well at least my) only chance.

This is probably my biggest theological problem with the RCC. Try as I might, I do not believe any of me (my works, nature, efforts, etc…) can stand before God and His righteous throne on judgement day. I plan to hide behind Christ and his work.

Thanks,
Tim

Hi Tim,

I think you are on the right track. How can we add to what Christ has perfectly done? Can our works even as believers compare to what Christ has already accomplished? Please read what Paul had to say to those who only wanted to add circumcision to Christ’s finished work. Circumcision by itself, for a Jewish believer might be considered a good work!

**Gal 3:1 **You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? 3Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? 4Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing? 5Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?

6Consider Abraham: “He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 7Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. 8The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

Rom 4:5 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,

We must also be carefull to clearly define terms. Faith to a Catholic is not the same as Faith to an evangelical. For a Catholic faith is usually mental assent to doctrine and can also be the summation of the belief system, like what does your faith teach, similar to saying what does your denomination teach. Faith for the evangelical is usually thought of as heartfelt Faith (In Christ) that results in regeneration.

An fairly good explanation can be seen here.
carm.org/catholic/faithalone.htm

 

[ryanoneil]

Luke 6:45
A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.
46
"Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I command?
47
I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, listens to my words, and acts on them.
48
That one is like a person building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when the flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it because it had been well built.
49
But the one who listens and **does not act **is like a person who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed."

Peace,

Ryan

 

[Catholic_Dude]

To me he here illustrates the difficulty of the RC view of justification. Constant failings that lead us to damnation until penance. All my Evangelical eyes read is working to attain the attainable.

God simply calls us to be too holy. It is impossible. Being cloaked in Christ’s righteousness seems to be our (well at least my) only chance.

This is probably my biggest theological problem with the RCC. Try as I might, I do not believe any of me (my works, nature, efforts, etc…) can stand before God and His righteous throne on judgement day. I plan to hide behind Christ and his work.

No offense but the attitude represented here is “its too hard” to live a holy life, yet that is in conflict with the plain reading of Scripture requiring us to take up our cross daily (Lk 9:23).

The concept of “being cloaked in Christ’s Righteousness”, while it may sound appealing, is flatly unBiblical. Read the article in my signature to get the real story behind this issue.

 

[Pax]

Hi Tim,

I think you are on the right track. How can we add to what Christ has perfectly done? Can our works even as believers compare to what Christ has already accomplished? Please read what Paul had to say to those who only wanted to add circumcision to Christ’s finished work. Circumcision by itself, for a Jewish believer might be considered a good work!

This is a strawman argument. Catholics do not claim that we add something to Christ’s work and therefore somehow save ourselves. Likewise, we do not compare what we do by the grace of God with Jesus salvific work on the cross. Moreover, we agree with Paul about circumcision.

**Gal 3:1 **You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? 3Are you so foolish? **After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by **human effort? 4Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing? 5Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?
…

It wouldn’t hurt to read the rest of Galatians. For example Paul says the following:

Gal 5:6
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is of any avail, but faith working through love.

Gal 5:16-21
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to** prevent** you from doing what you would. But if you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are plain: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. **I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. **

Obviously, the aforementioned sinful works will break the relationship we have with the Lord and we will not go to heaven if we do not repent. Furthermore, Galatians has this to say about good works which are the fruit of Spirit.

Gal 5:22-25
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

Gal 6:2
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Gal 6:7-9
Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption; but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart.

Rom 4:5 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,

I would likewise suggest that you read all of the book of Romans. Try for example Romans chapter 6. The entire chapter is rather instructive. Among its contents are the following:

Romans 6:1-6
WHAT SHALL we say then? **Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? **Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the sinful body might be destroyed, **and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. **

Romans 6:16-23
Do you not know that if you yield yourselves to any one as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once yielded your members to impurity and to greater and greater iniquity, so now yield your members to righteousness for sanctification. When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But then what return did you get from the things of which you are now ashamed? **The end of those things is death. ** But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, **the return you get is sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. **