Who is the believers inveterate foe

Do you seek to justify the sin? Do you contemplate the benefits of the sin? Do you justify the sin with some name of virtue? Do you think that you can merely repent later? Do you refuse the sin only on the grounds that it may cause you trouble if you commit it? Do you leave off the sin only when it could result in punishment? Would you continue in the sin if you could do without punishment? Take a particular sin: When temptation arises do you think 1 I must do this sin for it will result in punishment or a bad consequence?

Or, 2 I must not do this sin against Christ, whom I love? Willpower based upon fear of consequence alone will not deliver you from sin. Willpower will always break down. Fear of punishment will eventually negotiate an apparent means to avoid the punishment. What does he mean? How does this apply to you if at all? Look at your life?

Have you lived with unrepentant sin in your life? Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:. You are commenting using your WordPress.

At the same time, the progressive rise of new democracies has given back hope to entire peoples, inspired confidence in more fruitful international dialogue and made possible a long-awaited era of peace. Against this background of light and shadows, this yearly Message is not meant to offer either a progress report or a judgment, but only a new, fraternal invitation to consider present human events, in order to raise them to an ethical and religious vision, a vision which believers should be the first to live by.

Precisely because of their faith, believers are called — as individuals and as a body — to be messengers and artisans of peace. Like others and even more than others, they are called to seek with humility and perseverance appropriate responses to the yearnings for security and freedom, solidarity and sharing, which are common to everyone in this world, which as it were has become smaller.

A commitment to peace of course concerns every person of good will, and this is the reason why the various Messages have been addressed to all the members of the human family. Yet, this is a duty which is especially incumbent upon all who profess faith in God and even more so upon Christians, who have as their guide and master the "Prince of Peace" Is The longing for peace is deeply rooted in human nature and is found in the different religions.

It expresses itself in the desire for order and tranquillity, in an attitude of readiness to help others, in cooperation and sharing based on mutual respect. These values, which originate in the natural law and are propounded by the world's religions, require, if they are to develop, the support of everyone — politicians, leaders of international organizations, businessmen and workers, associations and private citizens.

What we are speaking of is a precise duty incumbent on everyone, and more so if one is a believer: bearing witness to peace and working and praying for peace are a normal part of good religious behaviour. This also explains why in the sacred books of the different religions references to peace occupy a prominent place in the context of man's life and his relationship with God.

For example, we Christians believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of the One who has "plans for welfare and not for evil" Jer is "our peace" Eph ; for our Jewish brothers and sisters, the word "shalom" expresses both a wish and blessing in a situation in which man is in harmony with himself, with nature and with God; and for the followers of Islam the term "salam" is so important that it constitutes one of the glorious divine names.

It can be said that a religious life, if it is lived authentically, cannot fail to bring forth fruits of peace and brotherhood, for it is in the nature of religion to foster an ever closer bond with the Godhead and to promote an increasingly fraternal relationship among people. Convinced of this agreement about this value, five years ago I wrote to the leaders of the Christian Churches and the major world religions in order to invite them to a special meeting of prayer for peace, which was held in Assisi.

The memory of that significant event has led me to return to and suggest once more the theme of the solidarity of believers in the same cause. At Assisi the spiritual leaders of the major religions from the different continents gathered together: the meeting was a concrete witness to the universal dimension of peace, and confirmed that peace is not only the result of skilful political and diplomatic negotiations or a compromise between economic interests, but depends in a fundamental way upon the One who knows human hearts and guides and directs the steps of all mankind.

As people concerned for the future of humanity, we fasted together, meaning thereby to express our compassion and solidarity with the millions and millions who are victims of hunger throughout the world. As believers concerned with the events of human history, we went on pilgrimage together, meditating silently on our common origin and our common destiny, our limitations and our responsibilities, and on the prayers and expectations of all our many brothers and sisters who look to us for help in their needs.

What we did on that occasion by praying and demonstrating our firm commitment to peace on earth, we must continue to do now. We must foster the genuine "spirit of Assisi" not only out of a duty to be consistent and faithful, but also in order to offer a reason for hope to future generations. In the town of Saint Francis, the Poor Man of Assisi, we began a common journey which must now continue, obviously without excluding the search for other ways and new means for a solid peace, built on spiritual foundations.

But before having recourse to human resources, I wish to reaffirm the need for intense, humble, confident and persevering prayer, if the world is finally to become a dwelling-place of peace. Prayer is par excellence the power needed to implore that peace and obtain it.

It gives courage and support to all who love this good and desire to promote it in accordance with their own possibilities and in the various situations in which they live. Prayer not only opens us up to a meeting with the Most High but also disposes us to a meeting with our neighbour, helping us to establish with everyone, without discrimination, relationships of respect, understanding, esteem and love.

Religious sentiment and a prayerful spirit not only help us to grow inwardly; they also enlighten us about the true meaning of our presence in the world.

It can also be said that the religious dimension encourages us to make an even more committed contribution to the building of a well-ordered society in which peace reigns. He bad a good platform manner and a great capacity for work but he was an inveterate intriguer.

Grant had never been able to comprehend the reason for this inveterate enmity to the poor tailor. Transgression and treachery are inveterate faults of the people, not mere occasional sins.

Part of this sort of this inveterate Calvinism, and part of the fact that, "What if the dams burst? An inveterate Bonapartist ; took an active part in the return from the Island of Elba. Mr Workman was a tall rangy Presbyterian with crew-cut greying hair and was an inveterate pipe-smoker. Peter had bought the car from Cohn Crabbe, that inveterate discoverer of lost cars in far-flung places. But also, because he was an inveterate hacker, he left a tiny digital wormhole through which he alone could crawl.

Rex was captivated by the sea in a way that others might be avid golf players or inveterate bird watchers. For inveterate cattle-lifters it all added up to a convenient no-man's-land across which to launch thieving raids.

He is also an inveterate hater of Mrs Joe, whom he attacks secretly, inflicting injuries from which she eventually dies.