|
"In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passion." (Jude 1:18) Have you noticed how the devil has become a bit of a joke or fun character in our world today? People do not take seriously the idea of a powerful evil spirit bent on the destruction of the human soul. Our world also suffers from a lack of the consciousness of sin; we think that anything goes nowadays as long as no one gets hurt. The trouble is that people are being hurt - they are being hurt emotionally, morally and spiritually! The problem stems from a lack of understanding about the nature of sin and its consequences upon our world.
But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."(Genesis 3:45) Sin entered our world with "the fall." Sin is a deliberate act that is opposed to the will of God. Adam and Eve committed the "Original sin," it was a simple act of disobedience. As a consequence of this sin, suffering and death entered our world. We have also inherited a condition from Adam and Eve: Along with the knowledge of good and evil, we also carry the "stain" of original sin. This is not so much a blot or dirty mark upon the human soul, as it is a hole or void in the soul, a lack of grace. God, who's Spirit can have no part of sin, withdrew His grace. But from all eternity God had a plan of salvation for re-uniting mankind to Himself: He began by preparing the souls of men for the return of His grace, by establishing the faith of His people (Jewish faith) and by giving them commandments and laws to live by. Knowing that this would not be enough to restore mankind, at the appointed time, He washed their souls clean from the "stain" of original sin by appeasing His justice with a pure offering for sin, that of His Son, Jesus. Through the Sacrament of Baptism we enter into the life of Christ and God's grace is restored to the soul, the void is filled, and mankind becomes whole once more. The grace of "conversion" or "justification" that leads us to desire the Sacrament of Baptism is called "First Grace," this is a free gift of the Father to His fallen children and cannot be merited by our behaviour.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing it is the gift of God - not because of works, lest any man should boast" (Eph 2:8&9). However, mankind's journey back to God only begins with Baptism: part of our inherited condition leaves us, despite First Grace and Baptism, with the condition of concupiscence, moral weakness and an ardour for worldly desires. This is a consequence of original sin; Baptism cleanses us free from the "guilt" and the "punishment" of original sin, but not from its consequences. Because of this, death (earthly not eternal) suffering, and our moral weaknesses remain. But this is no accident for we are told "for the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the Sons of God; for the creation was subject to futility, not of its own will but by the will of Him who subjected it in hope." (Rom 8:19&20) Our moral weaknesses, concupiscence and ardour of worldly desires remain that we may overcome them and become "sanctified" or holy. It is by our victory over these inherent defects (along with faith & Baptism) that we enter into the divine nature. We do this with the aid of God's "sanctifying grace," this grace again cannot be merited but does require an act of the will on our part to obtain it. God has given us the gift of freewill, and He will not compromise or take back that gift, therefore we must desire the good which God offers to us and reject the evil that satan offers to us. God's grace helps us to desire the good and reject the evil, it points us in the right direction, but the final choice is always ours because we have freewill. It is in this consent of the will that we can gain merit towards receiving even greater graces, or gifts of the Spirit from God that will also aid our sanctification. (PART TWO ON NEXT PAGE)
|
