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August 13, 2005
Ch. XV. Q. 90. Effects on Human Nature
THE EFFECTS of the fall upon man's nature were (a) a loss of grace and of the gift of the Holy Spirit; (b) certain spiritual wounds; (c) reversion to natural mortality.1
2. Divine grace, in so far as it is adapted to a state of innocence, is permanently nullified by sin. This disaster having occurred, grace had to be given, if at all, by new methods—in purificatory and remedial forms. It was God's will to show this mercy in a dispensation of redemption, and while mankind was being prepared for this, conditions were afforded under which the earlier generations of men could be enabled, in the fulness of time, to participate in its benefits.
3. Through loss of grace which he was intended to enjoy man reverted to his natural insufficiency. His animal impulses asserted their power, and his "integrity"—the harmonious ordering of his faculties—was upset. His nature was not changed in se, but certain "wounds" we're incurred: (a) blindness, or reduced capacity of spiritual discernment; (b) concupiscence, or unregulated carnal cravings; (c) malice, or reduction of desire for spiritual good; (d) weakness, or moral inability wildly to avoid sin and to attain to God. Yet human nature had not become intrinsically evil, or totally depraved. The capacities for good upon which redeeming gracce operates remained.2
4. Man is naturally liable to physical death; and the exemption therefrom which divine grace might have afforded if it had been retained was necessarily nullified by sin. Redemption has made immortality once more available, but only through resurrection from the death to which the primitive loss of grace by sin has subjected our race.3
5. Adam transmitted to his posterity the nature wherewith he was created, but to transmit the supernatural gifts by which alone his natural lack of self-sufficiency was provided for, and which he had forfeited by sin, was not within his power.4 The resulting spiritual limitations of our race are symbolized by the phrase "original sin."
1 Creation, ch. ix. 2; Thos. B. Strong, Manual of Theol., pp. 233-265.
2 St. Thomas. I. II. lxxxv. 1-4; A.P. Forbes, Thirty-Nine Arts., pp. 145-150; A.J. Mason, Faith of the Gospel, ch. iv. 12; A. Chandler, Spirit of Man, pp. 43-47.
3 Gen. ii. 17; iii. 19, 22-24; Rom. v. 12; 1 Cor. xv. 20-22; Wisdom ii. 23. St. Thomas, I. II. lxxxv. 5-6; D. Stone, Outlines of Christ. Dogma, pp. 48-49; A.B. Davidson, Theol. of Old. Test., pp. 432-436.
4 Evolution, pp. 204-218; St. Thomas, I. II. lxxxi; Thos. B. Strong, pp. 237-241; A. Moore, Essays Scientific and Phil., I.
Posted by AKMA at August 13, 2005 06:33 AM