Christ Only Justifies
Augustine's notation on this is one
of the most important pre-Reformation quotes on this topic.
Saint Augustine's Anti-Pelagian Works,
A Treatise on the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins and on the Bap, Book 1, Chapter 18 -
Only Christ Justifies
"Therefore
as by the offense of one upon all men to condemnation, even so by the justification of One upon
all men unto justification of life." This "offense
of one," if we are bent on "imitation," can only be the
devil’s offense.
Since, however, it is manifestly spoken in reference to Adam and not the devil, it follows that we have
no other alternative than to understand
the principle of natural propagation, and not that of imitation, to be here implied. [XIV.] Now when he says
in reference to Christ, "By the
justification of one," he has more expressly stated our doctrine
than if he were to say,
"By the righteousness of one;" inasmuch as he mentions that justification whereby Christ
justifies the ungodly, and which he did not
propose as an object of imitation, for He alone is capable of effecting this. Now it was quite competent for
the apostle to say, and to say rightly:
"Be ye imitators of me, as I also am of Christ;" but he could
never say: Be ye
justified by me, as I also am by Christ; — since there may be, and indeed actually are and have been,
many who were righteous and worthy
of imitation; but no one is righteous and a justifier but Christ alone.
Whence it is said: "To the man that believeth on him that
justifieth the ungodly,
his faith is counted for righteousness." Now if any man had it in his power confidently to
declare," I justify you," it would necessarily follow
that he could also say, "Believe in me." But it has never been
in the power of any of
the saints of God to say this except the Saint of saints, who
said: "Ye believe in God, believe also in me;" so that,
inasmuch as it is He
that justifies the ungodly, to the man who believes in him that justifieth the ungodly his faith is
imputed for righteousness.
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