More Augustine

From The Spirit and the Letter (on Romans 2:17-29):

Nonetheless, they thought that they fulfilled this law of God by their own righteousness, though they were rather transgressors of it. For this reason it brought God's anger upon them, and sin, which was being committed by people with knowledge, became more abundant, because those who did what the law commanded without the help of the Spirit of grace did so out of fear of punishment, not out of a love of righteousness. And for this reason God did not see in their will what human beings saw in their action; rather, they were held guilty as a result of what God knew that they preferred to do, if only they could have done so with impunity. He calls circumcision of the heart a will that is free from every forbidden desire. This is not the result of the teaching and threat of the letter, but the help and healing of the Spirit.

Wow. Never read the Apostle Paul, Augustine, or Luther unless you know you are about to be knocked flat. This quote knocks me flat. - DOB