Summary of the Week and a Reflection (16th & 17th February)

The Mystery of Sin and Grace

Diana Kimberly

Grace Saves!

In last week’s class we learnt on the Account of sin Genesis 3:1-24

Sin is an offense against the will of God. The First sin of Adam and Eve which was eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil affects all relationships between humans with God, humans to humans, humans with nature and humans to one self.

The author of good is God, while that of Evil is the Adversary, Satan. When Eve was tricked by the serpent to eat from the tree of knowledge and saw that the fruit was good for food and pleasing to the eye and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she went ahead to share with Adam even after they were asked not to eat fruit from that tree by God, having eaten the fruit they realized they were naked and so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves, when they heard the voice of the  Lord God as he was walking in the garden they hid as they knew they had disobeyed his command and therefore lost perfect harmony with God and were sent out of the garden of  Eden, the lord cursed the serpent and said that all livestock and wild animals would be above it, it would crawl on its belly and eat dust all its life and that there would be enmity between man and the serpent therefore man will crush his head and the serpent would strike his heel.

The lord also cursed the woman and told her that she would be in pain in childbearing, her desire would be for her husband and he would rule over her and to Adam the lord said that because he listened to woman and disobeyed him, he would toil in pain so as to eat all the days of his life. 

The consequences of the first sin are:

i) They (Adam& Eve) lost perfect harmony / peace with God

ii) Relationships that were a source of happiness became a source of pain; therefore we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God Romans 3:23

Original sin- It is not a personal sin, it is a consequence of the first sin and the whole humanity is affected. This is a condition, wherei we are not able to redeem ourselves so as to reach God and be one with him. Romans 7:13-25

Consequences of the Original sin are “Death”, “Suffering” and “Pain”.

I) Ignorance- Lack of perfect knowledge and understanding

ii) Concupiscence- attachment to what is “pleasurable”, “love for the cross” and” love for suffering”.

iii) Weakness of will- Lack of control of what one wants to do.

iv) Malice - a inclination to what is evil.

Grace is charis in Greek meaning a gift/ a blessing.

We have various gifts given to us by God

a) Natural gifts- are freely given to us some examples are:

-Life                                          -Our talents

-Our five senses                        -Love

-Intelligence                              -Rain

b) Sanctifying grace/created habitual grace- is the divine gift put into us. It forgives/removes the original sin and all actual sin making us reconciled children of God, assisting us further by creating good habits in us. Romans 5:5; 7:25; 8:1-39

b) Actual supernatural grace- makes you holy and they are:

-The sacramental graces (Graces from Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders and Matrimony)

-The 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit namely:

1. Wisdom

2. Understanding

3. Counsel

4. Fortitude

5. Knowledge

6. Piety

7. Fear of the Lord

-Grace of evangelical counsels, to live a life of chastity, poverty and obedience

-Prayer- the prayers we pray daily for protection, grace to be good at what we do i.e. to be good students lectures, parents and other roles we take up.

d) Uncreated grace- Is the gift of God himself which we will experience when we go to heaven.