Presence and action of God in us by grace

Presence and action of God in us by grace

What God's grace is and what it does and creates

This document is a complement to Paradoxes of Christian faith.

Distinction and separation of nature-grace

Nature and grace are, per se, objectively, two different and separate things; although, they work together and simultaneously. How is it? As with all Christian paradoxes, this one is a mystery, and we may have an "explanation" only by faith.

I think that the natural order was established by God in the sense that he gave nature the power to develop itself and to act by itself, by its own means. In one sense, God lets nature act "independently" of him; however, —and this is the paradox,— he may intervene, by grace and through grace, in the lives of human beings.

God's immanence and grace presence

There are therefore, from our point of view, two presences and actions of God in us: one natural, which is God's immanence, that is, his presence and action in the universe; and the other one which is supernatural, the grace of God.

From our point of view, they are different; but from God's point of view, it is in essence one thing; it is just God himself, with his undivided presence, acting upon us. We have to make distinctions, because of our limitation, but in fact, it is just God. There are no distinctions in God.

Knowledge and power of God

I say in my prayers, that God, through his providence, directs and coordinates natural events for our good; and that when he wants something, he uses his science and power to obtain a particular aim; because, he is free, powerful and sovereign to do what he wants (Ephesians 3.20). (To see the whole prayer, click here.)