Life Through The Spirit

 "All those who walk in the Spirit of GOD are sons and daughters of GOD.  Then, no more fear: you did not receive a spirit of slavery, but the spirit that makes you sons and daughters, and every time, we cry, 'Abba! [this is Dad!] FATHER!' the spirit assures our spirit, that we are sons and daughters of GOD.  If we are children, we are heirs, too.  Ours will be the inheritance of GOD, and we will share it with CHRIST; for, if we now suffer with HIM, we will also share glory with HIM." - Romans 8:14-17 

(The Spirit that makes you sons and daughters.  The Greek text could be: "Spirit of adoption" but also "spirit of sons having all the rights of their father" [like in Galatians 4:5].  In no way does Paul want to emphasize the difference we often make by saying: "JESUS is the only Son, and we, adopted children".  Speaking like that, we place a barrier, slight though it be, between GOD and us, and the Gospel does not so desire, from the moment we have known the FATHER.

Those led by the Spirit tend towards what comes from the Spirit.  Then we begin to freely desire a new way of living in imitation of CHRIST.  The desires of the Spirit animate our life.  We experience them as an interior call, a security and a joy.

In following the desires of the Spirit we really feel free; this life, however, is demanding.  Each day we have to go a little further in putting to death the body's deeds [verse 13], that is, everything that paralyzes us and makes us cling to this world.  Put to death: we call it "mortification."

The Spirit assures our spirit that we are sons and daughters of GOD.  Whoever lives in the spirit lives in the light.  While we remain firm in the teaching of CHRIST and share in the life of the Church, the Spirit gives us internal knowledge and joy in the things of GOD.  The Spirit guides us and inspires us each day showing us how to please GOD.)

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