[1][1] Our churches teach that a person’s will has some freedom to choose civil righteousness and to do things subject to reason. [2] It has no power, without the Holy Spirit, to work the righteousness of God, that is, spiritual righteousness. For “the natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 2:14). [3] This righteousness is worked in the heart when the Holy Spirit is received through the Word [Galatians 3:2–6].
[4] This is what Augustine says in his [2]Hypognosticon, Book III:
We grant that all people have a free will. It is free as far as it has the judgement of reason. This does not mean that it is able, without God, either to begin, or at least to complete, anything that has to do with God. It is free only in works of this life, whether good or evil. [5] Good I call those works that spring from the good in nature, such as willing to labour in the field, to eat and drink, to have a friend, to clothe oneself, to build a house, to marry a wife, to raise cattle, to learn various useful arts, or whatsoever good applies to this life. [6] For all of these things depend on the providence of God. They are from Him and exist through Him. [7] Works that are willing to worship an idol, to commit murder, and so forth, I call evil.
[8] Our churches condemn the Pelagians and others who teach that without the Holy Spirit, by natural power alone, we are able to love God above all things and do God’s commandments according to the letter. [9] Although nature is able in a certain way to do the outward work (for it is able to keep the hands from theft and murder), yet it cannot produce the inward motions, such as the fear of God, trust in God, chastity, patience, and so on.
[1] Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions © 2005, 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Used with permission. All rights reserved. To purchase a copy of Concordia, please contact CPH at 800-325-3040. Augsburg Confession XVIII, 1-9; pg 66-67.
[2] https://redbrickparsonage.wordpress.com/tag/hypognosticon/
1] Since the will of man is found in four unlike states, namely: 1. before the Fall; 2. since the Fall; 3. after regeneration; 4. after the resurrection of the body, the main question is only concerning the will and ability of man in the second state, namely, what powers in spiritual things he has of himself after the fall of our first parents and before regeneration, and whether he is able by his own powers, prior to and before his regeneration by God’s Spirit, to dispose and prepare himself for God’s grace, and to accept and apprehend, or not, the grace offered through the Holy Spirit in the Word and holy Sacraments.
2] 1. Concerning this subject, our doctrine, faith, and confession is, that in spiritual things the understanding and reason of man are altogether blind, and by their own powers understand nothing, as it is written [1 Corinthians 2:14], “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”
3] 2. Likewise we believe, teach, and confess that the unregenerate will of man is not only turned away from God, but also has become an enemy of God, so that it only has an inclination and desire for that which is evil and contrary to God, as it is written [Genesis 8:21], “… the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth.” Also [Romans 8:7], “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.”
As little as a dead body can invigorate itself to bodily, earthly life, so little can man, who by sin is spiritually dead, raise himself to spiritual life, as it is written [Ephesians 2:4-5], “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ …”; [2 Corinthians 3:5], “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, …”.
4] 3. God the Holy Spirit, however, does not effect conversion without means, but uses for this purpose the preaching and hearing of God’s Word, as it is written [Romans 1:16], The Gospel “ … is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, …” Also [Romans 10:17], “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” It is God’s will that His Word should be heard, and that man’s ears should not be closed. [Psalm 95:8]. With this Word the Holy Spirit is present, and opens hearts, so that they, as Lydia in [Acts 16:14], are attentive to it, and are thus converted alone through the grace and power of the Holy Spirit, whose 6] work alone the conversion of man is. For without His grace, and if He does not grant the increase, our willing and running, our planting, sowing, and watering, all are nothing, as Christ says [John 15:5], “… apart from me you can do nothing.” With these brief words He denies to the free will its powers, and ascribes everything to God’s grace, in order that no one may boast before God. [1 Corinthians 1:29]; [2 Corinthians 12:5]; [Jeremiah 9:23].
