living the Gospel

That we may be justified by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, let us repudiate the customary actions of our own wills and the observance of human traditions. Let us, on the other hand, go forward by means of the Gospel of the Blessed God, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Having lived during this present life in a manner acceptable to Him, by a rigorous avoidance of all that is forbidden and a zealous observance of whatever is commended, may we be able in the future age of immortality to escape the wrath to come upon the sons of contumacy and be found worthy of obtaining eternal life and the heavenly kingdom which has been promised by our Lord Jesus Christ to such as keep his covenant and are mindful of his commandments to do them.’ [ Ps. 103:18 ] Moreover, remembering the words of the Apostle, ‘in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything nor uncircumcision, but faith that worketh by charity. [ Gal. 5:6 ] I regarded it as at once appropriate and necessary to set forth first the sound faith and sacred doctrine respecting the Father and Son and Holy Ghost, and then add the Morals.

St Basil, Preface on the Judgement of God