Jesus Christ, through whom we also have access to this grace in which we stand
22 SAINT AUGUSTINE - SERMONS great and eternal Day into this so brief and temporal day of ours. He it is who was made for us justice and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written: Whoever boasts should boast in the Lord (1 Cor 1:31; Jer 9:24).
Now we must not be like the pride of the Jews, who being ignorant of God's justice, and wishing to establish their own, did not submit to the justice of God
(Rom 10:3); for that reason, after saying, Truth has sprung from the earth, it at once added, and Justice has looked forth from heaven (Ps 85:11), in case the weakness of mortals should claim this justice for itself, and call these things its own, and mankind, through believing that it was justified by itself, that is that it became just on its own, should refuse God's justice.
So Truth has sprung from the earth; Christ, who said lam the truth (Jn 14:6), has been bom of the virgin. And Justice has looked forth from heaven-, since by believing in the one who was so bom, mankind has been justified not by itself but by God. Truth has sprung from the earth, because the Word became flesh (Jn 1:14); and Justice has looked forth from heaven, because every best endow¬ ment and every perfect gift is from above (Jas 1:17). Truth has sprung from the earth, flesh from Mary; and Justice has looked forth from heaven, because man cannot receive anything unless it has been given him from heaven (Jn 3:27).
See whether you can find anything but grace
3. Justified therefore by faith, let us have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we also have access to this grace in which we stand and boast in the hope of the glory of God (Rom 5:1-2). With these few words of the apostle, brothers and sisters, which you recognize with me, it is a pleasure to mix a few words of this psalm, and to discover the way they fit each other. Justified by faith, let us have peace with God, because justice and peace have kissed each other (Ps 85:10). Through our Lord Jesus Christ, because Truth has sprung from the earth (Ps 85:11). Through whom we also have access to this grace in which we stand and boast in the hope of the glory of God. He didn't say "our glory," but the glory of God, because justice has not proceeded from us, but has looked forth from heaven (Ps 85:11). Therefore, whoever boasts should boast, not in himself, but in the Lord (1 Cor 1:31).
Thus it was, you see, that the voices of the angelic choir sang the praises of the Lord bom of the virgin, whose birthday we are celebrating today: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will (Lk 2:14). Why peace on earth, I mean, unless because Truth has sprung from the earth, that is,
Christ has been bom of flesh? And he is our peace, who has made both into one (Eph 2:14), that we might be people of good will, agreeably linked together by the bonds of unity. In this grace, therefore, let us rejoice, that our boast may be the testimony of our conscience,4 where we should be boasting not in ourselves but in the Lord. That, you see, is why it says, My glory and the one who lifts up my head (Ps 3:4). I mean, what greater grace could have shone upon us from God, than that having his only-begotten Son he should make him a Son of man, and thus in exchange make the Son of man into the Son of God?5 Look for merit