The greatest progress and insight I have gained in my walk with Christ has been revealed to me through the Holy Spirit not taught to me by man.
You can learn all a man has to teach you in a few months, get all your doctrine and theology nailed down just fine.
But the real revelation of the things of God happens internally through the work of the Holy Spirit who is the ONLY one who can open our eyes to the truth of the spiritual things and make that transition from the head to the heart.
It's one thing to know things about God. It's a whole 'nother ball game to experience the things of God in a living, vibrant way.
The longer I walk with God the more I realize I don't know. There are depths of the relationship with Him that I'm just beginning to get glimpses of. It's way beyond the do not touch, do not taste, do not look, mechanics of avoiding blatant, outward sin.
I found Catholicism to be so shallow in that regard. The focus was on not doing the sin and getting into heaven because I didn't sin. But behind that mentality is the thought that we're basically good and occasionally sin and that gives God a reason to reject us but that we can attain goodness by refusing to sin and God will accept us.
What it doesn't convey is we are all sinners deserving of death for violating God's law. We are all reprobates, bound as slaves to sin, sinning as the natural default response to any situation we encounter in our lives.
Until Catholics grasp the concept that everything we do and everything we are is tainted by sin and therefore cannot be acceptable to God, they will continue to pursue salvation through what they consider good works, and miss the gift of salvation that God freely offers each and every one of us. And that is the work of the Holy Spirit. Only he can open the spiritual eyes of a person and reveal that to him.
When God clothes us in the righteousness of Christ, He sees us as having Christ's righteousness. Therefore, even if we ARE judged on our works, the good works of Jesus, having been imputed to us, are the righteousness of Christ in us and we are saved.
All we have to do is trade all that we are not for all that Christ is and God is satisfied. He makes the transaction and seals it with His Holy Spirit until the day of redemption.
Not sure what you mean by “basically good.” But the Church, as opposed to many liberal Christians, protestant and Catholic, does not teach that we can save ourselves. Rather we can do nothing except that God intervene. But the Bible tells us that he intervenes in history, using human beings as his instruments, and empowering the Church to act in his name. The role of the Church is, of course, to do his will, not build upon an earthly kingdom, with us as the masters of other men. The emphasis is always on service. We teach right doctrine, we administer his sacraments, read Scripture we give good example, and above all pray without ceasing, seeking to discern the will of good at every moment of our lives. For our body and soul are in imperfect union. And so complicated is life, so little control do we have is that we are never more than a moment removed from personal disaster. Individuals cannot continue to exist apart from others, and in addition to other human being we are always surrounded by an invisible cloud of witnesses who wish only the best for us. Never is it just me and God.
Not sure what you mean by “basically good.” But the Church, as opposed to many liberal Christians, protestant and Catholic, does not teach that we can save ourselves. Rather we can do nothing except that God intervene. But the Bible tells us that he intervenes in history, using human beings as his instruments, and empowering the Church to act in his name. The role of the Church is, of course, to do his will, not build upon an earthly kingdom, with us as the masters of other men. The emphasis is always on service. We teach right doctrine, we administer his sacraments, read Scripture we give good example, and above all pray without ceasing, seeking to discern the will of good at every moment of our lives. For our body and soul are in imperfect union. And so complicated is life, so little control do we have is that we are never more than a moment removed from personal disaster. Individuals cannot continue to exist apart from others, and in addition to other human being we are always surrounded by an invisible cloud of witnesses who wish only the best for us. Never is it just me and God.
Amen!
This is a concept Roman Catholics do not comprehend. Most RCs put the Holy Spirit way behind Mary; I think they're puzzled by the HS and haven't a clue as to His very reason for existing.
That's why they can give the HS's office and responsibilities to Mary so blithely.