The Mystery of Sin
God is under no compulsion to save anyone. Showing his mercy by saving one is no injustice to the one not chosen. The one who is not redeemed by God’s grace actually receives justice—what he deserves. Augustine was reluctant to attribute the cause of sin to God’s predestination. Ultimately, the cause of sin must remain mysterious. Yet, in Augustine’s understanding the radical doctrine of sin—original sin that thoroughly infects humanity—calls for a radical doctrine of God’s redemptive grace.
In On Nature and Grace (415) he writes, If, however, Christ did not die in vain, then human nature cannot by any means be justified and redeemed from God’s most righteous wrath—in a word, from punishment—except by faith and the sacrament of the blood of Christ.
From Augustine we have inherited an understanding of original sin, free will, justification, and good works. Our Anglican Articles rely heavily upon his theological understanding of Scripture.
Comments