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    Thirteenth Chapter of James C. Livingston's Anatomy of the Sacred

    Number of Pages: 5

     

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    The thirteenth chapter of James C. Livingston's Anatomy of the Sacred is analyzed in five pages. There are no other sources listed.

    Name of Research Paper File: JR7_RAsacrd3.rtf

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    The first thing we note about Luthers path of discovery is that which led him to despair in the first place. He did not understand how he could find  a gracious God and "The more this afflicted him, the more he tried to prove his righteousness and merit, by which he would be worthy of eternal life. He tried  every possible spiritual and ascetic discipline: fasting, good works, pilgrimage, self-denial, and austerity" (Livingston 340). He eventually came to the realization that "Christianity was a cruel hoax" (Livingston 340). After  falling into a deep depression he came across the words of Paul which stated "the righteous shall live from faith to faith" (Livingston 340). He then realized that righteousness was  a gift form God, not a punishment. It was at about this time that Luther made a second realization. "His great discovery was that believers are made righteous through  repentance and faith, not through good works" (Livingston 341). In essence, he understood that through being one of faith and one who was humble one could receive righteousness as a  gift. It was not through doing good deeds and acting good that God granted righteousness. In terms of doing good works Luther rejected doing good works as a way  towards salvation. "For Luther, to be blessed means only to will the will of God and His glory and to desire nothing of ones own either here or hereafter.....In such  a God-centered perspective, there is no consideration of meritorious action, for one is set free to pursue good works for their own sake" (Livingston 342). 2)  Indicate the several features that characterize the way of devotion as described in this chapter. "The joy and feeling of exaltation that accompany the experience of divine grace impel 

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