ACC ~ John 15 v3

THE SANCTIFYING POWER OF JESUS’ TEACHING

BASIL THE GREAT: The world, that is, life enslaved by the affections of the flesh, can no more receive the grace of the Spirit than a weak eye the light of a sunbeam. But the Lord, who by his teaching bore witness to purity of life, gives to his disciples the power of now both beholding and contemplating the Spirit. For “now,” he says, “you are clean through the word that I have spoken to you,” wherefore “the world cannot receive him, because it does not see him … but you know him. For he dwells with you.” And this is what Isaiah says, “He who spread forth the earth and that which comes out of it; he who gives breath to the people on it, and Spirit to them that trample on it.” [1] For those who trample down earthly things and rise above them are shown to be as worthy of the gift of the Holy Spirit. ON THE HOLY SPIRIT 22.53. [2]

[1] Is 42:5.

[2] NPNF 2 8:34.

THE PURIFYING POWER OF THE GOSPEL WORD

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: He makes his disciples a palpable and convincing demonstration of the art of the purifier of their souls. For already, he says, they are purged not by participating in anything else but merely by the word spoken to them, that is, the divine guidance of the gospel. And this word proceeds from Christ. What man or woman of sense, then, can any longer call into question that the Father has, as it were, a pruning knife and hand through whose instrumentality everything exists, that is, the Son, fulfilling the activity of that husbandry in us which he attributes to the person of the Father, teaching us that all things proceed from the Father by the instrumentality of the Son? For it is the Word of the Savior that purges us; the husbandry of our souls is attributed to God the Father. For this is his living Word, sharp as a sword, “piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart.” [1] For, reaching into the depths of each person’s inmost soul and having every person’s hidden purpose revealed before it as God, it brings its keen edge to bear on our vain pursuits by the working of the Spirit. For this is what our purification consists in, I suppose. And all things that are for our profit in the attainment of virtue it increases and multiplies to bear the fruit that is conceived in righteousness. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 10.2 [2]

[1] Heb 4:12.

[2] LF 48:381-82*.

THE POWER OF THE WORD IN THE SACRAMENT

AUGUSTINE: “Now you are clean through the word that I have spoken to you.” Why doesn’t he say, You are clean through the baptism with which you have been washed, rather than “through the word that I have spoken to you,” except for the fact that in the water also it is the word that cleanses? Take away the word, and the water is neither more nor less than water. The word is added to the element, and there results the sacrament, as if it itself is also a kind of visible word. For he had said also the same thing when washing the disciples’ feet: “He who is washed needs not to wash, except for his feet, but is altogether clean.” [1] And how does water have so great an efficacy, as in touching the body to cleanse the soul, if not by the operation of the word—and that not because it is uttered but because it is believed? For even in the word itself, the passing sound is one thing, the abiding efficacy another. [2] … For Christ, who is the vine with us, and the husbandman with the Father, “loved the church and gave himself for it.” [3] But read the apostle and see what he adds: “That he might sanctify it, cleansing it with the washing of water by the word.” [4] The cleansing, therefore, would on no account be attributed to the fleeting and perishable element were it not for what is added: “by the word.” This word of faith possesses such power in the church of God that through the medium of him who in faith presents and blesses and sprinkles it, he cleanses even the tiny infant, although itself unable as yet with the heart to believe unto righteousness and to make confession with the mouth unto salvation. All this is done by means of the word about which the Lord says, Now you are clean through the word that I have spoken to you.” TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 80.3. [5]

[1] Jn 13:10.

[2] Augustine cites Rom 10:10; Acts 15:9; 1 Pet 3:21; Rom 10:8.

[3] Eph 5:25.

[4] Eph 5:26.

[5] NPNF 1 7:344-45*; CCL 36:529.