Catholic Charismatic Renewal and the Sacraments

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National Catholic Council of Bishops Ad Hoc Committee for the Catholic Charismatic Renewal

We encourage the whole Church to look into and embrace baptism in the Holy Spirit as the power of personal and communal
transformation with all the graces and charisms needed for the upbuilding of the Church and for our mission in the world.

Spiritual Renewal within the Church

God is bestowing a grace for the Church in our modern times. It is the gift of an outpouring and rediscovery of the charisms of the Holy Spirit. Through this blessing our faith comes alive as we experience a personal relationship with the risen Jesus Christ. What is this renewal? What is Baptism in the Holy Spirit?

Blessings Poured Anew

Charismatic Renewal brings to life the New Testament’s Acts of the Apostles. These “charism-experiencing Catholics” are firmly rooted in the sacramental life of the Church and eager to tell others of the way God has touched their lives and strengthened their faith. Their shared experience brings them together in a community of prayer, praise, worship, evangelism, and ministry called the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. More than 140 million Catholics in over 238 countries serve the Church in the Renewal. Video

Renewing the Grace of Pentecost

“We assure those in the charismatic renewal of the support they enjoy from bishops of the United States, and we encourage them in their efforts to renew the life of the Church . . . Thus, . . . we say again, with great thanksgiving and enthusiasm, that in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal and in the grace of baptism in the Holy Spirit we see God’s outpouring of a new Pentecost.” . . . Bishops of the United States Video
 
About Catholic Charismatic Renewal

The Catholic Charismatic Renewal as it exists today is the outgrowth from a retreat held in February 1967 of several faculty members and students from Duquesne University. Many of the students - though not all - experienced a movement of God’s Spirit called being “baptized in the Holy Spirit.” The professors had previously been “baptized in the Spirit” a week or two before. God’s action was also prepared for in a very human way by the students’ prayerful preparation in reading the Acts of the Apostles and a book entitled The Cross and the Switchblade.

What happened quickly spread to graduate students and professors at the University of Notre Dame and others serving in campus ministry in Lansing, Michigan. It continued to spread so that, as of this date, the Catholic Charismatic Renewal exists in over 238 countries in the world, having touched over 100 million Catholics in its nearly 40-year existence.

We recommend An Introduction to the Catholic Charismatic Renewal by John and Therese Boucher published by Servant Publications [Servant Publications recently sold its Catholic Charismatic section to St. Anthony Messenger Press] and also available from LaSalle Company (formerly Charismatic Renewal Services).

In 1975 Pope Paul VI greeted ten thousand Catholic charismatics from all over the world at the ninth international conference of the Renewal, “The Church and the world need more than ever that ‘the miracle of Pentecost should continue in history’ . . . How could this ‘spiritual renewal’ not be ‘good fortune’ for the Church and the world?” [others have translated “good fortune” as “a chance”]

Pope John Paul II has been an enthusiastic supporter of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. In 1979 soon after becoming Pope he said, “I am convinced that this movement is a sign of the Spirit’s action . . . a very important component in the total renewal of the Church.” He has met with the international leaders of the Renewal on a number of occasions, and regularly sends greetings to National and International Conferences on the Renewal.

As early as 1969, only two years after the Renewal started, the U.S. Bishops investigated the fledgling movement and the Committee on Doctrine wrote that “theologically the movement has legitimate reasons of existence. It has a strong biblical basis. It would be difficult to inhibit the working of the Spirit which manifested itself so abundantly in the early Church.”

Subsequent statements in 1975, 1984 and 1997 have been equally affirming.

The 1984 Statement, A Pastoral Statement on the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, concluded with these words:

We wish those in the charismatic renewal to know that we make our own the view of Yves Congar: “The charismatic renewal is a grace for the Church.” We assure those in the charismatic renewal of the support they enjoy from the bishops of the United States, and we encourage them in their efforts to renew the life of the Church. (39)

The Statement also says:

Echoing the words of Pope John Paul II, we commend the charismatic renewal to the priests of the United States: “The priest, for his part, cannot exercise his service on behalf of the renewal unless and until he adopts a welcoming attitude toward it, based on the desire he shares with every Christian by baptism to grow in the gifts of the Holy Spirit” (May 7, 1981). The priest’s responsibility to give pastoral guidance remains, even though an individual priest may not be a participant in the renewal. (37)

In 1997 “on the occasion of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal’s thirtieth anniversary” we, the U.S. Bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee on the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, want to affirm again all those Catholics involved in this movement of the Holy Spirit in our day. We, likewise, ‘encourage them in their efforts to renew the life of the Church.’” (Grace for the New Springtime). You may read the full text in English or Spanish.

