Well, you may be on your way to becoming Orthodox, Jo. :) The issue of uncreated Grace (Orthodox view) versus "created" Grace (Latin view) is what separates us a lot more than Immaculate Conception!
Besides, God doesn't withold His Grace; he showers His blessings on the righteous and the unrighteous equally. We either accept it or reject it.
Man's nature was not "changed". Concupiscence is not part of our nature, although it is part of our experience. Our nature was wounded.
Otherwise, if sin was part of our nature, then Christ did not become "man"
Christ's human nature is that of pre-fall. He was not conceived or born in iniquity. Ours is changed by sin (rejection of God).
if sin was part of our nature
Propensity to sin is part of our fallen-nature. Our tendency is not to be or do good.
Being baptized infuses the life of Christ within us
Being baptized brings us into the Church, where we may find life at the end of this journey. We only get a "ticket" not a guarantee.
Does the Orthodox teach that man has the Spirit BEFORE baptism?
Infants have nothing! They are the poorest in spirit. How could they have spirit when they don't even know who they are? You could be baptized as an infant and raised as a Muslim and you'd never know the Spirit. The life we get through Baptism is in the world to come, if we persevere, if we imitate Christ and regain the likeness of God.
I will not be drawn into THAT discussion! It is too esoterical. I admit that the differences between "created" and "uncreated" graces are something beyond the Patristic Fathers.
Besides, God doesn't withold His Grace; he showers His blessings on the righteous and the unrighteous equally. We either accept it or reject it.
After 12000 posts on the "mother of all threads", I'd thought you would have agreed that Catholics believe that as well...
Christ's human nature is that of pre-fall. He was not conceived or born in iniquity. Ours is changed by sin (rejection of God).
That is interesting. Isn't it a common axiom of the Church Fathers that Christ only saved what He became? That He redeemed only what He became incarnated as? Thus, Christ became man - the man of POST-FALL. He toiled. He sweated. He labored. He endured in a fallen world. These are all functions of the POST-Fall world. Christ was like us in all ways except sin. In other words, He CHOSE not to separate Himself from God by sin.
Propensity to sin is part of our fallen-nature. Our tendency is not to be or do good.
Propensity. But it is not OUR NATURE to sin. Our nature will be fulfilled in heaven - sinless. Our nature will not be changed. Concupiscence will be removed - inner temptations and desires to do things for ourselves. Our nature was created in the image of God - God who is Love. Love is self-giving, not selfish. Our nature is self-giving and selfless, as God's. Unfortunately, there is a disease attacking our nature, a sickness. It is caused by a lack of God's presence - original sin. Part of this disease includes a propensity to please self - the opposite of what God intends us to do (please others).
Being baptized brings us into the Church, where we may find life at the end of this journey. We only get a "ticket" not a guarantee.
I didn't say anything about entering heaven. But it is clear from Scriptures that one was baptized for the purpose of receiving the life of the Spirit. Do a word search under "baptism" or "waters of regeneration". Now, does this life remain with us throughout our lives? It doesn't follow.
Infants have nothing! They are the poorest in spirit. How could they have spirit when they don't even know who they are?
Ah, so a person must know God before the Spirit enters in? God takes the initiative, brother, not us. God freely enters whom He will, whether they are infants, children, or old men. Our faith doesn't bring the Spirit to us.
You could be baptized as an infant and raised as a Muslim and you'd never know the Spirit.
Again, it doesn't follow that having the Spirit within us means we KNOW the theology of the Holy Spirit. When one loves, they have the Spirit, whether they know anything about Catholicism or Orthodoxy.
The life we get through Baptism is in the world to come, if we persevere, if we imitate Christ and regain the likeness of God.
Our life in the Spirit begins even NOW, brother. How else could one love their enemies or turn the other cheek? Anyone not abiding in Christ and His Spirit cannot love - but those who DO abide in Christ ALREADY have eternal life even now - Christ IS eternal life. Scriptures over and over present a "now, but not yet" picture of the life in the Spirit.
Regards