Theology Chapter 3 Flashcards

Human Reason and Free Will

• Human faculties of reason and free will distinguish people from all other creatures on Earth.
• Reason allows individuals to search for truth, while free will empowers them to make choices.
• Freedom enables the capacity for deep love and personal connections.

Understanding Grace

• Grace is a free gift bestowed by God, starting with His mercy.
• Justification marks the beginning of this grace, helping individuals become children of God.
• It encompasses the intimate relationship with the Trinity, revealing the true love of God.

Justification Explained

• Justification involves the Holy Spirit's grace that cleanses sins through conversion.
• It involves receiving God's righteousness and unites believers with the Lord's saving passion.

Inner Freedom and Cooperation

• Growing in inner freedom is tied to cooperating with God's grace.
• Active participation in divine grace leads to greater personal freedom.

Effects of Justification

• Justifying grace cleanses sins, forgives, brings inner renewal, and connects individuals to God's righteousness.
• It allows believers to participate in Christ’s Passion.

Merited Grace

• Justification is merited through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, gifting faith, hope, and charity.

Growing in Holiness

• Holiness is achieved by welcoming the Holy Spirit into one’s life and responding to the gifts received at baptism.

Earning Grace

• Grace cannot be earned; it is a gift from God.
• Humans are designed with an innate desire for goodness and truth, responding freely to God's initial grace.

Receiving Grace

• Grace is infused during baptism but requires a willing response to be accepted.

Types of Grace

• Sanctifying grace provides a stable disposition for living in friendship with God.
• Actual grace is the immediate power from God to resist sin.
• Sacramental grace is specific to each sacrament, dispensing sanctifying grace for holiness.

Characteristics of Sacramental Grace

• Sacramental grace includes blessings that allow sharing in the life and love of the Trinity.
• Charisms are particular graces directed at the common good of the Church.

Graces of State

• Graces of state provide support for specific ministries within the Church, aiming to fulfill truth and goodness.

Benefits of Responding to Grace

• Responding to grace enables believers to call God "Father," join the family of God, become heirs of heaven, and share in the life of the Trinity.
• It facilitates living according to Christ's teachings and allows the Holy Spirit to dwell within.

Concept of Merit

• Merit indicates what is "owed" based on one's life choices and their impact on their relationship with God.

Meriting Heaven

• Merit for heaven requires cooperation with God's graces and living a holy life to attain divine rewards.

God's Role in Merit

• God initiates the process of merit through forgiveness and justification, while individuals must respond freely to this grace.

Meriting for Others

• It is possible to merit graces for oneself and others necessary for sanctification.

Origin of Ability to Merit

• The ability to merit comes from Jesus' love and the grace granted through the Holy Spirit's work in life.

Living a Holy Life

• Living in holiness requires strength derived from God's grace, fostering spiritual growth and fulfillment.

Explore key concepts in theology with these flashcards from Chapter 3. Understand how reason and free will distinguish humans from other creatures, and dive into the definition of grace. Perfect for students looking to reinforce their understanding of these fundamental ideas.