Chapter 157 — That man cannot be freed from sin save by grace

From the same premises it can be shown that man cannot arise from mortal sin except by grace.

For by mortal sin, man turns away from his last end. But by grace alone is man directed towards his last end. (Ch. 147.) Therefore, by grace alone can he arise from sin.

Again. Offense is not removed save by love. Now, by mortal sin man offends God: for it is written that God hates sinners (Wis 14:9; Sir 13:3, 7), inasmuch as it is his will to deprive them of the last end, which he prepares for those whom he loves. Therefore, man cannot arise from sin except by grace, which causes a kind of friendship between God and man.

The same conclusion follows from all the arguments given above (From ch. 147. onwards.) to prove the necessity of grace.

Hence it is said: I, I am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake (Isa 43:25); and: You did forgive the iniquity of your people; you did pardon all their sins (Ps 85:2[84:3]).

Hereby is refuted the error of the Pelagians, who said that man can arise from sin by his free-will.