"Grace builds on nature" what does that statement mean?

Answer 1

When St. Thomas Aquinas wrote those words he was referring to the fact that all of creation is a theatre of grace, the stage upon which the drama of salvation unfolds.

For Aquinas, grace "builds on nature." The supernatural life does not negate or destroy the natural world. Rather, grace sanctifies, elevates and renews nature.

Grace also works through nature. We are not just temples of the Holy Ghost, but instruments of the Spirit as well. We are collaborating with God in extending the boundaries of His Kingdom on Earth of love and peace.

Non-Catholics view nature much differently. Nature is something to be controlled and suppressed. Because nature is tainted by sin it supposedly produces nothing good.

So for the strict Protestant grace simply "covers up" the corruption of nature. It does not transform it. That's why Luther described redeemed man as "dung covered with snow." Our sins are merely covered, NOT washed away.

This interpretation is an unbiblical and manmade interpretation of what the Holy Scriptures tell us about God's grace. We are actually transformed from within by grace - we are washed "whiter than snow" say the Psalms. We are justified AND sanctified.

Answer 2

It's a well-known saying of St. Thomas, one of the greatest Catholic theologians in history.

St. Thomas meant that even though all of creation fell when Adam and Eve fell, creation can be renewed just as men are renewed by a life of grace in Christ.

Veritas is correct - the leaders of the Protestant reformation took a distorted view of nature, saying it was depraved and no good could come from it. You will often hear Protestants saying that the blood of Christ "covers their sins." That's because they don't believe grace actually changes us inside. Justification is merely a legal proclamation by God that we are righteous.

Catholics believe, and Christ and the Apostles taught, that justification is only the beginning and that grace actually transforms us and makes us clean through sanctification. Our sins are not just "covered" they are WIPED AWAY and we become "new creations" in the words of St. Paul.

Blessed be Jesus Christ and blessed be His Holy Church!

Answer 3

I'm not sure what the author means, but God is saving believers now by grace.

He is saving sinful, ungodly people by justifying and sanctifying them through Jesus Christ.