Catechism of the Catholic Church

PART THREE LIFE IN CHRIST 1691 “Christian, recognize your dignity and, now that you share in God’s own nature, do not return to your former base condition by sinning. Remember who is your head and of whose body you are a member. Never forget that you have been rescued from the power of darkness and brought into the light of the Kingdom of God.” 1 1692 The Symbol of the faith confesses the greatness of God’s gifts to man in his work of creation, and even more in redemption and sanctification. What faith confesses, the sacraments commu- nicate: by the sacraments of rebirth, Christians have become “chil- dren of God,” 2 “partakers of the divine nature.” 3 Coming to see in the faith their new dignity, Christians are called to lead henceforth a life “worthy of the gospel of Christ.” 4 They are made capable of doing so by the grace of Christ and the gifts of his Spirit, which they receive through the sacraments and through prayer. 1693 Christ Jesus always did what was pleasing to the Father, 5 and always lived in perfect communion with him. Likewise Christ’s disciples are invited to live in the sight of the Father “who sees in secret,” 6 in order to become “perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” 7 1694 Incorporated into Christ by Baptism, Christians are “dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” and so participate in the life of the Risen Lord. 8 Following Christ and united with him, 9 Chris- 1 St. Leo the Great, Sermo 21 in nat. Dom., 3: PL 54, 192C. 2 Jn 1:12; 1 Jn 3:1. 3 2 Pet 1:4. 4 Phil 1:27. 5 Cf. Jn 8:29. 6 Mt 6:6. 7 Mt 5:48. 8 Rom 6:11 and cf. 6:5; cf. Col 2:12. 9 Cf. Jn 15:5. 790 1267