First Christian Voices: Practices of the Apostolic Fathers

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First Christian Voices

admire those who for righteousness’ sake endure the fire that is momentary and will consider them happy when you understand that other fire. Justification by Faith F irst C lement 31–32: Let us hold on then to His blessing, and consider the means of possessing it. Let us think over the things which have taken place from the beginning. For what reason was our father Abraham blessed? Was it not because he worked righteousness and truth through faith ( Gen 15:6 )? Isaac, with perfect confidence, as if knowing what was to happen, cheerfully gave himself as a sacrifice ( Gen 22:1–19 ). Jacob, through reason of his brother, went out with humility from his own land and came to Laban and served him ( Gen 27:41–45 ). And there was given to him the scepter of the twelve tribes of Israel. Whosoever will honestly consider these matters will recognize the greatness of the gifts which were given by Abraham. For from him came the priests and all the Levites who minister at the altar of God. From him also came our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh. From him came kings, princes, and rulers of the race of Judah. And his other tribes are not at all insignificant inasmuch as God had promised, “I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven” (Gen 22:17). All these, therefore, were highly honored, and made great, not for their own sake, or for their own works, or for the righteousness which they worked, but through the operation of God’s will. And we, too, being called by His will in Christ Jesus, are not justified by ourselves,