WORKS done before the grace of Christ, and the Inspiration of his Spirit, are not pleasant to God, forasmuch as they spring not of faith in Jesus Christ, neither do they make men meet to receive grace, or (as the School-authors say) deserve grace of congruity: yea rather, for that they are not done as God hath willed and commanded them to be done, we doubt not but they have the nature of sin.
Back to my imaginary funeral again. So often, visiting a family I had not met in church, I would hear an apology followed by praise of the deceased's good life. Often keeping themselves to themselves was seen as an attribute. How very English.
But this Article has no shrift with all that. If you try and do anything worthwhile before you have a relationship with the one who invented the whole caboodle then you have got the cart/horse order all wrong. For Cranmer, you may as well just sin.
This was scandalous then and continues to be so now. Your good works are meaningless save for the context of the saving love of God in Jesus Christ. There is no congruity. By hanging around in the are of good works you will bring God's love no nearer. For that which is to hand at all times, cannot be brought nearer.
Turn to Christ; then consider what implications that might have for your behaviour. That's the deal.
1 comment:
How does that square with Matthew 25?
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