Our collect from the first Sunday of Lent:
“O God, who year by year through this Lenten observance dost cleanse and renew thy Church: grant unto us thy servants; that as by abstinence we strive to win thy pardon, so by good works we may effectually obtain the same….”
I can only imagine the adverse reaction this collect would induce in those who suffer from residual toxins left over from their Faith/Grace-Alone indoctrination.
“strive to win thy pardon….so by good works we may effectually obtain the same…”?
Our pardon, without a doubt, has been purchased by the Blood of the Lamb, and is freely given by a most magnanimous God who desires that all be saved. (Now I suppose I have probably irritated another group of folks who don’t like the language of purchase, but there it is.)
I do not think God needs to be convinced by argument that we should be pardoned; it was His initiative to begin with. God does not need us to win Him over – we are the ones who need to win. We need to win our race – by finishing – and we need to compete as if to win the prize. We must strive to win just as we must strive to enter the rest God has so generously provided; this rest is, of course, the prize itself.
Our Epistle for this day is taken from II Cor. 6:1-11 (see below)
Saint Paul speaks of himself as “Synergountes” working together with God in this “day of Salvation”. He goes on to commend himself, and then provides a lengthy list of the sacrificial offerings and works he has done, for which he is commended:
6 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. 4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, 5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; 6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, 7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.