Whether the Justification of the Ungodly is a Miraculous Work?
- Christian B. Wagner
- Oct 25, 2022
- 3 min read
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Collect: O God who hath created us and more gloriously redeemed us, elevating us to become partakers of the Divine Nature, grant that we may continue in thy grace and die in thy favor, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Summary
In the Sed Contra, St. Thomas argues that we are "naturally capable" of the theological virtues. It is important to note that, by this, he means that there is some capability of being actualized, not necessarily that there is a "self-actualization" as most would take it prima facie.
In the Respondeo, he sets forth three requirments for a miracle. First, it must be something that can only be done by God alone. In this sense, Justification can be called a "miracle." Second, it must be something beyond the power of the object. In this sense, justification is not a miracle because there is an "obediental potency" present in man, i.e., an ability to obey God. Third, it is above and beyond the normal ordering of things. In this way, justification is sometimes miraculous, such as with St. Paul, and other times not.
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