Pelagius believed that Augustine’s and Jerome’s views on salvation allowed for a lot of moral laziness. He felt as though God doesn’t dictate our lives and we, as mankind, have a choice as to whether or not we will be a sinner or be a follower of God. He did not believe in any type of “original sin.” Free will was given at creation and mankind is not born into sin. Adam’s sin does not pass down through birth and he was created to have a physical beginning and ending; sin created spiritual death (separation from God), not a physical death. All members of the human race that would follow would not be effected by Adam’s sin as all are born into the world in the same way that Adam was (physical death was a given, spiritual death was not). “He saw the Christian life as a constant effort through which one’s sins could be overcome and salvation attained.”[1] Pelagius had been raised in a Christian home and his experience was one of a constant battle against sin. Through his experience, he was led to believe that one’s sin could be overcome by one’s will.
Augustine, on the other hand, was practically the first Calvinist. He believed, with Pelagius, that Adam was innocent upon his creation, but differed in the fact that he believed that Adam was not a mortal being. Adam would be cursed with BOTH a physical and spiritual death because of his choice to sin. All of mankind would enter into the world with a sin nature as Adam became, after the Fall of Man. “There are times when the will is powerless against the hold sin has on it.”[2] He believed that the sinner has no choice but to sin because of the sin nature that has not been changed by a decision to follow Christ. Mankind has the freedom to choose, but before Christ, the only choice is the types of sin that is committed. “But between the Fall and redemption the only freedom left to us is freedom to sin. When we are redeemed, the grace of God works in us, leading our will from the miserable state in which it found itself to a new state in which freedom is restored, so that we are now free both to sin and not to sin.”[3] Augustine was also heavily influenced by his experience with God as he had a pagan father and a Christian mother. During his younger years he lived for the pleasures of the world and for himself. He would later be called out by God and commit his whole life to Christ and His work.
I believe that sin entered through the first man, Adam. As a result, all men are born sinners and Adam’s sin has been passed down (imputed) to all generations through him (Rom. 5:12). This first sin separated man from the relationship that was designed between God and man. Therefore, man is totally depraved (Rom 3:10-18). I believe that God chooses, out of His goodness and grace, who will come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Believers are part of the “chosen” who have been saved from their sin (Eph. 1:4-5, 11-12). I also believe that God wants no one to die, but for all to come to repentance (2 Ptr. 3:9). Scripture also indicates that salvation is a choice of each individual to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom 10:9-10; Acts 16:31; John 3:16-18). This indicates that it is both a choice of God and a choice of man when an individual comes to Christ. I would have to say that I lean heavily in the favor of Augustine and his convictions; however I would take issue with his strong stance on predestination.
[1] Justo L. Gonzalez, The Story of Christianity. Volume I: The Early Church to the Dawn of the Reformation (New York, HarperCollins Publishers, 1984), 214.
[2] Justo L. Gonzalez, The Story of Christianity. Volume I: The Early Church to the Dawn of the Reformation (New York, HarperCollins Publishers, 1984), 214.
[3] Justo L. Gonzalez, The Story of Christianity. Volume I: The Early Church to the Dawn of the Reformation (New York, HarperCollins Publishers, 1984), 214.
