This is the righteousness of God. As it is said: The salvation of the Lord, not by which the Lord is saved, but which He gives to those whom He saves: so also the grace of God through Jesus Christ our Lord is called the righteousness of God, not by which the Lord is righteous, but by which He justifies those whom He makes righteous out of the ungodly. But certain people, like the Jews at times, wanting to be called Christians, still ignoring God's righteousness, want to establish their own, even in our times, the times of revealed grace, the times now evident, grace once hidden, now evident in the area, which once lay hidden in the fleece. I see few have understood this, many have not understood, whom I will not defraud by remaining silent. One of the ancient righteous, Gideon, asked for a sign from the Lord, and said: I ask, Lord, that this fleece which I place in the area be wet, and the area be dry. It happened: the fleece was wet, the entire area was dry. He squeezed the fleece in the morning into a bowl; for grace is given to the humble: and you know what the Lord did with the bowl for His disciples. He again asked for another sign: I wish, he said, Lord, that the fleece be dry and the area be wet. And this also happened. Recall the time of the Old Testament, grace was hidden in the cloud, like rain in the fleece. Now attend to the time of the New Testament, examine the Jewish nation, you will find it as dry fleece: but the whole world is like that area full of grace, not hidden, but evident. Hence we are compelled to mourn greatly for our brothers, who contend not against hidden grace but against revealed and manifest grace. It is excused for the Jews. But Christians? Why are you enemies of the grace of Christ? Why are you presumptuous? Why are you ungrateful? For why did Christ come? Was nature not here? Was the law not here? But the Apostle says: If righteousness is through the Law, then Christ died in vain. What the Apostle says about the law, we say to these people about nature: If righteousness is through nature, then Christ died in vain.
Councils against the Pelagians.
What therefore was said about the Jews, we absolutely see in these. They have a zeal for God. I bear witness to them, for they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. What does it mean: Not according to knowledge? For being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to the righteousness of God. My brothers, sympathize with me. Where you find such people, do not hide it, do not let there be a perverse mercy in you: absolutely where you find such people, do not hide it. Rebuke those who contradict, and lead those who resist to us. For already on this cause two councils have been sent to the Apostolic See: thence also responses have come. The case is closed: would that the error may sometime end! Therefore, we advise that they pay attention, we teach that they be instructed, we pray that they be changed. Turned to the Lord...