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In his “Treatise on Grace and Free Will” Augustin wrote of the dangers of placing too much emphasis on grace and not enough on freewill and vice versa. Then Augustin wrote in opposition to the Pelagian position that salvation is attained through merit.
Augustin’s basic assertion here was that grace is not the result of good works but rather good works are a result of grace. Augustin proposed that good works were merely an extension of God’s grace. Augustin discussed the concept of “grace for grace,” which was consistent with Augustin’s basic assertion about good works being the result of grace and not vice versa. In this writing Augustin proposed that God’s grace provides us with “particles of ability as it were for leading good lives.”
In this piece Augustin attempted to rebut several of the Pelagian beliefs. Augustin did this by showing the inconsistencies between what the Pelagians believed and some things written in the scriptures. An example of this came when Augustin pointed out that eternal life couldn’t be a free gift and a reward for good works at the same time.
By keeping the emphasis on grace and what God’s grace can do for us, Augustin has encouraged his readers to keep a humble spirit. By establishing good works as being a result of grace Augustin has reminded his readers that there is nothing they can do on their own to earn God’s grace. This allows the reader to remain humble but always know that the grace of God is available to those who are willing to confess that they fall short of the glory of God.