OUR MORAL LIFE IN CHRISTMoral law and free will11. What is the cause of the flawed nature that we inherit from Adam and Eve?12. Read the following excerpt from St. Paul’s letter <strong>to</strong> the Romans: “We know that the law is spiritual,but I am carnal, sold under sin. I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want,but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. So then,it is no longer I that do it, but sin which dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwellswithin me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the goodI want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I thatdo it, but sin which dwells within me. So I find it <strong>to</strong> be a law that when I want <strong>to</strong> do right, evil liesclose at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inmost self, but I see in my members anotherlaw at war with the law of my mind, and making me captive <strong>to</strong> the law of sin which dwells in mymembers. Wreched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be <strong>to</strong> Godthrough Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I of myself serve the law of God with my mind, but withmy flesh, I serve the law of sin” (Rom 7: 14– 25).St. Paul is one of the architects of Christianity. Does he claim <strong>to</strong> have mastered sin in his own life?How does he describe his own moral struggles?Do these moral struggles take away from St. Paul’s moral authority or enhance it? That is, given thisself‐confessed state of St. Paul’s own life, does he have any business telling other people how <strong>to</strong> livetheirs?Copyright (c) Midwest Theological ForumMore Information Available atwww.theologicalforum.orgHow does St. Paul resolve this interior conflict? (Hint: Re<strong>view</strong> Rom 7: 24– 25; 1 Cor 15: 10)6 Chapter OneOMLS-WB.indb 68/21/2009 8:06:31 AM
Moral law and grace13. When do we receive sanctifying grace?THE BASIS FOR MORALITY AND MORAL THEOLOGY14. When do we receive actual grace?15. While we need grace <strong>to</strong> conform ourselves <strong>to</strong> God’s will, there are certain aspects of obeying Godthat come more naturally than others. What would some of these be?16. Many <strong>to</strong>day have a tendency <strong>to</strong> excuse their sins and imperfections by saying, “Hey, I’m only human,”“Nobody’s perfect,” or, “I’m just doing the things any normal sixteen‐year‐old does.” Of course,we are human. Humans are not perfect, and every human must struggle with temptation, but is itinevitable that we are going <strong>to</strong> keep sinning, or is it possible for us <strong>to</strong> avoid all sin?Copyright (c) Midwest Theological ForumMore Information Available atwww.theologicalforum.orgMoral law and the Christian vocation17. Re<strong>view</strong> the letter from “Wondering and Wandering Senior,” and answer the following questions:Has this young lady been called by God? How?Chapter One 7OMLS-WB.indb 78/21/2009 8:06:31 AM