Confessions - Book Vii - Chapter Xviii
St. Augustine reveals how embracing Christ’s humility and mediation enables believers to transcend pride and find true spiritual strength and nourishment.
In this devotional sermon, St. Augustine explores the profound mystery of Christ’s incarnation and mediation, emphasizing how believers must embrace humility to receive true spiritual nourishment and strength. He reflects on the divine condescension of the Word made flesh and calls listeners to cast aside pride and rely fully on Christ’s power. This message invites Christians to deepen their faith through dependence on Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life.
Text
24. I sought, therefore, some way to acquire the strength sufficient to enjoy thee; but I did not find it until I embraced that \"Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus,\"[215] \"who is over all, God blessed forever,\"[216] who came calling and saying, \"I am the way, the truth, and the life,\"[217] and mingling with our fleshly humanity the heavenly food I was unable to receive. For \"the Word was made flesh\" in order that thy wisdom, by which thou didst create all things, might become milk for our infancy. And, as yet, I was not humble enough to hold the humble Jesus; nor did I understand what lesson his weakness was meant to teach us. For thy Word, the eternal Truth, far exalted above even the higher parts of thy creation, lifts his subjects up toward himself. But in this lower world, he built for himself a humble habitation of our own clay, so that he might pull down from themselves and win over to himself those whom he is to bring subject to him; lowering their pride and heightening their love, to the end that they might go on no farther in self-confidence--but rather should become weak, seeing at their feet the Deity made weak by sharing our coats of skin--so that they might cast themselves, exhausted, upon him and be uplifted by his rising.
Sermon Outline
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I. The Search for Spiritual Strength
- Human inability to enjoy God without divine help
- The need for a mediator between God and man
- Recognition of personal weakness and pride
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II. The Humble Incarnation of Christ
- The Word made flesh to nourish spiritual infancy
- Christ’s humility as a lesson for believers
- The divine condescension to human weakness
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III. The Call to Dependence on Christ
- Rejecting self-confidence and pride
- Casting oneself upon Christ’s strength
- Being uplifted through Christ’s resurrection and power
Key Quotes
“I sought, therefore, some way to acquire the strength sufficient to enjoy thee; but I did not find it until I embraced that "Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus.” — St. Augustine
“The Word was made flesh" in order that thy wisdom, by which thou didst create all things, might become milk for our infancy.” — St. Augustine
“He built for himself a humble habitation of our own clay, so that he might pull down from themselves and win over to himself those whom he is to bring subject to him.” — St. Augustine
Application Points
- Recognize your own spiritual weakness and seek Christ’s mediation.
- Practice humility by following Christ’s example of condescension.
- Depend daily on Jesus for strength rather than relying on self-confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the mediator mentioned by Augustine?
The mediator is Jesus Christ, who bridges the gap between God and humanity.
Why does Augustine emphasize Christ’s humility?
Because Christ’s humility teaches believers to reject pride and rely on God’s strength.
What does it mean that the Word was made flesh?
It means that Jesus, the eternal Word, took on human nature to redeem and nourish believers.
How can believers find spiritual strength according to Augustine?
By casting themselves upon Christ and embracing their own weakness in humility.
What is the ultimate purpose of Christ’s incarnation?
To lift believers from pride to love and dependence on God.