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the soteriology of saint athanasius of alexandria the conformation of ...

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234 JOHN R. MEYER<br />

<strong>the</strong> living Spirit <strong>of</strong> God 112 . The Holy Spirit is internally present<br />

to <strong>the</strong> soul, he is <strong>the</strong> living law <strong>of</strong> God that gives us true<br />

freedom 113 . Our freedom is an important aspect <strong>of</strong> human salvation<br />

because it is required for merit. One can expect a reward<br />

from ano<strong>the</strong>r only if he can do something that is within his own<br />

power. And creatures can merit before God only if <strong>the</strong>y receive<br />

this divine life from God and put it to good use. In a certain<br />

sense, man truly possesses his freedom, and that is <strong>the</strong> only thing<br />

he can <strong>of</strong>fer to God and to o<strong>the</strong>rs.<br />

5. The pouring forth <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Spirit<br />

In addition to intervening in <strong>the</strong> Incarnation <strong>of</strong> Christ and<br />

when Our Lord ordained his Apostles, God's Spirit came to a few<br />

select souls in order to prepare humanity for <strong>the</strong> coming <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Messiah. Following original sin, <strong>the</strong> Holy Spirit remained among<br />

<strong>the</strong> chosen people <strong>of</strong> God in <strong>the</strong> prophets. The advent <strong>of</strong> Christ<br />

was <strong>the</strong> moment designated for <strong>the</strong> Holy Spirit to be poured<br />

forth upon <strong>the</strong> souls <strong>of</strong> all just men 114 . We find that Athanasius<br />

places particular importance on <strong>the</strong> gift <strong>of</strong> prophecy, a manifestation<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Spirits' inspiration in <strong>the</strong> soul. It is a grace that<br />

prepares us to recognize <strong>the</strong> Word Incarnate:<br />

«When Our Lord was among us we were promoted, as<br />

being rescued from sin (...). Before his becoming man he<br />

dispensed <strong>the</strong> Spirit to <strong>the</strong> <strong>saint</strong>s, so also when made<br />

man, he sanctifies all by <strong>the</strong> Spirit* 115 .<br />

«Long ago he came to <strong>the</strong> <strong>saint</strong>s individually, and guided<br />

<strong>the</strong>m who legitimately received him, but nei<strong>the</strong>r when<br />

<strong>the</strong>y were begotten was it said that he had become man,<br />

nor when <strong>the</strong>y suffered that he himself suffered* 116 .<br />

The Holy Spirit led <strong>the</strong> <strong>saint</strong>s 'by <strong>the</strong> Son in <strong>the</strong> Spirit' 117 .<br />

He was a spiritual guide like that bestowed to Moses, who requested<br />

to be led into <strong>the</strong> Promised Land, not by an angel, but<br />

by <strong>the</strong> very Spirit <strong>of</strong> God 118 .<br />

All <strong>of</strong> this changed when <strong>the</strong> Son <strong>of</strong> God became Incarnate.<br />

Now <strong>the</strong> Holy Spirit permanently dwells in <strong>the</strong> Body <strong>of</strong> Christ,<br />

and <strong>the</strong> Spirit becomes irrevocable: «for while mere man receives

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