ACC ~ John 3 v36

FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD

CHRYSOSTOM: See how he refers to the Father again when he speaks of punishment. He did not say, “the wrath of the Son,” although the Son is the judge. Rather, he makes the Father the judge in order to alarm them more. He does not mean here that to believe on the Son says everything that needs to be said concerning gaining everlasting life, for elsewhere he says, “Not every one that says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.” [1] And the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is of itself sufficient to send someone into hell…. But we must not think that even a right belief in Father, Son and Holy Spirit is all there is to salvation… for our [faith] also has need of a good life and conversation. Knowing then that the greater part are not moved so much by the promise of good, as by the threat of punishment, he concludes, “But he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him.”… And he does not say “in him” but “on him,” meaning that the wrath will never depart from him. And for the same reason he says, “shall not see life,” that is, to show that he did not mean only a temporal death! HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 31.1. [2]

[1] Mt 7:21.

[2] NPNF 1 14:106**.

BELIEF MAKES GOD’S WRATH CEASE

AMBROSE: The wrath that remains on him certainly had its beginning from some offence, in other words, first of all, that he did not believe. When, then, anyone believes, the wrath of God departs and life arrives. To believe, then, in Christ is to gain life, for “He who believes in him is not judged.” [1] CONCERNING REPENTANCE 1.12.53. [2]

[1] Jn 3:18.

[2] SC 179:98; NPNF 2 10:338*.

THE WRATH OF GOD REMAINS ON HIM

AUGUSTINE: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life.” Why? Because he has done the work of God, seeing that this is the work of God that you should believe in the one whom he has sent. “But whoever does not believe in the Son will not have life, but the wrath of God remains on him”; [1] not “will come upon him” but “remains on him.” He is abandoned, not healed. SERMON 130A.7. [2]

[1] Jn 3:36.

[2] WSA 3 11:123.

UNBELIEVERS RESURRECTED BUT NOT LIVING

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: He says that the believer shall have everlasting life, but the word has a different significance for the unbeliever. For he does not say that [the unbeliever] shall not have life since he too shall be raised by the common law of the resurrection. But he says that he shall not see life, that is, he shall not even so much as glimpse the life of the saints, he shall not touch their blessedness, and he shall not taste of their life spent in bliss. For that is indeed life. But to exist in punishment is far more bitter than any death, holding the soul in the body only for the sensation of suffering. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 2.4. [1]

[1] LF 43:199*.