ACC ~ John 8 v36

FREE FROM SIN, FREE FOR JOY

AUGUSTINE: The first stage of freedom, then, is to abstain from sins… such as murder, adultery, any sexual sins, theft, fraud, sacrilege, and others of that sort. When someone has started getting free from these (and every Christian ought to be so), he begins to raise his head toward freedom. But that is freedom begun, not completed. Why, says someone, is it not completed freedom? Because “I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind”; “for what I want to do,” he says, “that I do not do; but what I hate, that I do.” [1] “The flesh,” he says, “lusts against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh, so that you do not do the things that you want.” [2] There is partial freedom and partial bondage. This freedom is not yet complete, pure or full freedom because it is not yet in eternity. For we are still partially weak and thus only partially free. Whatever our sin was previously, it was wiped out in baptism. But because all our iniquity has been blotted out, does that mean there is no weakness left? If there were no weakness left, then that would mean that we should be living here without sin. Yet who would venture to say such a thing except someone who is proud but also unworthy of the Deliverer’s mercy? This is the kind of person who wants to be self-deceived and who is destitute of the truth. And so, from the fact that some weakness remains, I venture to say that in whatever measure we serve God, we are free. In whatever measure we serve the law of sin, we are still in bondage. And so too the apostle says what we began to say: “I delight in the law of God after the inward person.” [3] Here it is then. Freedom occurs when we delight in the law of God, for freedom gives you joy. As long as you do what is right out of fear, you find no delight in God. Find your delight in him, and you are free. Do not fear punishment; rather, love righteousness. Are you not yet able to love righteousness? Fear even punishment then so that you may attain to the love of righteousness. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 41.10. [4]

[1] Rom 7:13-15.

[2] Gal 5:17.

[3] Rom 7:22.

[4] NPNF 1 7:233**.

ONLY CHRIST CAN GRANT TRUE FREEDOM

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: The power to set free belongs to none other than the one who is the Son by nature—one who is truly free and unconstrained by any bondage. Because he is wisdom and light and power by nature, he makes those who are ignorant wise. He enlightens those in darkness, and he strengthens those who are weak. Therefore, because he is God of God and the genuine and free fruit of the essence that reigns over all, he bestows freedom on whomever he wants to. For no one can become truly free at the hands of one who does not possess freedom by nature. But, when the Son himself wills to free anyone, infusing his own good [into them], they are called free indeed. They receive dignity from the one who possesses authority and not from any of those who have borrowed it from another or those who have been ennobled, as it were, with a grace that was not theirs to begin with. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 5.5. [1]

[1] LF 43:631-32**.

DO NOT ABUSE YOUR FREEDOM

AUGUSTINE: Do not then abuse your freedom for the purpose of sinning freely. Rather, use it in order not to sin at all. Your will is free only if it is godly. You will be free if you become the servant of righteousness. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 41.8. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 7:232*.