Confessional Corner: Christ Connects Forgiveness and Good Works (Ap V 151-166)

Christ often connects the promise of forgiveness of sins to good works, yet not because He means that good works are an atoning sacrifice (for they follow reconciliation. Christ makes this connection for two reasons. One is because good fruit must necessarily follow. He reminds us that if good fruit do not follow, the repentance is hypocritical and fake. The other eason is that we have need of outward signs of so great a promise. A conscience full of fear has need of much consolation. (Ap V 154)