Chapter 11. Other Passages Of Scripture Which The Pelagians Abuse (continued)
CHAPTER 12.
PAUL PROVES THAT GRACE IS NOT GIVEN
ACCORDING TO MEN’S MERITS
Now there was, no doubt, a decided merit in the Apostle Paul, but it was an evil one while he persecuted the Church; and he says of it: “I am not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God.”1Cor 15.9 And it was while he had this evil merit that a good one was rendered to him instead of the evil; and therefore he went on at once to say, “But by the grace of God, I am what I am.”1Cor 15.10 Then, in order to exhibit also his free will, he added in the next clause, “And His grace within me was not in vain, but I have laboured more abundantly than all of them.” He appeals to this free will of man in the case of others also, as when he says to them, “We beseech you that you do not receive the grace of God in vain.”2Cor 6.1 Now, how could he so enjoin them if they received God’s grace in such a manner as to lose their own will? Nevertheless, lest the will itself should be deemed capable of doing any good thing without the grace of God, after saying, “His grace within me was not in vain, but I have laboured more abundantly than they all,” he immediately added the qualifying clause, “Yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”1Cor 15.10 In other words, Not I alone, but the grace of God with me. And thus it was neither the grace of God alone, nor was it he himself alone, but it was the grace Of God with him. Despite his call from heaven, and his conversion by that great and most effectual call, God’s grace was alone; this is because his merits, though great, were yet evil. Then, to quote one passage more, he says to Timothy: “But be a co-labourer with the gospel, according to the power of God who saves us and calls us with His holy calling—not according to our works but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus.”2Tim 1.8-9 Then elsewhere he enumerates his merits, and he gives us this description of their evil character: “For we ourselves also were formerly foolish, unbelieving, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.”Tit 3.3 To be sure, nothing but punishment was due to such a course of evil desert! God, however, who returns good for evil by His grace, which is not given according to our merits, enabled the apostle to conclude his statement and say: “But when the kindness and love of our Saviour God shone upon us—not of works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the layer of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Ghost, whom He shed upon us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”Tit 3.4-7