The Statement concludes, “Thus, we can say again, with great thanksgiving and enthusiasm, that in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal and in the grace of baptism in the Holy Spirit we see God’s outpouring of a new Pentecost.”

At the core of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal is the “grace of Pentecost” also known as baptism in the Holy Spirit.

In a key statement issued in 1991 addressed “to the bishops and pastoral leaders of the Catholic church in the United States,” entitled Fanning the Flame: What Does Baptism in the Holy Spirit Have to Do with Christian Initiation? “baptism in the Holy Spirit” refers to both Christian initiation and to its reawakening in Christian experience. “We believe that this gift of the baptism in the Holy Spirit belongs to the Christian inheritance of all those sacramentally initiated into the church” (p. 10).

While not a theological statement the U.S. Bishops Ad Hoc Committee defines baptism in this way:

As experienced in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal baptism in the Holy Spirit makes Jesus Christ known and loved as Lord and Savior, establishes or reestablishes an immediacy of relationship with all those persons on the Trinity, and through inner transformation affects the whole of the Christian’s life. There is new life and a new conscious awareness of God’s power and presence. It is a grace experience which touches every dimension of the Church’s life: worship, preaching, teaching, ministry, evangelism, prayer and spirituality, service and community. Because of this, it is our conviction that baptism in the Holy Spirit, understood as the reawakening in Christian experience of the presence and action of the Holy Spirit given in Christian initiation, and manifested in a broad range of charisms, including those closely associated with the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, is part of the normal Christian life.
 
great postings there catchispirit.

I wanted to just mention that this renewal is really a renewal of all that is truly catholic. The sacraments come alive for everyone who prays for that to happen. This is what baptism in the Spirit truly does. I think what the charismatic renewal does so well is that it reminds me to pray for this.
 
Flame_of_Christ said:
I really appreciate this post of yours and the taking of the time that you must have spent to put it together, thank you very much.

At the beginning of your email, you quoted something from the church and it was a little confusing, maybe because I am slow! it said:

The Sacraments have an objective efficacy – i.e. an efficacy independent of the subjective disposition of the person receiving the Sacrament OR of the minister administering the Sacrament.

The Sacraments contain the grace which they signify, and bestow their grace on those who do not hinder it.

I underlined that part because it kind of said that our worthy or unworthy reception of the sacrament has a part to play. I found that confusing because the rest of the post seems to say that we have no part to play but that the sacrament does everything without us. I think I need more clarification on this.

Another thing that bothers me is the idea that a person can be baptized and never have faith in their life. Were you implying from that quote you gave that a person who is baptized as a baby who later does not have faith is just as good to go as someone who is baptized as a baby and then later does have faith? I am not sure if the teaches actually teaches that.

I want to address some of the thoughts that came while I was reading what you said about tongues and all, but I think I will leave that for a another time.

I hope to continue this discussion with you!
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Hi there: Hope you’re still around reading…I was not able to get online for a few days.
I will try to address the issues you mentioned (above) to the best of my ability.
  1. The statement: “The Sacraments contain the grace which they signify, and bestow their grace on those who do not hinder it.” only means that we have the power to block the Sacrament (state of mortal sin, unwillingness to be receiving it, etc), but does not, in general, apply to ‘worthiness’ at all. It just means that if you don’t take overt, purposeful steps to stop it, the Sacrament acts on its own by the virtue of Christ’s merits, period. We play no part in the effectiveness (efficacy) of the Sacrament; we can only block it or (practically speaking) refuse to accept it.
  2. The baptized baby does have the gift of faith; after the baptism. The gift of faith is given, by God, through the Sacrament of Baptism. That’s how we get faith. There is a difference between Faith (i.e. the supernatural virtue), which is given by God, can only BE given by God, and is given at Baptism - and - faith (small ‘f’) which is the ‘feeling’, opinion or personal belief, one way or another, of the individual person. The supernatural virtue of Faith (the others are Hope and Charity) are called supernatural because they do not belong to our fallen, human nature and can only be gotten through the gift of God Himself. So, the baptized baby does receive Faith in the Sacrament of Baptism. Those raising the child and responsible for his welfare and growth must then nurture, teach and support this Faith in order for it to become a conscious force in the person’s life as they grow.
Hope this helps… God bless you!
 
