ChangingHeart #1
Protestants sometimes suggest that Jesus has paid our debt in full.
Please clarify, as I want to be sure that I correctly understand the Church’s teaching on this.
That is one of many errors.
We have been redeemed by Christ through His suffering, crucifixion and death on the cross, but we are not saved until we play our part. Church Militant has correctly used St Paul in Col1:24 to convey this.
The great Frank Sheed has succinctly conveyed this truth:
In
Christ in Eclipse, Sheed and Ward 1978, p 105-7, theologian Frank Sheed gives us this insight:
“Read and reread Col 1:24. Every word is saying something vital to you and me, ‘I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake. And in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, which is the Church.’ Two shocks in ten words. Something lacking in Christ’s sufferings! Paul proposing to supply it! Coma would have to be very pious indeed not to be shocked into full consciousness….What was lacking in Christ’s afflictions? Whatever the human race could and should suffer with Him. Paul would offer his mighty contribution: our own lesser contributions we all have the opportunity to make.”
As stated by Paul, for our salvation, what is lacking is what only we can do, for the sake of His Body which is the Church; no one has said that there is anything lacking in Christ’s redemptive passion and crucifixion which has enabled the possibility of our salvation. How could there be? Christ was acting for the whole human race, not instead of, not as a substitute. “He bore our sins in His own Body on the Cross.” (1Pet. 2:29). What did Paul say must happen because Christ is the one mediator? “Supplication, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men” (1Tim 2:1-5). Thus we are all called to be co-redeemers. [See *Christ In Eclipse, Frank Sheed, Sheed & Ward, 1978, p 105-108).
“There is one great way available for all the Church’s members if they will to take part in Christ’s continuing work of redemption….This continuing priesthood of Christ breaks through to our altars at every Mass – the priest, by Christ’s command and in His name, offers the same Christ eucharistically present, to the same heavenly Father for the same purpose. It is beyond compare the most important work Christ does through His Church, and it is our privilege to join the priest and so join Christ Himself in the offering He is making in heaven.”
As we are all called to be coredeemers with Him, that is why His Church has given the title of Coredemptrix to His Mother, as the holiest of those He has redeemed, and worship at Mass with reception of Jesus Himself is incomparable.
“But I chastise my body, and bring it into subjection lest perhaps, when I have preached to others, I myself should become a castaway.” (1Cor 9:27). And again: “Wherefore he who thinks that he stands, let him take heed lest he fall.” (1 Cor 10:12). Yet again, “And we exhort you not to receive the grace of God in vain.” (2 Cor 6:1).
“It is not those who say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord’, who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of My Father in heaven.” (Mt 7:21). When asked “What must I do to have eternal life?” Jesus answered, “Keep the commandments.” (Mt 19:16-17).
No one is “saved” until they have responded to the redemption of Jesus by cooperating with Him to supply what was lacking in His afflictions – when we walk in good works (Eph 2:10). As James teaches: “Faith without works is dead.” (See Jam 2:14-26).
