{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/210/2100299.htm","path":"chr/ecf/210/2100299.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/210/2100299.htm","text":"Another passage of St. John is considered. The necessity of keeping the commandments of God may be complied with by those who, having fallen, repent, as well as by those who have not fallen, as is shown in the case of David.\n53. Let us consider another similar passage: \u201cHe that believeth on the Son hath eternal life, but he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.\u201d 2992 That which abideth has certainly had a commencement, and that from some offence, viz., that first he not believe. When, then, any one believes, the wrath of God departs and life comes. To believe, then, in Christ is to gain life, for \u201che that believeth in Him is not judged.\u201d 2993\n54. But with reference to this passage they allege that he who believes in Christ ought to keep His sayings, and say that it is written in the Lord\u2019s own words: \u201cI am come a light into this world, that whosoever believeth in Me may not abide in darkness. And if any man hear My word and keep it, I judge him not.\u201d 2994 He judges not, and do you judge? He says, \u201cthat whosoever believeth on Me may not abide in darkness,\u201d that is, that if he be in darkness he may not remain therein, but may amend his error, correct his fault, and keep My commandments, for I have said, \u201cI will not the death of the wicked, but the correction.\u201d 2995 I said above that he that believeth on Me is not judged, and I keep to this: \u201cFor I am not come to judge the world, but that the world may be saved through Me.\u201d 2996 I pardon willingly, I quickly forgive, \u201cI will have mercy rather than sacrifice,\u201d 2997 because by sacrifice the just is rendered more acceptable, by mercy the sinner is redeemed. \u201cI come not to call the righteous but sinners.\u201d 2998 Sacrifice was under the Law, in the Gospel is mercy. \u201cThe Law was given by Moses, grace by Me.\u201d 2999\n55. And again further on He says: \u201cHe that despiseth Me, and receiveth not My words, hath one that judgeth him.\u201d 3000 Does he seem to you to have received Christ\u2019s words who has not corrected himself? Undoubtedly not. He, then, who corrects himself receives His word, for this is His word, that every one should turn back from sin. So, then, of necessity you must either reject this saying of His, or if you cannot deny it you must accept it.\n56. It is also necessary that he who leaves off sinning must keep the commandments of God and renounce his sins. We ought not, then, to interpret this saying of him who has always kept the commandments, for if this had been His meaning He would have added the word always, but by not adding it He shows that He was speaking of him who has kept what he has heard, and what he heard has led him to correct his faults; he has then kept what he has heard.\n57. But how hard it is to condemn to penance for life one who even afterwards keeps the commandments of the Lord, let Him teach us Himself Who has not refused forgiveness. Even to those who do not keep His commandments, as you read in the p. 339 Psalm: \u201cIf they profane My statutes and keep not My commandments, I will visit their offences with the rod and their sins with scourges, but My mercy will I not take from them.\u201d 3001 So, then, He promises mercy to all.\n58. Yet that we may not think that this mercy is without judgment, there is a distinction made between those who have paid continual obedience to God\u2019s commandments, and those who at some time, either by error or by compulsion, have fallen. And that you may not think that it is only our arguments which press you, consider the decision of Christ, Who said: \u201cIf the servant knew his Lord\u2019s will and did it not, he shall be beaten with many stripes, but if he knew it not, he shall be beaten with few stripes.\u201d 3002 Each, then, if he believes, is received, for God \u201cchasteneth every son whom He receiveth,\u201d 3003 and him whom He chasteneth He does not give over unto death, for it is written: \u201cThe Lord hath chastened me sore, but He hath not given me over unto death.\u201d 3004\nS. John iii. 36.\n338:2993\nS. John iii. 18.\n338:2994\nS. John xii. 47 [not exact].\n338:2995 338:2996\nS. John iii. 17.\n338:2997 338:2998\nS. Matt. ix. 13.\n338:2999\nS. John i. 17.\n338:3000\nS. John xii. 48.\n339:3001 339:3002\nS. Luke 12:47, 48.\n339:3003 339:3004","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Ser. II, Vol. X: Dogmatic...","type":"page"}