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Translation
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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
Theophylact of Ohrid
He saved us not by works which we had done, in other words: we had not even done works worthy of justification, nor were we saved by them, but His grace accomplished everything. Alas, we were so immersed in evil that we could no longer be cleansed, but had need of regeneration. For this is what regeneration and renewal mean — a second birth and a new formation. Just as we do not prop up a completely dilapidated house, but tear it down to its foundations and build it anew, so God did not merely repair us, but fully recreated us. …
Cyprian
But what a thing it is, to assert and contend that they who are not born in the Church can be the sons of God! For the blessed apostle sets forth and proves that baptism is that wherein the old man dies and the new man is born, saying, "He saved us by the washing of regeneration." But if regeneration is in the washing, that is, in baptism, how can heresy, which is not the spouse of Christ, generate sons to God by Christ? …
Methodius of Olympus
And this very thing the prophet before had announced in the words: No ambassador, nor angel, but the Lord Himself saved them; because He loved them, and spared them, and He took them up, and exalted them. And all this was, not of works of righteousness which we have done, nor because we loved Thee,-for our first earthly forefather, who was honourably entertained, in the delightful abode of Paradise, despised Thy divine and saving commandment, and was judged unworthy of that life-giving place, and mingling his seed with the bastard …
Western Saints
Augustine of Hippo
It is true we have not yet risen as Christ has, but we are said to have risen with Him on account of the hope which we have in Him. So again he says: "According to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration." Evidently what we obtain in the washing of regeneration is not the salvation itself, but the hope of it. And yet, because this hope is certain, we are said to be saved, as if the salvation were already bestowed. …
Ambrose of Milan
Who is the one who is born of the Spirit and is made Spirit? It is one who is renewed in the Spirit of his mind. It is one who is regenerated by water and the Holy Spirit. We receive the hope of eternal life through the laver of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit. And elsewhere the apostle Peter says: "You shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit." For who is he that is baptized with the Holy Spirit but he who is born again through water and the Holy Spirit? …
Thomas Aquinas
Then, when he says, not by the works, he states the reason why he saves: first, he rejects the supposed reason; second, he mentions the true reason. The supposed reason is that we are saved because of our own merits. But he rejects this when he says, not by the works of justice which we have done: "there is a remnant chosen by grace" (Rom 11:5); "not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart are you going to possess their land" (Deut 9:5). …
Translation