Orthodox Apologetics

Luke 12:19  And [the rich man] will say to [his] soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20  But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 21  So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Thy Birth, O Christ our God, has shone unto the world the light of knowledge; for -by it- those who worshipped the stars, were taught by the Star to adore Thee, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know Thee, the Sunrise from on high: O Lord, Glory to Thee!

2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Revelation 2:10 Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Matthew 8:29 What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?

...but my stomach is Protestant.

Erasmus of Rotterdam

Matthew 26:41 The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Galatians 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Matthew 26:14 ¶Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, 15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him. 27:9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; 10 And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me.

Genesis 25:29 ¶And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: 30 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. 31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. 32 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? 33 And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

Genesis 3:6 ¶And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Romans 4:18 Who against hope believed in hope; that he might be made the father of many nations, according to that which was said to him: So shall thy seed be. 19 And he was not weak in faith; neither did he consider his own body now dead, whereas he was almost an hundred years old, nor the dead womb of Sara. 20 In the promise also of God he staggered not by distrust; but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God: 21 Most fully knowing, that whatsoever he has promised, he is able also to perform. 22 And therefore it was reputed to him unto justice.

Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Matthew 10:37  He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38  And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

Luke 14:16 A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: 17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. 18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. 19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. 20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. 21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. 24 For I say unto you, that none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

¹ Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of thy compassions blot out my transgression. ² Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. ³ For I am conscious of mine iniquity; and my sin is continually before me. ⁴ Against thee only have I sinned, and done evil before thee: that thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. ⁵ For, behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother conceive me. ⁶ For, behold, thou lovest truth: thou hast manifested to me the secret and hidden things of thy wisdom. ⁷ Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be purified: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. ⁸ Thou shalt cause me to hear gladness and joy: the afflicted bones shall rejoice. ⁹ Turn away thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. ¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit in my inward parts. ¹¹ Cast me not away from thy presence; and remove not thy holy Spirit from me. ¹² Restore to me the joy of thy salvation: establish me with thy directing Spirit. ¹³ Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and ungodly men shall turn to thee. ¹⁴ Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation: and my tongue shall joyfully declare thy righteousness. ¹⁵ O Lord, thou shalt open my lips; and my mouth shall declare thy praise. ¹⁶ For if thou desiredst sacrifice, I would have given it: thou wilt not take pleasure in whole-burnt-offerings. ¹⁷ Sacrifice to God is a broken spirit: a broken and humbled heart God will not despise. ¹⁸ Do good, O Lord, to Sion in thy good pleasure; and let the walls of Jerusalem be built. ¹⁹ Then shalt thou be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, offering, and whole-burnt-sacrifices: then shall they offer calves upon thine altar.

Luke 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.