alacoque said:
Hi there: Hope you’re still around reading…I was not able to get online for a few days.
I will try to address the issues you mentioned (above) to the best of my ability.
  1. The statement: “The Sacraments contain the grace which they signify, and bestow their grace on those who do not hinder it.” only means that we have the power to block the Sacrament (state of mortal sin, unwillingness to be receiving it, etc), but does not, in general, apply to ‘worthiness’ at all. It just means that if you don’t take overt, purposeful steps to stop it, the Sacrament acts on its own by the virtue of Christ’s merits, period. We play no part in the effectiveness (efficacy) of the Sacrament; we can only block it or (practically speaking) refuse to accept it.
  2. The baptized baby does have the gift of faith; after the baptism. The gift of faith is given, by God, through the Sacrament of Baptism. That’s how we get faith. There is a difference between Faith (i.e. the supernatural virtue), which is given by God, can only BE given by God, and is given at Baptism - and - faith (small ‘f’) which is the ‘feeling’, opinion or personal belief, one way or another, of the individual person. The supernatural virtue of Faith (the others are Hope and Charity) are called supernatural because they do not belong to our fallen, human nature and can only be gotten through the gift of God Himself. So, the baptized baby does receive Faith in the Sacrament of Baptism. Those raising the child and responsible for his welfare and growth must then nurture, teach and support this Faith in order for it to become a conscious force in the person’s life as they grow.
Hope this helps… God bless you!
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I like going back to the 7th grade Catechism (Ignatius Press).
“With the virtue of faith, we receive the power to believe in God and in all that he revealed through Christ and the Church.”
Faith is indeed a gift. It is up to us to accept and open the gift that we have received. “The power of faith makes it possible for us to believe what God has revealed. That means we say ‘yes’ to the truth even if we do not fully understand it.”
Without faith, we could never give ourselves completely to God.
 
SienaFriend said:
😉

When I attended Life in the Spirit, we were taught the above, that we recieve the Holy Spirit at baptizim. That it isn’t another sacrament having hands layed on you at the end of the seminar etc. But if you think of it like this… Being a christian is great, good and right…but being baptized in The Spirit…is like if you take a glass of milk and add chocolate…you have chocolate milk…but once you STIR it…then it is all it can be. Or buy a great steak bring it home and put in the fridge, it is still a steak, but when you take it out, thaw it and put it on the BarBQ it is even more. Don’t say what if you burn the steak…this just an example…not a doctrine :rolleyes:
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The reasoning for being a regular Catholic and one that is “Baptized in the Spirit” reminds me of good oldfashioned GNOSTACISM that one has to have "special " insites in order to be a good Christian and Catholic
. We are ALL Baptized with the HOLY SPIRIT when we are baptized as either Children or as ADULT CONVERTS to the RCC
 
Greetings and Blessings to all my brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus on this Eve of Pentecost! 🙂
**
Let us all go to the One True Source of all Wisdom, Guidance and Love, The Holy Spirit.**
**
The Fire Of God From the Catechism:**

As fire transforms into itself
everything it touches, so the
Holy Spirit transforms into the
divine life whatever is
subjected to his power.
CCC 1127

The Holy Spirit desires to touch our lives and set us on fire for God.
If we open our hearts to the power of the Holy Spirit, we will be changed. That is God’s promise to us.
**
The Holy Spirit is the source of sanctifying grace, the life of God within our souls. By submitting our will to His, we grow in holiness. This act of consecration expresses our desire to unite ourselves to the Spirit’s will.**
**
How important is the Holy Spirit to
living a truly Catholic life?**

**The two are inseparable. **

U]The Catechism tells us,

The Holy Spirit is “the principle of every vital and truly
saving action in each part of the Body.” In other words,
without the Holy Spirit, we have no Church, no life in
Christ, no salvation.

How can I get the Holy Spirit at work in
my life?

