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Our subject is that of the doctrine of grace and how three prominent religious
figures; Pelagius, Augustine and Martin Luther, would have differed and agreed in
their teachings on the matter. We will for comparison sake discuss two basic topics:
the nature of sin and the nature of grace and how each of our characters would view
these topics.
The nature of sin should be our jumping off point because without first
Augustine would posit that sin was common to all humanity. That we are sinners
because of the fall at Eden and that the sin nature has been passed from Adam to all
generations. Thus, he would see sin much like a cancer that had attached itself to
humanity but the grace of God could diagnose and cure that cancer.
condition. He, unlike Augustine, would teach that man is not born with a fallen nature
but a sinless nature. This would mean that man would then be obligated to continue to
live a sinless life. Thus, sin could only come to a man by deliberate and willful acts
against God. This idea has serious soteriological implications. First, if man is sinless
then what was the purpose of Jesus’ passion? Secondly, if man is without sin then are
we not equal with God in that He is without sin? Lastly, if man is sinless then why is
there so much evil in the world? After all if we are sinless we should naturally follow
the proper moral path in all situation. We know this is not true by simple experience.
Luther would, for the most part, agree with Augustinian thought concerning
sin. He would see man as sinful by nature but that the grace of God would be the
answer to man’s sinful dilemma. However, I think Luther would have recognized that
sin and righteousness often live side by side in humanity. In other words man is
usually keenly aware of his sin and through this awareness can confess his sin and
would be counted righteous by God or as Luther stated, “They are sinners in fact, but
Augustine would present a case that because we are disabled by our own
sinful nature we are then in need of God’s grace. The term grace in Augustine’s mind
would be seen as a healing balm offered by God to man in order to restore their
broken relationship with Him. Pelagius on the other hand would define grace in a
much different way. He would not see grace as something supernaturally offered to
man but something offered to man as a moral guide. Pelagius cites examples of this
guidance in the Old Testament (i.e. The Ten Commandments). Grace to Pelagius
would be something that informs us of our moral duties but does not offer assistance
Luther’s would see grace as the essential element received by faith (which in
Luther’s estimation is also a gift). In other words there is no human work that can be
done by the sinner that would demand God’s justification. God gives the gift of faith
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