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  • Sarah Inkdragon replied to the topic A Difficult Ethical Question in the forum Fantasy Writers 5 years, 9 months ago

    I think a good clarifying point to come to would be that she must realize that absolutely nothing she can do will atone for her sins. There is no work, no toil, no sacrifice that can make up for our sins. Our only option is grace and salvation through Christ, and that is that.

    Many people will try to “make up” for their sins once they accept Christ and become saved. But the problem with that is we’re attempting to justify ourselves, through means that could never attempt to cleanse us. Only Christ can do that, we’re just trying to build the Tower of Babel again but this time with good works. James would be a good place to go, as it is a book that tells us:

    18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

    25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

    26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

    This is one of those more confusing snippets of scripture, but broken down we can begin to understand that James is essentially saying, “You show me you faith without works, I will show you my faith by my works.” Believing that there is some “greater power” or even believing in God is… critically speaking, the easy part. Even demons believe in God, but that doesn’t mean they fear or obey or love Him. We must therefore show our faith through our actions, by holding ourselves to a higher standard than what we were without faith. Translating that to your character, she must realize she cannot atone herself, that only God can do that, but she can live a better life and help people by showing her faith through works of good and obeying and seeking after God. The important part is that works alone cannot justify us, as James says, Abraham was justified because his faith and works were working together to perfect his faith. They go together, they are not separate.

    Suicide is indeed, the easy way out for someone to lie to themselves that they can attempt to justify their own sinful nature without Christ. And it’s a bitter pill to swallow, but it must be done or the character is merely deceiving themselves with a nice lie that they can kill themselves and somehow “make up” for what they’ve done. But all they are doing is taking away any chance that they could do any real good in the world and help others.

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