First, is important to remember that the Holy Spirit is
already at work in your life.

He has been living in you
since the day of your Baptism. 1 Corinthians 6:19
clearly teaches us that, “Your body is a temple of the
Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God.”
You mean when I was baptized I received
the Holy Spirit?
Yes, as Catholics we believe at Baptism we are baptized
with water and the Holy Spirit. “Holy Baptism is the
basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in
the Spirit.” CCC 1213

But if the Holy Spirit is in me, then why
don’t I always feel Him?

Well, it is important to understand that the Holy Spirit is
a person, not a feeling. And while we can experience
Him with our senses, we need to approach Him in faith,
not feelings. With that being said, it is possible for us to
have the Holy Spirit in our lives and yet not have His
power fully released. This can happen because of sin or
because we are not praying for God to stir up the gift of
the Spirit we received in Baptism.

So how can I experience more of the Holy
Spirit each day?

First, ask in prayer for God to fan into flame the gift you
received in both Baptism and Confirmation.

**Second, get to the Sacraments of Eucharist and
Reconciliation on a regular basis. **

The grace from these Sacraments empowers us to follow Christ and to live the life of the Holy Spirit each and every day.

**Third, cooperate with the Holy Spirit. **

He will always live in us, but if we do not yield to His presence to empower us, to guide us, and to teach us how to love, then we are
wasting the gift.

**How will I know when the Holy Spirit is
at work in my life?**Galatians 5:22-23 states,

“But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” When the Holy
Spirit is at work in our lives, fruit begins to be produced.
But be sure to be patient with yourself—real fruit takes
time to grow and ripen. As you pray and follow Jesus,
more of the fruit of the Spirit will grow in your life!
 
My dear brothers and sisters, in The Body of Christ, let us join together on this Eve of Pentecost and invoke the Power of The Holy Spirit …

Act of Consecration to the Holy Spirit

O Holy Spirit,Divine Spirit of light and love,
I consecrate to Thee my understanding,
heart, and will,
my whole being for time and eternity.
May my understanding be always submissive
to Thy heavenly inspirations,
and to the teaching of the Catholic Church,
of which Thou are the infallible guide;
may my heart be ever inflamed
with love of God and of my neighbor;
may my will
be ever conformed to the divine will;
and may my whole life
be a faithful imitation of the life
and virtues of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
to whom with the Father and Thee
be honour and glory forever. Amen.

Praise be to The Father Son and Holy Spirit!

**Let Us Pray…

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of Your love.

V. Send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be created,

R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray.

O God, Who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of Your faithful, grant that by that same Holy Spirit, we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.**

**Read:

Acts 28:16-20, 30-31
John 21:20-25**

Be silent

Pray:

**Father, renew my Baptism and Confirmation. Stir into flame the gifts of the Spirit in my life (see 2 Timothy 1:6-7).

Pray: Father, send the Holy Spirit to give me the power to be a witness for Jesus. May I not be ashamed of the gospel (Romans 1:16). I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen**.

“Adoration is the first attitude of man acknowledging that he is creature before his Creator.It exalts the greatness of the Lord who made us (Ps 95, 1-6) and the almighty power of the Saviour who sets us free from evil…” CCC 2628

In intercession….

It is intercession in the power and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We may, by means of the Spirit, intercede with great fervour for the Renewal of the Church, the Unity of Christianity and Renewal of Society, thereby a “renewal of the face of the earth”. Communal and individual prayer throughout the Cenacle encompasses the call to a new evangelization and the conversion of all sinners, as well as other special intentions. It incorporates, at appropriate times, prayers of intercession, petition, thanksgiving and blessing in charismatic prayer of the Spirit, always knowing: “The Holy Spirit who teaches the Church and recalls to her all that Jesus said also instructs her in the life of prayer, inspiring new expressions.” CCC2644

Who is Called?

**The call of the Return to the Upper Room is a call for the entire Church, not just for those who call themselves ‘charismatic’. Pope John Paul II wrote that “Our Christian communities must become genuine ‘schools’ of prayer, where the meeting with Christ is expressed not just in imploring help but also in thanksgiving, praise, adoration, contemplation, listening and ardent devotion, until the hearer truly “falls in love”… **(Novo Millennio Ineunte, 2001)

**Blessed Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we thank You, we bless You, we Praise You, for Your Glory! We glorify Your Name, we lift you high above all the earth in Your Glory and Magisty for all eternity, may You ever be blessed and glorified!

