God’s Grace

Overview

Augustine’s concept of God’s grace: Augustine believed that God’s grace is essential for human salvation and moral behaviour. Without it, humans are incapable of true goodness due to original sin.
Grace as a gift: Grace is seen as an unmerited gift from God, given freely and not earned by human effort. It is bestowed out of God’s love and mercy.

Erasure of original sin: Augustine taught that God’s grace, particularly through the sacrament of baptism, removes the guilt of original sin.
Enabling of right actions: Furthermore, God’s grace empowers humans to do good and avoid sinful behaviour. Humans cannot achieve salvation through their own actions; only God’s grace enables this.

Necessity of grace: Despite humans’ possession of free will, Augustine believed that without the assistance of God’s grace, they can only choose to sin as they are inherently flawed due to original sin.
Prevenient grace: This term refers to grace that precedes human action. It goes before a person, leading them towards faith in God and righteous actions.

Debate on predestination: Augustine’s views on grace, free will, and predestination sparked controversy and debates. Some critics argue that his views undermine human free will.
Pelagian controversy: Pelagius, a British moralist, opposed Augustine’s emphasis on original sin and grace. He proposed that humans could achieve morality and salvation through their own efforts. This disagreement led to significant theological conflict in early Christianity.