31. "God has predestined us to the adoption of children through Jesus Christ, in union with Him, according to the decree of His will, to make the glory of His grace blaze forth, by which He has justified us in His beloved Son. In whose blood we have redemption, the remission of our sins, according to the riches of His grace, which has abounded beyond measure in us in all wisdom, grace, which has abounded beyond measure in us in all wisdom and prudence..." The soul now a true daughter of God is, in the words of the Apostle, moved by the Holy Spirit Himself: "All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God," And again: "We have not received a spirit of slavery to be still led by fear, but the spirit of adoption as children in which we cry out; Abba, Father! The Spirit Himself gives witness with our spirits that we are children of God. But if we are children, we are heirs as well; I mean heirs of God and co-heirs with Jesus Christ if only we suffer with Him so as to be glorified with Him." " It is to bring us into this abyss of glory that God has created us in His image and likeness."
"See" says St. John, "what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are.... Now we are the children of God, and we have not yet seen what we shall be. We know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him makes Himself holy, just as He Himself is holy."
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