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, as we gather to celebrate Pentecost, may the outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit fill you with the abundance of His Love, Power and Gifts that He has prepared for you since the begining of time…"

My heartfelt blessings to you all,

In Christ’s Love, Catchispirit :angel1**
 
I want to piggyback on Cathispirit.
Catholics who have been prayed over for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit are regular Catholics.
We do not have any “secret knowledge” that is not available to anybody else who believes in God.
One of the beauties of the Catholic Faith is its depth. There is always room for personal growth in our love, knowledge, and understanding of Him whom we claim to worship. We are each called to an intimate relationship with our Creator, to walk humbly with our God.
The Sacraments are efficacious signs of God’s grace.

CCC127…As fire transforms into itself everything it touches, so the Holy Spirit transforms into the divine life whatever is subjected to his power.
CCC1101 The Holy Spirit gives a spiritual understanding of the Word of God to those who read or hear it, according to the disposition of their hearts. By means of the words, actions, and symbols that form the structure of a celebration, the Spirit puts both the faithful and the ministers into a living relationship with Christ, the Word and Image of the Father, so that they can live out the meaning of what they hear, contemplate, and do in the celebration.
…in each celebration [of the liturgy] there is an outpouring of the Holy Spirit that makes the unique mystery present {CCC1104).
The Holy Spirit is like the sap of the Father’s vine which bears fruit on its branches (CCC1108).
 
Christ is risen!

Perhaps someone can enlighten me as to why the Catholic Church accepts a method of worship that came from 60s Protestantism? After all, isn’t what occurs on the altar at the Liturgy the most amazing and awesome charismatic gift of all? For my Orthodox sensibilities, it makes little to no sense at all for the Catholic Church to do this and it certainly makes reunion efforts between the Roman Church and the Orthodox Church that much farther.

I hope my comments won’t stir up any controversy and I pray my comments won’t come across as condescending, but I never understood this when I was Catholic and I certainly don’t understand it now. Maybe it’s because the ancient liturgies and unchanging traditions of Orthodoxy resonate with me, much more so than something that I and others see to be a “Johnny-come-lately” in the history of Christianity.

In Christ,
Andrew
 
Harpazo said:
Christ is risen!

Perhaps someone can enlighten me as to why the Catholic Church accepts a method of worship that came from 60s Protestantism? After all, isn’t what occurs on the altar at the Liturgy the most amazing and awesome charismatic gift of all? For my Orthodox sensibilities, it makes little to no sense at all for the Catholic Church to do this and it certainly makes reunion efforts between the Roman Church and the Orthodox Church that much farther.

I hope my comments won’t stir up any controversy and I pray my comments won’t come across as condescending, but I never understood this when I was Catholic and I certainly don’t understand it now. Maybe it’s because the ancient liturgies and unchanging traditions of Orthodoxy resonate with me, much more so than something that I and others see to be a “Johnny-come-lately” in the history of Christianity.

In Christ,
Andrew
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Your question seems to be typical of those asked on threads dealing with the Charismatic Renewal. Charismatic gifts have been around since the time of the Apostles. They have never left the Church. As you read the Book of Acts, you will find the gift of praying in tongues, the most common of the charisms, mentioned many times.
The greatest gift coming from the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, the release of what we have already received by virtue of our Baptism and Confirmation, is not the outward charisms. It is the transformation that takes place in the life of the individual leading him or her to a greater love and reverence for the Sacraments. Individuals who may have gone to Sunday Mass merely out of obligation, now go because they are drawn by Christ.
Receiving the Sacraments becomes more than ritual. The Scriptures become more than words written on a page or heard during the Divine Liturgy.
No matter where we are in our spiritual journey, we are called to be open to Christ, to whatever it is that God may ask of us. Will He not also give us the gifts necessary to do what He asks? Are we willing to be open to those gifts?
How would you react to a direct encounter with Christ? We know that Thomas questioned the rest of the Apostles when they said they had seen the Lord. After seeing the risen Christ, his evangelization went even into India. The disciples who recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread after walking all the way to Emmaus turned and walked back to Jerusalem… Mary could not contain her enthusiasm upon recognizing the gardener as “Rabboni!”
The Apostles remained in hiding after the Ascension. The Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost empowered them to go forth and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ to the rest of the world. We receive this power through Confirmation. Are we willing to use it? Have we opened our gift?
I often use the story I heard when I was a young girl to describe my own experience. A visiting priest told about asking, “How big is God?” A ten year old boy answered, “God is so big the heavens cannot contain Him and so small He can fit in our heart.” The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is being awed by a God “so big the heavens cannot contain Him” dwelling within my heart, caring about when I sit and when I stand.
In answer to your question, Charismatic Renewal is about a faith response to the gifts we have already received. It is not a rejection of the liturgy through which we receive the Sacraments.
 
