Pophead,
My first inclination is to write a brilliant response to answer all your questions, however, the reality is I cannot and actually need not. This is because there is others who can do so much better than I and using a line from St. Thomas Aquinas their works make what ever I write look like straw.
You are most generous in your reply and I am deeply moved. I was introduced to the writings of Aquinas while studying the writings of Gordon H. Clark, and have subsequently gone on to the work of Dr. M. Sudduth, who wrote a goodly paper on Thomas Aquinas. (I consciously removed the title as I will do with Pope’s, Priests, Presidents and the like, for men are ALL sinners, no matter how fine they are considered to be by other men.) We must all stand before the judgment seat of God, whether big or small, and on that day we shall all be the same height - spiritually speaking. For what do we have that has not been given us of heaven.)
The is one person in particular whose works I cannot suggest stronly enough, he is Our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger). In regards to this particular thread I would suggest you read two works of his. First, “Introduction to Christianity” especially the section on “Forgiveness of Sin”. The second work (and I hope these will inspire you to read more of his writings) is, “Daughter of Zion”. While this second work is on Mariology I think it address parts of your question as well. But please do not limit your search to just these two works but expand your readings to all his writings (actually my prayer is that everyone in this forum would become more familiar with Our Holy Father’s writings).
I appreciate your list of books on the topic, but having been given lists of books by dogmatist scripturalists, and having read creeds and catechism too numerous to mention, I have settled down with the Apostle John and the Chief of sinners - the Apostle Paul until the dust in thrown over my eyes. It is not that I am unwilling to read more, it is just that I prefer as did Erasmus to attend to the light of pure divine truth, no matter how frighteningly small it might be.
The Apostle Paul states, ‘If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation.’ Also that all things, be they death or life or the world to come, or angels or Cephas, or Apollos, or Paul…all things are in Christ.
In my very earliest steps as a young Christian, the Holy Spirit showed me that what I was looking for was not contained in the sublimest texts, be they even and shame that I should write it for those whose entire confidence rests on the written word of GOD, but are found in the one who is called ‘the ALL SUFFICIENT ONE’ - the Lord Jesus Christ, who indwells the innermost being of a true child of GOD.
Simply put, Jesus said, ‘Come unto me that you might have life.’ Though I tried. (please do not miss this three word construction) I tried and tried…(it is beginning to sound a little like a Beatle song), but eventually it was only when I understood that my trying was what got in the way of Him coming down from heaven, going back to Heaven, and then coming down into the hearts of those ‘who would believe’ - for there are many who will NEVER believe, for it is written of them, that their names are NOT in the Lambs book of life, the blood that was shed, was not shed for them but a testimony against them.
Simply put the religious ladder to enlightenment or some sort of mystical union with Christ is as impermanent as the clouds above our head. The only sense is that in God’s good time, by His sovereign will, He will come into the heart of a person, to regenerate them into the life, and it will be His righteouness in Him that is our only claim at the Judgment day. Nothing, nothing at all will be our declartion, NOTHING BUT CHRIST.
I might have written more but we are off to Town to get some more tiles, some were bent.
I apologize if I seem to be avoiding contributing any of my own thoughts but the Pope and others do so much better I think I would be doing you and them a disservice by trying to do anything else.
I think I will trust myself to the hope that you will after what I have said, be less inclined to hold back, when after it has been the pleasure of the Father in heaven, to let a little child lead them.
Pophead.
ps. The context of the passage mentioned in Matthew, certainly holds that we must not only love in closed group idea, for ALL men are our neighbours, not just fellow Roman Catholics, or the writers of such a group…I would defer to the simple place, make your heart the temple of only one, Christ and follow no man. For it is a faithful saying that Christ came to die for sinners. **Should one regard oneself as more than a sinner, then surely it is not for you that Christ has died. **
