As an Orthodox from Eastern Europe, I love the American way of thinking about it. You don't take a lot for granted and re-energize the faith. Thank you for that.
We look to you for strength in stories of what happened to the faithful of the East, we are young in acquiring the faith as a nation. I am baptized in the Serbian Orthodox Church. It’s good to have this bridge! Truly the best bridge to bring people together.
Christ did not say you are my disciples if you believe this or that. He said'Yoyou are my disciples if you love one another' Therefore all who live in love live in God and Christ. The spirit of the anti Christ is the spirit of division, Disputes, differences, ideology, sectarian disputes, theological arguments, division of the truth into separate parts, claiming that your philosophy and theology are the only True ones. Etc.. The spirit of Christ is Unity understanding and love.
@@OrthodoxChristianTheology If you think that only the Orthodox church is correct and all the other sects and churches are false then your understanding of the message of Christ needs adjustment. I'm not against the Orthodox church but Christ came with the teachings he gave us primarily to be found on the teachings in the sermon on the mount. I didn't hear him say during those teachings " Establish a Greek orthodox church after I am gone. And those who are not part of it do not consider them to be my followers " Instead he said : "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Unfortunately humans love to complicate things and separate truth into complexities and systems. This is why Christ told us that unless we humble ourselves and become like little children we will never enter the kingdom of God.
Those of us living in America, especially those whose faith journey has been completed in Holy Orthodoxy, have the responsibility of being apostles to those who are not yet Orthodox but still hear the Savior's call. This begins with refusing to make snide comments towards them, to roll our eyes at them, and to second-guess their sincerity and faith in Christ. If our behavior drives others away from Christ's Church, how bitter will His words of "depart from me, I never knew you" be to us who thought we knew better than our neighbor?
It is hard to tell with comments. I did not hear your words or see your face. My entire sermon is exactly as you say it should be. I am not mocking anyone. There are standards for the church. I cannot tell if you took my words as mockery. If you did, you have heard them through a "glass darkly". Priest seraphim Holland
Christ did not say you are my disciples if you believe this or that. He said'Yoyou are my disciples if you love one another' Therefore all who live in love live in God and Christ. The spirit of the anti Christ is the spirit of division, Disputes, differences, ideology, sectarian disputes, theological arguments, division of the truth into separate parts, claiming that your philosophy and theology are the only True ones. Etc.. The spirit of Christ is Unity understanding and love.
As someone non orthodox, i see all members of all christian denominations as my brothers and sisters of gods kingdom, regardless of denomination. Rejoice in the presence of jesus and the holy spirit ❤❤❤❤️
Of course you do but we have different standards. These are the ancient standards of the church. There is no membership in the church which is the body of Christ without baptism into that church and belief according to that church. I make no judgments about people outside of church except that they are outside the church. May you find Paradise.
Grace to you A comment and two questions sir. First of all, in my walk with the Lord Jesus, I have discovered the most important salvific doctrinal difference between denominations is justification. I believe that Romans and James together teach us that salvation is clearly by" Grace through faith, not of works, lest any man boast," and, that a truly regenerated heart will desire and produce good works. I am a Christian currently holding a strong Reformed "Calvinist " view ,( which is really a St. Augustine view ) but i would please like to know: 1. What is the official Eastern Orthodox doctrine on Justification? 2. Are there Orthodox missionaries? Thank u sir and God bless
@@orthodoxnet So for me to have fellowship with you I must agree with and accept these 'ancient standards' I note that the speaker said something about not the hearers of the word but the doers of the word and that Luther failed to receive the memo. Did this speaker fail to receive the memo that we are saved by grace and not works. That God works through us. I was standing in a room in'71 and a being I did not know invaded me. He look at all my issues and faults and told me I was a mess but He could fix that and that I was His. Oddly enough I had a similar experience in Russia with Mother Russia. However, my point is conversion is an act of God not man. God reaches into lives and changes them. I know a woman who went to Bible school, she followed the '4 Spiritual laws' and said her little prayer. Later in life she was married to 3 men inside of 24 months. She has a son that she abandoned some 30 years ago. So, there is a need for a working out of our salvation. That faith without works is dead; but at the same token works without faith is equally dead. We have to repent but we cannot repent unless God draws us to Him. common
@@orthodoxnetbrother, the Holy Spirit of God dwelling in a man is the mark of those in the body of Christ. His fruit, submission to all of Christs teachings...all who trust in Christ and obey Him are brothers.
