Are individuals converted and justified solely through the disposition of faith, i.e. justified by and through faith alone? As mentioned previously, God justifies the ungodly by making an unjust soul just. But is the disposition of faith sufficient for this act of God to be efficacious to the particular person? Does an unjustified soul need other dispositions or preparations for God to justify?
“And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’.” – Acts 2:38 ESV (Emphasis added)
Notice that the required disposition of repentance (penance) is needed for initial justification (conversion) to take place in the sacrament of Holy Baptism. These words of Saint Peter reflect what Saint John the Baptist said was needed for receiving the Kingdom of God:
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” – Matthew 3:2 ESV (emphasis added)
The disposition of true contrition for sins, along with faith, is entirely necessary in order to receive the kingdom of heaven within your soul; again, this happens during initial justification at Holy Baptism. In both instances, the disposition of penance is required for the justification to be efficacious to the individual soul; and not just a contrite sorrow for past sins, but with the intention to avoid future sins, too. What is the kingdom of heaven but the reign of the Holy Trinity within the soul? How does the Holy Trinity come to reign in a soul but that of dying and rising with Christ in Holy Baptism? Our Lord reiterates the necessity of repentance (with faith) for the reception of the kingdom:
“Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” – Mark 1:15 ESV
Notice, Our Blessed Lord juxtaposes faith with repentance as commands to prepare and dispose oneself, for the “kingdom of God is at hand.” Anyone desiring to enter into that transcendent and interior kingdom where the Most Holy Trinity dwells, Jesus exhorts to prepare and dispose oneself properly through faith and repentance!
Finally, the last disposition for one to be initially converted into a just child of God is that of genuine intent. As Our Blessed Lord sought out the sincere desire of those who wanted to be healed, so does His Church seek those who with a real intention of wanting to be made just through the waters of Holy Baptism.
“And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” – Mark 10: 51-52 ESV
The blind man expressed his sincere desire, his intention: he wanted the use of his sight restored. Moreover, it was his intention, along with his faith, that properly disposed him for Jesus’ sufficient grace and power to be made efficacious for the blind man’s restoration. Jesus wants to enter more deeply into the human experience of normal dialogue with human persons. Nowhere will you see Him healing and forgiving others who have no wish or desire to be healed or forgiven. Likewise, you will not see His ministers randomly administering the Sacraments to those who have no desire to receive them.
Entering into an eternal covenant where the Holy Trinity reigns within cannot and should never be taken lightly or done in vain. For without the necessary dispositions of acquired faith, true contrition, and right intention, one will desecrate the very means to bring himself to a kingdom where the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost reign in the soul, and quite possibly invert this means into a deeper darkness where the Devil will rule more profoundly.