We never change our "substance" which is a Greek fallacy which the RCs seem to emulate. We are born human and we die human. But...
Christ takes on our sins and pay for them, so we are actually judged "innocent" by the substitution of His virtue for our lack of it, while we remain always the creature whom God created.
This is one of the areas where I think Reformed theology is most profound. There is nothing in man which is righteous or God-pleasing. We are blood and bones and instinct.
But we are graciously saved from God's wrath by the perfection of His Son whom God mercifully has given to us and placed inside our hearts. All that is good and God-pleasing is from Him, by Him, through Him, for His glory alone.
Other faiths spend a great deal of time and effort trying to detail the righteousness of men.
It's a losing attempt, as old as man himself.
Maybe I'd add that we can thank God for both the "good" and the "bad." That's one of the perks that comes with being a child of God. We know whatever befalls us, it is meant for our good and His glory, either by way of instruction or correction.
We know that God gathers all our tears into His bottle and that...
"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy." -- Psalm 126:5
"We never change our "substance" which is a Greek fallacy which the RCs seem to emulate..."
*Pagan* Greek, I hope you mean. There is absolutely no idea anywhere in Greek Christianity (i.e. Orthodoxy) that a human being's substance ("essence" is the word we use) can or will ever change into something else.
This sounds like a description of animals. I'm wondering if you see any difference between humans and animals in their nature. Also, does this view mean that man as created in Genesis was changed at the fall? I.e., humans after the fall are created as animals only?
Thanks, Dr. E. I'm just glad at how lucky we got in that all of this is thoroughly backed up by scripture. Considering that all of this was made up out of whole cloth, I mean, what are the odds? :)