He, moreover, who says that any man, after he has received remission of sins, has ever lived in this body, or still is living, so righteously as to have no sin at all, he contradicts the Apostle John, who declares that If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8 Observe, the expression is not we had, but we have. --St. Augustine, On Man's Perfection in Righteousness
I'm surprised that you're drawing attention to this particular work. Seems to me that chapter 18 and chapter 24 (perhaps a few other bits too) aren't really friendly to a Lutheran interpretation.
ReplyDeleteI also would point out that the Church has long prayed "Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin".
It's really an interesting work, though, isn't it? There are definitely points that I raise my eyebrows on; but much good, good thought.
ReplyDeleteAs for the prayer, indeed she does. Or one might cite the prayer that Lutherans use at the start of the day: "And I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil." And yet the Church also teaches us to pray each night: "forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong."