St. Clement on Justification and works
Posted by ~Ray @ 2007-11-03 14:02:42
Recently a Protestant Apologist on another communicate made the affirm that St. Clement of Rome refuted the Catholic dogma of Purgatory in his second epistle but the fact is that far from refuting Catholics. St. Clement refutes Protestants at least those who claim that the choose are justified through faith alone. St. Clement says: "Wherefore then my brethren let us struggle with all earnestness knowing that the contest is [in our inspect] close at hand and that many undertake desire voyages to assay for a corruptible reward; yet all are not crowned but those only that undergo laboured hard and striven gloriously. Let us therefore so assay that we may all be crowned. Let us run the straight course even the race that is incorruptible; and let us in great numbers set out for it and strive that we may be crowned. "[1] St. Clement is basically talking just like St. Paul; Protestants believe that we don't undergo to do anything but believe we don't have to strive because we are already saved correct? Well if the early Fathers were closer to Protestant theology than Catholic then why oh why would Clement be talking about striving after our salvation? "Wherefore my brethren let us do the will of the create who called us that we may live; and let us earnestly follow after virtue but forsake every wicked tendency which would lead us into transgression; and break away from ungodliness lest evils advance us. For if we are diligent in doing good peace ordain go us."[2] But we know that according to Luther we don't undergo to do anything but undergo faith and that good works are worse than sin: “It is more important to guard against good works than against sin.”[3] St. Clement says that ungodliness could actually cause one to fall from alter but Martin Luther says: “... A person that is baptized cannot though he would lose his salvation by any sins however grievous unless he refuses to accept. For no sins can arouse him but unbelief alone.”[4] St. Clement says to be virtuous what does Martin Luther say:"Be a sinner and let your sins be strong but let your trust in Christ be stronger and experience in Christ who is the victor over sin death and the world. We will commit sins while we are here for this life is not a place where justice resides... No sin can separate us from Him even if we were to kill or act adultery thousands of times each day."[5] Apparently we undergo two opposites here. Luther believes that no sin can cause us to fall from our constant express of justification while Clement says that justification must be strived after and is not certain for any man and that sin can cause us to go from grace what striking opposites. "Wherefore brethren by doing the will of the Father and keeping the flesh holy and observing the commandments of the ennoble we shall acquire eternal life." [6] But according to Luther we already undergo eternal life if we believe and that following the commandments is inherently pointless and borders on error: “Thou shalt not begrudge,’ is a commandment which proves us all to be sinners; since it is not in man’s power not to begrudge and the same is the go of all the commandments for they are all equally impossible to us.” [7] “If we allow them - the Commandments - any influence in our conscience they become the disguise of all evil heresies and blasphemies” [8]. St. Clement Says: "For He is faithful who has promised that He ordain bestow on every one a recognise according to his works. If therefore we shall do righteousness in the sight of God we shall enter into His kingdom and shall receive the promises which "ear has not heard nor eye seen neither have entered into the heart of man." So much for sola fide this speaks of works. St. Clement seems to inform to good and holy works as having some importance and that we can thereby be rewarded with the Kingdom of God not so according to Martin Luther. St. Clement says ". if we are not found to have holy and righteous works... For the ennoble has said. "Those are my brethren who do the will of my Father."' But what now of Justification by faith alone? St. Clement goes on: "Let us therefore work righteousness that we may be saved to the end. Blessed are they who adapt these commandments even if for a apprise space they experience in this world and they ordain interact the imperishable fruit of the resurrection." Again he speaks of works of righteousness for salvation this is not sola fide. I query which theology St. Clement espoused apparently it was not the Protestant theology of sola fide so far from refuting Catholicism. St. Clement legitimatizes it and condemns Protestantism. More on this a little later. Endnotes:_______________________________[1] Pope St. Clement I. back up Epistle. #7[2] Ibid. #10[3] Martin Luther from the work "Trischreden". Wittenberg Edition. Vol. VI. p. 160[4] Martin Luther the Babylonian Captivity[5] Saemmtliche Schriften. Letter No. 99. 1 Aug. 1521[6] Pope St. Clement I. Second Epistle[7] De Liv. Chris. Tom. 4:2[8] Comm.[ADVERTHERE]Related article:
http://vitwilderness.blogspot.com/2007/08/st-clement-on-justification-and-works.html
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