THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
The Scriptures convey the relationship between God’s law and His grace as follows: "For by the deeds of the law no flesh shall be justified before Him; for by the law sin is known." However, apart from the law, God's truth has been manifested, which is affirmed by both the law and the prophets (Rom. 3:20,21). When it is stated that the truth has appeared, it indicates that this truth existed but was previously undetected, much like the dew Gideon requested that was not seen on the fleece but is now evident throughout the earth. The law, devoid of grace, could neither abolish sin nor lessen it but, instead, magnified it. As it is written, “But the sting of death is sin; and the power of sin is the law” (1 Cor. 15:56).
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Many, confronted by the formidable nature of sin, seek solace in the grace now abundantly present, which was once obscure and scarcely acknowledged. This distinction across different times reflects the profound depth of Divine wisdom and the vastness of God’s understanding, as articulated: "Oh, the abyss of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How incomprehensible are His judgments and His ways past finding out!" (Rom. 11:33).
Gideon, a notable figure among the faithful, requested a confirmation from the Lord a second time, expressing, "If Thou wilt save Israel by my hand, as Thou hast spoken, behold, I will spread out here in the threshing floor a sheared wool; if the dew be only on the wool, and the whole land be dry, I shall know that Thou wilt save Israel by my hand, as Thou hast spoken." The Lord answered him, and the next morning, Gideon awoke early, wringing out the fleece and extracting a full cup of water from the dew. “For God gives grace to the humble” (1 Pet. 5:5). It is well known what the Lord did for His disciples during the washing of their feet (See Jn. 13:19). Yet again, Gideon petitioned the Lord for a sign, saying, "Do not be angry with me, if once more I say, and once more only, I will make a trial of the wool: let it be dry on the wool alone, but let there be dew on all the earth." God fulfilled this request that night; the fleece remained dry while the rest of the earth was covered in dew.
In the Old Testament, grace was concealed like the rain in the clouds or dew on fleece. In the current era of the New Testament, we observe the Jewish people as akin to dry fleece, while the entire world symbolizes "the whole earth," brimming with accessible and unconfined grace. It is a cause for sorrow today that they resist the grace that has been revealed and is no longer hidden. Yet, let us forgive the Jewish people. But what can we say about Christians? Why do you stand opposed to the grace of Christ? What compels you to depend on your own efforts? Why show ingratitude? Why did Christ come? Was not human nature present before? Are you not deluding yourself with excessive commendation? Has the law not been present? The apostle states, "But if by the law we are justified, then Christ died in vain" (Galatians 2:21). Just as this applies to the law, we might assert similarly regarding human nature: if justification comes by nature, then Christ's death is in vain.