Divine Grace: The Shield and Transformation of the Faithful
The term "Божья блогодать" (that is, God's grace) can be understood as a manifestation of Divine mercy and power given to a person to strengthen their spiritual life, cleanse them from sins, and establish true communion both with God and with fellow human beings. In these sources, this term is revealed through several aspects.Firstly, God's grace is considered as that force which endows a person with the ability to live "in unison" within the framework of church fellowship and prayer, acting as protection against all evil. For example, one of the texts states: "And moreover, if you confess and take communion, then the grace of the church, the grace of unison (meaning church fellowship among one another), the grace of prayer is a true guardian and protector against all ill will..." (source: link txt, pages 2007-2008).Secondly, God's grace is understood as a means of redemption that, by manifesting in its "superabundance," transforms a person despite the increase of sin through the law. Thanks to this grace, through Christ, believers are granted not only liberation from sins, but also justification, the formation of a new, 'heavenly' nature: "Where sin has been multiplied, grace has become superabundant. — 'Where' in the sense that, as soon as... It has always been inherent and covered our lineage, but now it has overflowed in abundance..." (source: link txt, pages 704-705).Thus, in the religious worldview, God's grace is interpreted as an all-pervading force of Divine mercy that acts as a spiritual shield, strengthens the unity of the community, cleanses the soul, and leads a person to a true life according to God's will. This term denotes not only a passive state, but also active participation in the Divine plan, where through the sacraments, confession, prayer, and adherence to the teachings of the holy fathers, the soul is enriched and transformed, ultimately leading to salvation.