Came to this article from your article released today. I think you need to do a bit more reading and studying, because this is a very answerable question, at least on the surface level - concupiscence.
Now, obviously there's a much deeper conversation to be had, but if you were unaware of the surface level answer you need to do some more reading
Interesting that, of all the things I said, the one thing you pick out is a minor, almost throwaway comment I made. I am actually aware of concupiscence, and I don't appreciate the condescending tone. And my question stands. I still don't think the Catholic view actually makes logical sense, let alone accords with the Bible.
I really don't care what you think of the tone you think you hear in my comment.
I wasn't trying to refute your article, that would be something more for an in person discussion.
But concupiscence does directly address the question you were asking, and so the fact that you didn't address it indicates to me that you're either not engaging with the material, or do not understand it.
"It seems to me that you are largely depending on your own strength, rather than God’s." I don't think this follows. We still have concupiscence, and something within us tends towards what is evil (e.g. Romans 7:19), but Christ can work through us (e.g. Colossians 1:29, Galatians 2:20) and we can cooperate with His grace in order to do what is right.
If your view of justification pits St. Paul against St. John and St. James, that's what's not in accord with the Bible. Christ says we must keep his commandments, and St. John over and over (and over and over and over) repeats this - John 14, 1 John 2, 1 John 3, 1 John 5, 2 John
I don't mean to be one of the 'hurty feelings brigade' who make everything about tone etc. But I do think you could have responded to me as you just have rather than assume I didn't know what I was talking about.
As you say, this is probably a conversation which could be had better in person. If you are interested I have actually written a book about grace and how we as Christians are to obey Christ - https://understandthebible.uk/confused-by-grace/ - which will probably explain my perspective better than any comment on Substack could.
I am not pitting the apostles against one another!
"why do we still sin, on this understanding?"
Came to this article from your article released today. I think you need to do a bit more reading and studying, because this is a very answerable question, at least on the surface level - concupiscence.
Now, obviously there's a much deeper conversation to be had, but if you were unaware of the surface level answer you need to do some more reading
Interesting that, of all the things I said, the one thing you pick out is a minor, almost throwaway comment I made. I am actually aware of concupiscence, and I don't appreciate the condescending tone. And my question stands. I still don't think the Catholic view actually makes logical sense, let alone accords with the Bible.
I really don't care what you think of the tone you think you hear in my comment.
I wasn't trying to refute your article, that would be something more for an in person discussion.
But concupiscence does directly address the question you were asking, and so the fact that you didn't address it indicates to me that you're either not engaging with the material, or do not understand it.
"It seems to me that you are largely depending on your own strength, rather than God’s." I don't think this follows. We still have concupiscence, and something within us tends towards what is evil (e.g. Romans 7:19), but Christ can work through us (e.g. Colossians 1:29, Galatians 2:20) and we can cooperate with His grace in order to do what is right.
If your view of justification pits St. Paul against St. John and St. James, that's what's not in accord with the Bible. Christ says we must keep his commandments, and St. John over and over (and over and over and over) repeats this - John 14, 1 John 2, 1 John 3, 1 John 5, 2 John
I don't mean to be one of the 'hurty feelings brigade' who make everything about tone etc. But I do think you could have responded to me as you just have rather than assume I didn't know what I was talking about.
As you say, this is probably a conversation which could be had better in person. If you are interested I have actually written a book about grace and how we as Christians are to obey Christ - https://understandthebible.uk/confused-by-grace/ - which will probably explain my perspective better than any comment on Substack could.
I am not pitting the apostles against one another!
Cheers to a beer in the future!
It would be a pleasure 😊