Page:The Net of Faith.pdf/285

39* in the apostolic teaching, in their net as it were. But the most important thing expected of the pagans converted to Christ is that they be renewed, casting off their old life of Adam which is corrupt and deceitful, and putting on the new nature of Jesus Christ. Idolatry and drunkenness, debauchery and licentiousness, quarreling and jealousy, murdering and other evils, these are the deeds of the old man, of the first damned man in whom all died and of whom all are born under God's anger; that is why they must cast off first this old man and then put on the new man Jesus Christ, which means putting on the honesty of his life, according to the gifts of God's grace.

This ability to imitate Christ in his honest life, his innocence in humility, his reverence to God, and his justice, is given in different degrees to different people; some are more endowed than others; but they all must arrive at a newness of life so as not to give a single chance to the old life to introduce mortal sin. For wherever virtue is damaged, mortal sin remains in its stead; and man was obliged to defend it (the virtue). This is why man must constantly put off his Ephesians 4: 22–24.

Romans 13:13.