@@bobstewart5255 your conception and presentation of "saved by grace and not works" is an issue that has only become common outside of the Church because of the continual falling away of the Romans and all of the confused Protestant sects they produced.
Even sociopaths know that it's wrong to abuse a person. They just don't have anything emotionally that just prevents them from doing it anyway. But they know it's wrong.
Christ did not say you are my disciples if you believe this or that. He said'Yoyou are my disciples if you love one another' Therefore all who live in love live in God and Christ. The spirit of the anti Christ is the spirit of division, Disputes, differences, ideology, sectarian disputes, theological arguments, division of the truth into separate parts, claiming that your philosophy and theology are the only True ones. Etc.. The spirit of Christ is Unity understanding and love.
@@binderdundit228 Don't condemn Catholicism. Don't Judge or condemn. Love your enemies and bless them. The important thing for Christians of all denominations or none is to follow the way of jesus. His teachings are summed up most perfectly in the sermon on the mount.
@@sanjushah3061 I can say what I think. Catholicism is a pagan religion that absorbed elements of Judaism. Catholicism is the wolf in sheep's clothing. Escape from her abominations and turn to the Torah.
I'm the only protestant interested in becoming orthodox besides maybe my brother out of all my friends and family... I lost some friends yesterday in a tragic accident. I'm worried about my loved ones, my soul, I'm so exhausted... I need God
@@icwiener9935 If someone expresses love for Orthodoxy and such langauge has them turn away and then eventually fall completely, it'd be better for you to be thrown into the deep with a millstone round your neck.
I just found a video of yours tonight and then watched about 10 more! Thank you for putting these vids on TH-cam! I grew up Catholic, Became Protestant at 21. I have been looking into the Orthodox Church for a couple years now and feeling more and more called to become Orthodox! Your talks helped me understand so many things about Orthodoxy! I am now in my 50s! Keep making these videos! 8 need to hear these truths as I am sure others. Do! 😊❤
Martin Luther did get that memo. He taught that faith alone is a faith that is never alone. Historic Protestants are closer to you than you think. Martin Luther would hardly differ from you in anything you say here.
@@starstray4326 Yeah he really hated the Epistle of James, who states that faith without works is dead. IMO, Martin Luther over-reacted to the vain teachings of the Vatican at the time.
All in all, this is a wise Christian perspective. Not an Orthodox perspective, nor a Roman Catholic perspective, nor a Protestant perspective, but merely a Christian one. My one disagreement: I’m not optimistic about the eternal fate of one who rejects God, even if they otherwise live a relatively well-behaved life. Christ says “I am the way and the truth and the life, and no one comes to the Father but through me.” The Bible says that whoever confesses with their lips Christ as Lord and believes in their heart that God raised him from the dead will be saved.
As a Catholic, I deeply hope that all will be saved. I personally think there's a better chance of Orthodox being saved than Protestants, and of Protestants than of non-christians. Catholics are the most likely to be saved.
I’ve been really enjoying these orthodox talks lately. Im technically Catholic, that’s what I was baptized and confirmed in but I kinda enjoy these videos more than the Catholic Church
My faith started in orthodoxy and I love my orthodox brothers and sisters. Lots of beauty and reverence they appreciate that my other Protestant brothers and sisters do not. Many blessings. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and interpretations
I left Protestantism behind and became Orthodox in 2023. I love my Roman Catholic and Protestant friends, and hope they join the one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church sooner then later.
True faith is evidenced by good works. A "profession" of faith with no fruit is likely not genuine faith. However, doing good works alone does not bring about salvation. Acts 16:30-31 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved-you and your household.” Paul said "believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved. Nothing else. However, again this will be evidenced by being baptisted and living out your professed belief and trust in Christ for the rest of your life. God bless everyone ✝️
Faith as a philosophy or mental state (without works) is a house built on sand and a lamp under a bushel. If you’re not acting like a [Orthodox] Christian (ie, doing the works Christ instructed), then you do not have salvation. “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” James 2:26
@@aquiladavid5681 Ephesians 2:8-9 God's Word says that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus and not by our own efforts or works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Grace Alone. Faith Alone. Grace alone means that God loves, forgives, and saves us not because of who we are or what we do, but because of the work of Christ. King James Bible Ephesians 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. You are rewarded for you works but it does not affect your salvation. How can you possibly know if you have done enough to be saved. If you say it’s Christ’s blood and your works you are taking Christ’s glory. You are saying Jesus’ blood was not good enough to save you. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Have you ever received a gift you has to work for or earn?
John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward. Mark 9:38-39, 41
The meaning of that is that they would eventually come to be with Him, in communion with Him, and not stay doing their own thing as they were currently. So too now.
I once saw a short documentary of an elderly Muslim man who, for several decades, would take in newborns abandoned by their parents because they were born with terminal diseases and were, therefore, destined to die young. This man would take these babies in, feed them, change them, lull them to sleep. He gave them all the love and tenderness the world had denied them and loved them like they were his own. Then, they would eventually die, usually in his arms. The man would grieve for them and do it all over again. He put his heart on an anvil repeatedly for others. It's one of the most loving things I've ever heard of. God save him!
Respectfully, your characterization of Paul’s words in Romans 2:13 lacks context. Paul is establishing that to be justified by the law one must “do” the entire law perfectly so that in the next chapter he can show that no one can be justified by the law because no one can do it perfectly. Romans 3:20 NIV Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. The law cannot justify us because we cannot live up to it. What the law does is reveal God’s nature to us so in our repentant faith we can strive to be closer to God. It is through our repentant faith that God gives us salvation as a gift through his grace, and through that gift we receive a new heart which yearns to observe the law and grow closer to God.
Hello, I am a Methodist and just want to make sure I respectfully understand the position. So there is not a "clear" position for protestants other than they are not "certainly saved" since they did not come into communion with the "One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church"? How do you handle the issue with those who are a part of the Roman Catholic Church due to the historical split after the great schism? I ask this just as I am trying to understand more about Orthodoxy from an ecumenical perspective. I realize my views are more open-minded, and may make for awkward company since they allow me to see Catholics and Orthodox Christians as brothers and sisters in Christ, (even with some of the theological issues that I may have) but nonetheless, I am still interested in hearing your thoughts respectfully. I thank you for your respectful view towards others of Christian faith while also making it clear of your standards, boundaries, and beliefs, I know that is not easy to maintain and convey.
God bless you! For us, the Roman Catholics are outside of the church just as Methodists or any other Protestant denomination are outside of the church.
The orthodox church from my understanding believes in the Extra eclessium nulla salus(might have spelled it wrong) but it means no salvation outside the church. So the answer would be, if your not baptized in the one true church, you cannot be saved.
@@k9leadstheway531 I find this hard to understand. I mean there’s not even an Orthodox Church near me..the Chinese/ North Korea church’s are persecuted, not Catholic or orthodox, and they risk imprisonment for wanting to worship God and the implications of no salvation outside of a particular church implies that church makes someone’s faith better than someone else’s which just doesn’t fit the gospel message. I say the underground church’s have the truer faith since they are really eating the body of Christ and drinking His blood. And yes I’m aware there’s a doctrine about ignorance somewhere…
I am just a lowly inquirer, coming from a Protestant tradition, this teaching of "may their works save them" seems to contradict Ephesians 2:8-9. I thought the Orthodox position was both faith and works. I presume I misunderstand, please correct me.
Of course we have salvation from our faith, which must act through works. If we have no works we have no faith. We are not saved by works, but we are not saved without any works either
I think there is a special room in heaven where all the protestants and Catholics are gonna have to be really quiet around. Cuz it's gonna be full of people like him. We are gonna have to be quiet because they will think that they are the only ones in there
Could you elaborate or make a video (unless you have already) on how Martin Luther, as you say, ‘got it wrong’ ? I am here for knowledge and would like to understand that statement in its entirety as the remainder of the video, although carries on this theme, doesn’t provide specifics that substantiate the Martin Luther statement.
