Religious states (Christianity)

Three successive phases are defined: (1) That in paradise before original sin when man was in a state of integrity, immune from death and endowed, through God's self-communication, with supernatural grace. (2) That under original sin, before Jesus Christ or unjustified through faith, love and baptism. (3) That of the former sinner (through original and personal sin), the just man sanctified through Christ's grace. The three phases comprise one religious situation embraced from the beginning through the sanctifying and merciful will of God to communicate himself in Christ. Sin cannot nullify it, and it becomes explicitly present in the Christian era and through individual actions, through faith and the sacraments.