Hope And Grace

Et omnis qui habet spem hanc in eo, sanctificat se... Multi se dicunt spem habere vitae coelestis in Christo, sed hanc confessionem negligenter vivendo evacuant. Manifestum autem de se indicium spei supernae exhibet, qui bonis operam dare actibus studet, certus quia non aliter ad similitudinem Dei quis in futuro perveniet, nisi sanctitatem in praesenti se sanctificando, id est, abnegando impietatem et saecularia desideria, sobrie autem et juste et pie vivendo imitetur. Sic autem divinae sanctitatis munditiam pro nostrae capacitatis mensura jubemur imitari, sicut divinae similitdunis gloriam pro nostra, id est, creaturae mensura sperare praecipimur. Neque autem Pelagianum dogma juvare credendum est, quod dicitur de homine Sanctificat se, quasi aliquis sine divino auxilio per liberum arbitrium possit se santificare. Sed qui habet spem in Domino sanctificare se quantum potest ipse nitendo, et ejus per omnia gratiam flagitando, qui ait: Sine me nihil potestis facere eique dicendo: Adjutor meus esto, ne derelinquas me. Sanctus Beda, In I Epistolam Sancti Joannis Source: Migne PL 93.99d-100a

And any one who has hope in Him, he sanctifies himself... 1 Many say that they have hope in the heavenly life in Christ, but by their negligent life they make this statement vain. He clearly exhibits the mark of heavenly hope in himself, who is zealous to give himself to work in good deeds, because certainly not otherwise will he come to the image of God in the future, unless he sanctifies himself with holiness in the present, that is, cutting himself off from impiety and worldly desires, let him imitate with a life of sobriety and righteousness and piety. As we are commanded to imitate the wealth of Divine sanctity according to the measure of our capacity, so is the glory of the Divine likeness for us, that is, we are taught to hope according to the measure of the creature. And it must not be thought to lend aid to the teaching of the Pelagians when it says concerning man, 'he sanctifies himself', as if someone without Divine help, by his own will, could sanctify himself. But he who hopes in the Lord sanctifies himself as much as he exerts himself, inflamed in everything by His grace, He who said: 'Without me you can do nothing,' 2 and to whom it was said: 'Be my helper, do not forsake me.' 3 Saint Bede, Commentary On The First Letter of Saint John 1 1 Jn 3.3 2 Jn 15.5 3 Ps 26.9