Methodius is praised by many ancient Christian writers. He was bishop of Olympus and Patara. He removed to Phoenicia during the latest great persecutions of the Church and was martyred in Greece.
I happened upon his view of why we sin after baptism and thought it was worthy of sharing. It is found in the Latin original, “De Resurrectio” in Migne Patrologia Graeca or in the English translation, “The Resurrection,” in The Ante-Nicene Fathers.
So why do we sin after baptism if at baptism and the receiving of the Holy Spirit we are regenerated? Isn’t it at that time that we repent and become washed anew in Christ? Why do we still struggle with sin?
“For while the body still lives, before it has passed through death, sin must also live with it, as it has its roots concealed within us, even though it be externally checked by the wounds inflicted by corrections and warnings; since, otherwise, it would not happen that we do wrong after baptism, as we should be entirely and absolutely free from sin.” I.V.
Methodius argued that sin is rooted in our bodies. Until death, sin remains in our flesh. We struggle against it each day. As times goes on, sin becomes more and more lulled to sleep by our faith. That is if we restrain its sprouts and evil imaginations to choke out those roots of bitterness.
An example he gives is that of the potter in Jeremiah 18:2-4. The original pot was broken and refashioned into a new pot without blemish. This, Jeremiah wrote, is what God is doing with Israel. The pot that has blemishes must be broken in order that it may be restored to perfection.
Paul tells believers to consider themselves dead (Rom 6). It is by this means that we put to sleep the works of the flesh. By considering it dead, we put to death its deeds. Though sin will rear its ugly head, we march on in victory against it until the day of the final consummation of all believers: the day we are renewed and resurrected over it forever.
Becoming the Faithful 