If God has a plan for us then it is possible for us to follow that plan with his help. His plan does not involve sinning so with his help after the age of reason assuming we were baptised we should be able to live a sinless life.
I have been thinking about this for a while and would like some theological support for this statement.
Hello KS and welcome to Catholic Forums!
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God created Man in His image and likeness. We are a part of Him and He a part of us. After the Fall, God was separated from Man. That leaves a BIG hole in Man. This hole is bottomless and ever since Man has been trying to fill that hole with no avail. Some fill it with drugs, some with false religion, etc.
Then you have God's plan for reconciliation. From the Fall to now, God has been trying to refill the hole that Man has created for himself. You have Noah, Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, and Jesus who were sent to guide Man back to the Creator. Jesus fulfilled this plan when He reconciled the world on the cross.
When we are baptized, the stain of Original Sin is removed, and we are born again into life rather into death. However, we still have the inclination to sin. Mary, who was immaculate (without the stain of Original Sin), did not sin because without the stain, she did not have the inclination to sin.
You may ask, “why doesn’t baptism remove the inclination?” Baptism removes the stain, but does not fill that bottomless hole. What the baptized person can do is fill that hole with God’s grace. With that grace, the person can become more holy, pure, chaste, and loving. The more grace the person receives, the easier it is to repel sin.
How does the person attain grace? Faith, working in a system of grace is one way. God showers us with what is called “Actual Grace” every moment of our lives. Sometimes we refuse to accept it, rather to follow our own desires. Other times, we accept it. When we do, we feel this urge to do good. For example, I could feel the urge to help out at the soup kitchen, help the hungry. When I do so, I perform a good work. After I perform this good work, the actual grace is then transformed into Sanctifying Grace. This remains with us forever and cannot be removed unless we commit a mortal sin. Sanctifying Grace is what helps fill the hole.
Another source of grace is reception of the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist. Frequent reception of both Sacraments will help infinitely in your battle against sin.
Prayer and reciting the Rosary are also great tools. St. Paul says that everything is Grace. Quite true! It is unbelievable how easy it is to access God and receive His grace.
A person cannot become sinless overnight. Some spend a lifetime battling sin. But in the end, we will be purged of this inclination through Purgatory, and then we can share in the eternal banquet!