DebChris said:
I want to piggyback on Cathispirit.
Catholics who have been prayed over for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit are regular Catholics.
We do not have any “secret knowledge” that is not available to anybody else who believes in God.
One of the beauties of the Catholic Faith is its depth. There is always room for personal growth in our love, knowledge, and understanding of Him whom we claim to worship. We are each called to an intimate relationship with our Creator, to walk humbly with our God.
The Sacraments are efficacious signs of God’s grace.

CCC127…As fire transforms into itself everything it touches, so the Holy Spirit transforms into the divine life whatever is subjected to his power.
CCC1101 The Holy Spirit gives a spiritual understanding of the Word of God to those who read or hear it, according to the disposition of their hearts. By means of the words, actions, and symbols that form the structure of a celebration, the Spirit puts both the faithful and the ministers into a living relationship with Christ, the Word and Image of the Father, so that they can live out the meaning of what they hear, contemplate, and do in the celebration.
…in each celebration [of the liturgy] there is an outpouring of the Holy Spirit that makes the unique mystery present {CCC1104).
The Holy Spirit is like the sap of the Father’s vine which bears fruit on its branches (CCC1108).
Click to expand...
 
Dear DebChris

Thank you for “piggybacking!” Awesome followthrough! The Holy Spirit never misses a beat! 🙂

Your response is a perfect example of how the Holy Spirit (THE VINE) works! His inspiration (the Sap), flowing through each one of us, (THE VINES) building up (THE FRUIT) of the whole mystical body of His Bride the Church. Each one of us (ALL those who believe in God and are open to The Holy Splirit) receiving inspiration, His Divine Orders for our lives, Grace, and diverse Gifts of The Holy Spirit coming directly from Him flowing through each one of us, to the other, sharing, completing through one another in uinity and manifesting His abundant Love and desires for each and every one of God’s beloved children to build up the Mystical Body of Christ, His Bride, The Church.
(we, the people).

If we open and fling wide the doors of our hearts, minds and intellects and let The Holy Spirit in, welcoming Him in all His fullness and abundnat Love, He will renew us in mind, body and spirit!

Ezek 36:26-27 – a new heart I will give you and a new spirit I will put within you. These are interior changes effected by God.

In Romans Chapter 12 verses 1-2 The Word of God tells us…

“And now, brothers, I beg you, throught the mercy of God to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age, BUT BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWAL OF YOUR MIND, SO THAT YOU MAY JUDGE WHAT IS GOD’S will, what is good, pleasing and perfect…”

Deb, you are right on when you quoted Micha.

MICAH: 7: 8-9

"You have been told O man, what is good, and what the Lord requires of you:

Only to do the right (act justly) and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God."

May I also add:

2 Cor 3:18 – Paul says that we are being changed into the Lord’s likeness from one degree of glory to another, by the power of the Spirit. This shows that justification is ongoing, and changes in degrees throughout one’s life, based upon one’s obedience of faith.

2 Cor 4:16 – though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed every day. Justification does not happen all at once, and is not an external declaration. Justification happens every day, and concerns our inner nature.

2 Cor 5:17 – Paul says that if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. He is not just the old creation that is covered up. The old has passed away, and behold, the new has come.

2 Cor 7:1 – Paul says that we must cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, and make holiness perfect in the fear of God. Holiness deals with being, what is, because its source is God, who is. It does not deal with what appears to be.

2 Cor 13:5 – do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you. This indwelling of Christ brings about an internal transformation to those who cooperate with His grace.

God bless you Deb!

In Christ’s Love,
Catchispirit
 
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