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🎧 Against Heresies: Book IV
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Chapter 22: Christ didn't come just for the people of one era, but for everyone who, living a righteous and godly life, had faith in Him; and also for those who will believe in the future.

IN THE LAST DAYS: when the time of freedom had fully come, the Word Himself personally "washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion" by washing the disciples’ feet with His own hands. This marks the fulfillment of humanity inheriting God; just as, in the beginning, through our first parents, we were all subjected to death, so finally, through the New Man, all who were His disciples from the beginning, having been cleansed and freed from things related to death, could enter into the life of God.

He who washed the feet of the disciples sanctified the whole body and made it clean. For this reason, He also served them food while they were reclining, showing that He came to give life to those lying in the earth. As Jeremiah states, “The holy Lord remembered His dead Israel, who slept in the land of burial; and He descended to share His salvation with them, that they might be saved.” For this reason, the disciples’ eyes were heavy when Christ’s suffering was near; and when the Lord first found them sleeping, He let it go, showing God’s patience with the state of slumber in which people lay.

But when He came the second time, He awakened them and made them stand, as a sign that His suffering is the awakening of His sleeping disciples, for whom "He also descended into the lower parts of the earth," to see for Himself the state of those resting from their labors, about whom He also said to the disciples: “Many prophets and righteous people have longed to see and hear what you see and hear.” Amen

FOR CHRIST DID NOT COME ONLY FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVED IN HIM DURING THE TIME OF TIBERIUS CAESAR: nor did the Father care only for the people alive now, but for all people throughout time. Those who, from the beginning, have feared and loved God, practiced justice and piety towards their neighbors, and earnestly desired to see Christ and hear His voice, according to their capacity in their generation. At His second coming, He will first awaken all these people from their sleep and raise them up along with the rest who will be judged, and give them a place in His kingdom. For it is truly "one God who" guided the patriarchs with His plans and "has justified the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through faith." Just as we were prefigured in the first, they are represented in us, that is, in the Church, and receive the reward for what they accomplished.

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