What would be the point of these teachings if we were unable to prac-
tice goodwill on our own or to acquire it for ourselves in any way? We
are able to make charitable donations, to help the needy, to do good
things in our home and in our work. We are able to live by the Ten
Commandments. We have a soul that enables us to do these things, and
a rational mind we can use to make ourselves move toward this or that
goal. We are able to plan to put these actions into effect because they
have been commanded in the Word, and therefore by God. No human
being lacks this power. We all have it because God gives it to us all, and
gives it as our own possession. As we practice acts of goodwill, surely we
all feel that we are doing so on our own.
(c) We are also able to acquire the life within faith and goodwill for our- 358
selves.The situation is again the same. We acquire this life as we go to the
Lord, who is life itself. No one’s access to him is blocked. He constantly
invites every person to come toward him. He says,
Those who come to me will not hunger; those who believe in me will
never thirst. Those who come to me I will not throw out the door.
(John 6 : 35 , 37 )Jesus stood and cried out, “If any are thirsty, they must come to me and
drink.” (John 7 : 37 )The kingdom of the heavens is like someone who put on a wedding for
his son and sent his servants to call those who had been invited. Finally
he said, “Go to the ends of the streets and invite any people you find to
the wedding.” (Matthew 22 : 1 – 9 )Surely everyone knows that the Lord’s invitation or calling is universal.
So is the grace to accept it.
By going to the Lord, we gain life because the Lord is life itself. He is
not only the life within faith but also the life within goodwill. It is clear
from the following passages that this life is the Lord and comes to us from
the Lord:
In the beginning was the Word. In it there was life,and that lifewas the
light for humankind. (John 1 : 1 , 4 )Just as the Father raises the dead and brings them to life, so also the
Son brings to lifethose whom he wishes to. (John 5 : 21 )As the Father has life in himself, so he has given the Son to have life in
himself.(John 5 : 26 )§358 faith 427