22d (edited) • General discussion
Devotional on Classical Theism
1. Definitive Truth:
The essence of God, as understood within classical theism, is characterized by divine simplicity and holy perfection. God, in His divine nature, is not composed of body, parts, or passions (fleeting emotions), nor is He subject to change; He is pure Spirit, ensuring His constancy as the Necessary Being and ultimate Creator. The Creator-creature distinction emphasizes that God is fundamentally separate and different from His creation. This distinction highlights that although believers participate in the divine nature through union with Christ, they remain created beings, as articulated in 2 Peter 1:3-4.
2. Micro-teaching:
Understanding Divine Nature vs. Divine Energy: In classical theology, God's essence refers to who He is—His unchangeable nature, unconditional grace, perfect holiness, and self-existence itself. Divine energy, however, encompasses His actions—how God interacts with creation, revealing His attributes through acts like creation, providence, and salvation. Augustine notes, “God is not what He is not” (Confessions, 7.1). This reflects the idea that God's essence is simple—He is Actus purus (Latin for "without Potentiality" or "pure Actuality" or "pure act")— while His energies demonstrate the relational or covenantal aspect of His love.
The distinction is essential in classical theology, where believers understand that they participate in God's energy (His actions and grace) without merging their essence (their created being) with His uncreated essence. Calvin writes, “We must therefore hold that the essence of God is simple, and not a compound of many parts” (Institutes of the Christian Religion, I.13.1). This foundational truth informs how believers relate to God and recognize their divine adoption and transformation through Christ.
3. Reflection:
We are reminded that our identity in Christ doesn't change our substance or being. Instead, it affirms our status as adopted children of God, called to reflect His glory as we participate in His divine energy, like the moon reflecting the sun’s rays of light. Through union with Christ, we become more like Him, experiencing progressive sanctification by the Spirit. This transformation does not imply a loss of our creaturely nature but a restoration of His original image in us from the Garden of Eden before the fall of man.
Athanasius emphasizes this, stating, “God became man so that we might become god” (On the Incarnation, ch. 54). The Creator, God of the universe, united Himself to humanity so that humanity would be united to God. As we meditate on this truth, we recognize how grace works within us, enabling us to live a life reflective of Christ's righteousness and holy character, reflecting our union and covenantal relationship with Him without misinterpreting our human essence.
4. Practice:
To practice this understanding, believers are called to pursue a life of holiness, actively engaging with God's Word and His means of grace. Regular prayer, communion, worship, and meditation on Scripture can help believers deepen their spiritual understanding and live out of union with Christ.
Reflect on your life and identify areas where the divine energy of God’s grace can permeate the ordinary mundane tasks of your daily lives. Consider how you can live as a child of God today, glorifying God in everything you do, exemplifying Christ-like love in your attitudes and actions, by affirming your identity not as divine in nature but as a transformed creature bound to the divine through Jesus.
5. Word of the Day:
Spiritual Union with Christ: This term encapsulates the believers' experience of being united with Christ in His divine nature and energy (eternal life) through faith. It signifies the transformative relationship established through grace—becoming participants in the divine life while maintaining our essence as created image-bearers.
6. Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the mystery of the Holy Spirit uniting us with Christ. Help us to grasp the depth of what it means to participate in Your divine nature and energy through His grace alone. May we always remember the distinction between Your holy essence and our creaturely existence. Guide us in reflecting Your glory in our lives as we embody true holiness. Empower us through Your divine energy to live as justified, adopted children. We rely on Your precious Holy Spirit to transform us into the likeness of Christ, radiating the rays of Your unlimited love and unconditional grace to the world around us. Amen.
Scripture References:
2 Peter 1:3–4
3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence, 4 by which He has granted to us His precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
Primary Source References:
St. Augustine, “God is not what He is not” (Confessions, 7.1).
St. Athanasius, “He became man so that we might become god” (On the Incarnation, ch. 54).
John Calvin, “We must therefore hold that the essence of God is simple, and not a compound of many parts” (Institutes of the Christian Religion, I.13.1).
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Devotional on Classical Theism
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