Systematic Theology (Vol 2) - Hodge - XII - Chapter 8 (Sin) continued

Required reading
Systematic Theology by Charles Hodge (Vol 2) (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue Chapter 8 (Sin) by reading up to the heading '6. Doctrine of the Church of Rome'.

My summary
This week Hodge continues teaching us about sin.

Firstly we learn about the doctrine of sin according to the early church.  Hodge says that the following points were insisted upon:
(i) that all men in their present state are sinners;
(ii) that this universal sinfulness of men had its historical and causal origin in the voluntary apostasy of Adam;
(iii) that such is the present state of human nature that salvation can be attained in no other way than through Christ, and by the assistance of his Spirit;
(iv) that even infants as soon as born need regeneration and redemption, and can be saved only through the merit of Christ.

Secondly we hear about the Pelagian theory of sin which stems from the radical principle that ability limits obligation.

Thirdly Hodge discusses Augustine's understanding of sin, which was rooted in viewing sin as negation.

What grabbed me
I liked how Hodge showed that Augustine's doctrine of sin led to a reformed understanding of salvation:  'From these facts of consciousness and experience Augustine drew the inevitable conclusion, (1.) That if men are saved it cannot be by their own merit, but solely through the undeserved love of God. (2.) That the regeneration of the soul must be the exclusive and supernatural work of the Holy Ghost ; that the sinner could neither effect the work nor cooperate in its production. In other words, that grace is certainly efficacious or irresistible. (3.) That salvation is of grace or of the sovereign mercy of God, (a.) In that God might justly have left men to perish in their apostasy without any provision for their redemption. (5.) In that men, being destitute of the power of doing anything holy or meritorious, their justification cannot be by works, but must be a matter of favour, (c.) In that it depends not on the will of the persons saved, but on the good pleasure of God, who are to be made partakers of the redemption of Christ. In other words, election to eternal life must be founded on the sovereign pleasure of God, and not on the foresight of good works. (4.) A fourth inference from the principles of Augustine was the perseverance of the saints. If God of his own good pleasure elects some to eternal life, they cannot fail of salvation. It thus appears that as all the distinguishing doctrines of the Pelagians are the logical consequences of their principle of plenary ability as the ground and limit of obligation, so the distinguishing doctrines of Augustine are the logical consequences of his principle of the entire inability of fallen man to do anything spiritually good. '

If you misunderstand the doctrine of sin, you'll misunderstand the doctrine of salvation.

Next week's reading
Continue Chapter 8 (Sin) by reading up to the heading '7. Protestant doctrine of sin'.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.