Posted on 07/08/2008 7:02:41 AM PDT by NYer
Simply enumerate the natural effects of the Fall (a failure of bodily capacities culminating in mortality; a darkening of the intellect; a twisting of the will; the abruption of the lower passions in mutiny against intellect and will, etc.) and you can see that even in the natural realm we are damaged goods; but remove these effects and you can see a sketch, at least, of what "Human Nature Plan A" would have been if our First Parents had's screwed things up.
That's my rendition of it. A better summary is here, at The Glorified Body: The Promise of Christ's Resurrection and more resources here, here, and here.
The angels, both holy and fallen, have preternatural powers. Their intellect, speed, etc., are far greater than the corresponding human powers, but they are finite.
Preternatural power is sometimes seen in its negative aspect, e.g. demonic possession, one symption of which is that the sufferer is quite obviously possessed by a being with extrahuman powers, for instance a cunning, diabolical intelligence, the ability to do things which are physically impossible for a mere human like throwing a much heavier person across the room.
Adam and Eve originally received the preternatural gifts of immortality, impassibility, freedom from concupiscence, ignorance, and sin, and lordship over the earth. If Adam had not sinned, we all would have inherited these preternatural gifts, together with the supernatural gift of sanctifying grace. The souls in heaven will recover these gifts at the end of time.
Because earlier someone asserted that I hate the RCC. I was responding to that person. I don't "hate" the RCC. Neither do I venerate it. But the notion that Jesus is a wafer, the theft of which is punishable by eternal damnation seems to go beyond what the scriptures teach, in my estimation.
In my view, Jesus Christ is God, The Son, and therefore omnipotent. That wafer isn't omnipotent, else it would get itself out of that ziploc bag and present itself as alive from the dead.... like the real Jesus did from the tomb.
LOL. Amen!
I'm sorry I missed so much of this thread. The alchemy of transubstantiation errs in so many ways, not the least of all Scripturally...
From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin." -- Hebrews 10:12-18"But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
To threaten violence over the theft of some congealed flour and water is satanic.
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