The only way that Christ can be within us is by His Spirit. The interior life and sanctifying grace became available for humanity at Pentecost. This is the beginning of sanctity. Christ chose the apostles before Pentecost. What they experienced then was a preparation for sanctity depending upon their disposition. Maybe Judas was initially chosen for the role that he would eventually play in fulfilling prophecy. He didn’t proceed to Pentecost as the other apostles did.
The tradition of the church does not agree with you on your first point. The apostles were baptized during the ministry of Christ. This would have begun the life of grace in them and thus prepared them for eternal life, which is what sanctifying grace is, the seed of eternal life.
In that manner, Judas was chosen and given sufficient grace to be saved. He failed to cooperate, as many do, and fell to perdition.
Those who were water baptized pre-Pentecost had to wait until Pentecost day to receive the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 1:5). Those who are water baptized post-Pentecost do not have this limitation. Even though Peter said in Acts 2:38: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”, the Samaritans did not immediately receive the Holy Spirit after they were water baptized (cf. Acts 8:14-17). On the other hand, the Gentile household of Cornelius received the Holy Spirit before they were water baptized (cf. Acts 10:44-48; 15:8-9; 11:17). I suspect that the Holy Spirit is more flexible than we would like to think. Isn’t sanctifying grace associated with the Holy Spirit and humility toward God (cf. 1Peter 5:5-7; James 4:5-10)?
No. The Holy Spirit is given in Baptism as is sanctifying grace. Pentecost was what we would consider the sacrament of confirmation. This is why Acts 8 divides them, they were baptized but the spirit had not yet fallen on them.
The sacraments do not gain their efficacy from Pentecost, they gain their efficacy from the cross. This efficacy is not dependent on the timing of it since God is out side of time. For example, see the Eucharist offered by Christ at the last supper. The bread and wine changed into his body and blood and had the normal sacramental effects on those who received it even though Our Lord died the next day.
Your reflection came at a perfect time for me . Thank you!!!
The only way that Christ can be within us is by His Spirit. The interior life and sanctifying grace became available for humanity at Pentecost. This is the beginning of sanctity. Christ chose the apostles before Pentecost. What they experienced then was a preparation for sanctity depending upon their disposition. Maybe Judas was initially chosen for the role that he would eventually play in fulfilling prophecy. He didn’t proceed to Pentecost as the other apostles did.
The tradition of the church does not agree with you on your first point. The apostles were baptized during the ministry of Christ. This would have begun the life of grace in them and thus prepared them for eternal life, which is what sanctifying grace is, the seed of eternal life.
In that manner, Judas was chosen and given sufficient grace to be saved. He failed to cooperate, as many do, and fell to perdition.
Those who were water baptized pre-Pentecost had to wait until Pentecost day to receive the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 1:5). Those who are water baptized post-Pentecost do not have this limitation. Even though Peter said in Acts 2:38: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”, the Samaritans did not immediately receive the Holy Spirit after they were water baptized (cf. Acts 8:14-17). On the other hand, the Gentile household of Cornelius received the Holy Spirit before they were water baptized (cf. Acts 10:44-48; 15:8-9; 11:17). I suspect that the Holy Spirit is more flexible than we would like to think. Isn’t sanctifying grace associated with the Holy Spirit and humility toward God (cf. 1Peter 5:5-7; James 4:5-10)?
No. The Holy Spirit is given in Baptism as is sanctifying grace. Pentecost was what we would consider the sacrament of confirmation. This is why Acts 8 divides them, they were baptized but the spirit had not yet fallen on them.
The sacraments do not gain their efficacy from Pentecost, they gain their efficacy from the cross. This efficacy is not dependent on the timing of it since God is out side of time. For example, see the Eucharist offered by Christ at the last supper. The bread and wine changed into his body and blood and had the normal sacramental effects on those who received it even though Our Lord died the next day.