The second book of Acts- Ambrose and the fellas.

I think it is safe to say we are desperately in debt to those who proceeded us, who risked a lot more as a believer than say, a 21st century American believer as myself. Without in particular, the first several generations of believers, our ability to believe the Gospel in 2009 would be a much different experience.

One of the most influential Christians to ever live in the post-apostolic era is Ambrose, a 4th century Bishop. Perhaps the only post-apostolic Christian up to the Reformation that has been more influential in Biblical interpretation is Augustine - of course, whom was baptized and highly influenced by Ambrose.

There can be no doubt that Ambrose was deeply conscious of his sinful nature, and saw his only hope in Jesus the Christ, a justification fully by faith. It is no accident the early Reformers often referenced Ambrose. For instance, he is all over the Augsburg Confession:

"In Adam I fell, in Adam I was cast out of Paradise, in Adam I died. How shall God call me back, except he find me in the Second Adam – justified in Christ, even as in the first Adam I was made subject to guilt and destined to death?"

He points out, stunning in its accuracy, "By humbling myself I have broken the bonds of that ancient transgression by which Adam and Eve had bound the whole line of their succession."

Here, Ambrose has captured in one sentence what I will not be able to in any series of posts. In order to call on the name of Lord, we must realize the great need, the great desperation, and reach out to our only hope.

Ambrose, concludes a little later:

"Here is one reason that the Law was unnecessary and became necessary, unnecessary in that it would not have been needed if we had been able to keep the natural law; but, as we did not keep it, the Law of Moses became needful to teach me obedience and loosen that bond of Adam’s deception which had ensnared his whole posterity. Yes, guilt grew by the Law, but pride, the source of guilt, was loosed, and this was an advantage to me. Pride discovered the guilt and the guilt brought grace.
Consider another reason. The Law of Moses was not needful; hence, it entered secretly. Its entrance seems not of an ordinary kind, but like something clandestine because it entered secretly into the place of the natural law. Thus, if she had but kept her place, this written law would never have entered it, but, since deception had banished that law and nearly blotted it out of the human breast, pride reigned and disobedience was rampant. Therefore, that other took its place so that by its written expression it might challenge us and shut our mouth, in order to make the whole world subject to God. The world,²⁴ however, became subject to him through the Law, because all are brought to trial by the prescript of the Law, and no one is justified by the works of the Law; in other words, because the knowledge of sin comes from the Law, but guilt is not remitted, the Law, therefore, which has made all men sinners, seems to have caused harm.
But, when the Lord Jesus came he forgave all men the sin they could not escape, and canceled the decree against us by shedding his blood [Colossians 2:14]. This is what he says: “By the Law sin abounded, but grace abounded by Jesus” [Romans 5:20], since after the whole world became subject he took away the sins of the whole world, as John bears witness, saying: “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” [John 1:29] Let no one glory, then, in his own works, since no one is justified by his deeds, but one who is just has received a gift, being justified by Baptism. It is faith, therefore, which sets us free by the blood of Christ, for he is blessed whose sin is forgiven and to whom pardon is granted (Psalm 32:1)."

We would all benefit from reading about Ambrose's understanding of Biblical Justification. Ambrose reminds me of the story in Luke, of the man who was distraught over his sinful nature, and the words of Jesus..."I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 18:14)."