Page:The Net of Faith.pdf/605



(:The justice and righteousness according to Christ is an altogether different matter. The Pagans do not understand it and persecute therefore its adherents.:) Paul could not have said, "do good, and you shall be praised for it." Both Christ and his apostles did good, yet they did not ingratiate themselves to the authorities: they were put to death because of their good works. Saint Paul did nothing but good, professing in Rome the name of Christ; he did not ingratiate himself to Nero nor did he win his praises, but on the contrary lost his life by his order. (:Do good, says Paul, and you shall receive the approval not of the authorities but of God. The apostle well makes a distinction between the Justice of faith and that of the rulers when he says,:)

(:They crucified him even though he brought people back to life. They hated his message and the Christians of Rome had to  1-Cor. 2: 6–8.

198*