“Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”
Hebrews 11:16
After Augustine’s conversion, he was baptized and moved back to Northern Africa, to the town of Hippo. There Augustine became the bishop in his church, faithfully pastoring and teaching the Word until his death in AD 430.
The books he wrote are highly regarded still today. Confessions was a testimony to God’s grace in his life. Augustine was convinced that if God had not moved towards him, he never would have embraced Christ as his Savior.
In AD 410 Rome fell for the first time to the Visigoths. Many refugees fled to Hippo and wondered if the world was ending. They believed Rome was “the” Christian city, the Eternal City. But Augustine taught that God was not preserving one city so much as He was preserving the Church. This led him to write The City of God, one of his most well-known books. He explained there are two cities—God’s and man’s—which are mingled for now. He wanted Christians to see how they can faithfully live for God’s glory while awaiting Christ’s return, regardless of what earthly city they lived in.
The books he wrote are highly regarded still today. Confessions was a testimony to God’s grace in his life. Augustine was convinced that if God had not moved towards him, he never would have embraced Christ as his Savior.
In AD 410 Rome fell for the first time to the Visigoths. Many refugees fled to Hippo and wondered if the world was ending. They believed Rome was “the” Christian city, the Eternal City. But Augustine taught that God was not preserving one city so much as He was preserving the Church. This led him to write The City of God, one of his most well-known books. He explained there are two cities—God’s and man’s—which are mingled for now. He wanted Christians to see how they can faithfully live for God’s glory while awaiting Christ’s return, regardless of what earthly city they lived in.
Scripture Focus
Hebrews 11:8-16
Insight
Understanding we’re citizens here but will be in eternity with Christ one day, we say with Paul, “To live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).
Bible In A Year
- 1 Chronicles 8-9
- Proverbs 28
- Revelation 11-12
