Theology of Grace - 852 Words

Theology of Grace There are many different ways to interpret the theology of grace. In this paper, I will be discussing four major theologians who have the most popular insights on grace. These theologians include Augustine, Aquinas, Luther, and Rahner who all have their own unique perspective on grace. All of their theories seem to intertwine with one another but each individual one has a different twist that makes them slightly different. The first theologian I’m going to discuss is Augustine. Augustine was known as the ‘Father of Grace.’ He believed that all human nature is in disorder due to universal sin of Adam and Eve. According to Augustine, sin is passed on by sexual acts, even if a married couple engaged in sexual†¦show more content†¦He thought that grace is forgiveness of god in which salvation comes through God. Trust of God was expressed in God’s merciful love. Luther believed that a merciful god would deliver anyone from the evil they did. Only by the grace of God can forgiveness of sin be achieved. Even after you are graced, you are still partly a sinner. He believed that you could not merit grace and could not learn grace through works, it is all given. Grace is totally undeserved and only through God’s choice can you be graced. Lastly is Rahner, who was a Neo-Thomist and a student of Aquinas. Rahner believed in the supernatural existential and obediential potency meaning that as we’re born we have the ability and capacity to receive the love of God. He said that grace was God’s self-communication in love. Also, grace is not an extra addition to human nature. â€Å"Karl Rahner developed a theology that views grace as the offer of God’s love that is intrinsic to existent human nature (pg. 1).† He believed that you can either accept or reject the honor of grace. â€Å"According to Rahner, human beings ‘freely choose to ratify or to reject that orien tation which is itself the free gift of a loving God, but the orientation remains structured into their being (pg. 2).† You’re only free when you love. If you decide to love then you are authentic but if you decide not to love then you are disgraced. Rahner believed that like God, we can know and canShow MoreRelatedOrganizing Wesleyans Postion of Inquiries and my Panorama Theology1167 Words   |  5 PagesMy Theology II I do not believe that my theology has changed very much on the contrary it has fortified even more. It is interesting about the Wesleyan’s position of theology among the other queries.. Wesleyan’s position of the inquiries of theology, nature or essence of God, sin, Jesus Christ, Salvation and Grace. In this paper, I will try to organize Wesleyan’s position of inquiries and my panorama theology. Wesleyan position Theology Wesleyan believes that people who are created new in ChristRead MoreTheologians : Sallie Mc Fague And Thomas Torrance1266 Words   |  6 Pagesone mythological, Thomas F. Torrance and Sallie McFague. At the heart of all of Torrance’s theology is the truth of the Trinity. It is foundational to all of his work. For him, the ultimate purpose of theology is knowing God in a personal way that involves both head and heart. He felt we must be faithful to Scripture’s logic. (Torrance, 2008). Torrance was also interested in the interface between theology and science. 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In our group discussion, we talked a bout this book emphasizing John Wesley’s practical theology and how it applies to lifeRead MoreThe Relationship Between Philosophy And Theology1433 Words   |  6 PagesToday, philosophy and theology are put at odds by some members of society, those who think that faith and reason are opposites and can never coincide. Others, though, see the two subjects of study as collaborative instead. And just as intellectuals of our Church today support the relationship which is otherwise seen as faith and reason, so too did the intellectuals Thomas Aquinas and Bonaventure reinforce it in the thirteenth century. However, both Aquinas and Bonaventure have their own differentRead MoreThe Doctrine Of Original Sin1537 Words   |  7 PagesUncontestably, Augustine is the most prominent and influential church father, for the Western Church. 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