Thank you so much for this teaching. May I ask, how would you respond to the claim that these passages guarantee salvation? In other words, we can, in fact, confidently declare we are saved if we follow these passages. Romans 10:9 (NIV): "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." John 5:24 (NIV): "Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life." Matthew 19:28-29 (NIV): "Jesus said to them, 'Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.'"
If you believe in Jesus, you will struggle to keep His commandments. There is no invisible faith inside your mind that saves. That's basically Gnosticism. "Show me your faith apart from your works and I will show you my faith by my works." There shouldn't be a dichotomy of faith and works, the "works", actions, are what faith consists of. An act of faith is an expression of faith. Without the action, there is no faith but an imaginary one. It isn't that this "imaginary faith" inside your mind "produces good works", because then you're disconnecting the two when they aren't separate things. The "works" are the faith itself. If you're married, you have to remain faithful to your spouse as well as have faith in your spouse. Trust, fidelity, faithfulness. This is the meaning of faith. You can't possibly imagine that speaking the words "Jesus is Lord" is what saves you. You seem to be turning salvation into an abstract concept rather than an immanent reality that we experience even in this life. Christianity is holistic and encompasses every aspect of life. It isn't a theory. Thinking thoughts about God isn't what saves you. Acquiring special knowledge doesn't save you, and that's just Gnosticism. To follow Jesus means to take up your own cross and follow Him to Golgotha. Repentance and the cultivation of virtues. You can be as assured of your salvation as far as you are abiding in Christ because salvation is in Christ. But we're not "saved", so much as saved, being saved, hoping to be saved. Persevere to the end. And don't base your whole theology on a select few verses.
@@no-one-787 1) Where does Jesus say that works = salvation? Works are the fruit of salvation, not the root. Jesus (our LORD and SAVIOUR) is the root. 2) Read Luke 23:39-43, the thief on the cross confessed his faith in him, and Jesus told him that he will be in Heaven with Him today. Since that man couldn't get baptised nor do good works and was actually a criminal, was Jesus lying? 3) Look at Romans 4:1-8, here the apostle Paul talks about how Abhraham was saved (by faith, not works) and even backs it up with a psalm from King David. Come on man, there's more than enough evidence in the Bible that says we are justified by faith, not by works and that confessing that Christ is Lord with your tongue and your heart is what saves you. To be born again. If you disagree with the Bible, then you disagree with God himself, who unites us all together under him. Stop following man-made doctrines about the church and follow Christ.
This is refreshing to hear. After spending 30 years as an Evangelical ( A year ago I reverted back to RCC via attending Latin Mass) I grew so tired of church folks asking " is he/she saved ?" " well they prayed to receive Jesus in their heart, so yes"...like a simple prayer was magic or something. If the RCC ( Im in Traditional FSSP) continues to slide into the abyss with the junk the Pope is propelgating I may convert to Orthodox.
I'm a Roman Catholic aswell, and i wanted to address your last point because i'm frustrated aswell. However leaving is NOT the solution, if all the actual godly men left the RCC and we just leave the liberals in there we will lose this beautiful church. We must fight for the life of this Apostolic church established by Peter. I will never convert to Eastern Orthodoxy unless i get kicked out of the RCC of course then I will literally have no physical choice. And besides, the grass is not particularly greener in the East. You must also remember in Scripture when Israel had bad kings, and being King of Israel was a seat ordained by God just like the Roman Bishop.
Ex Orthodox here. When the people of God were worshiping other idols (ofc the RCC doesn’t do this but even in a bad state but definitely far from worse) they didn’t just leave Israel, they stayed in it and obeyed God. We need to do the same + the pope really isn’t bad it’s just these atheistic articles that slander him.
@@hap1678 I sure am not going to take any spiritual advice from someone who is an apologist for this Pope, are kidding me. " And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."
@@wbl5649 Brother your taking advice from schismatics who have departed from truth, different between me and you is that I won’t betray my faith for something which is empty when things get bad. Eastern Orthodoxy is false for too many reasons but you will come to Rome back to home if God pleases.
@@orthodoxnetI’m in Fort Worth Texas and have been looking into orthodoxy. It’s difficult to locate anyone nearby. I am concerned if my Baptisms were valid\sufficient.
I just don't get it. Why isn't there, not in the title neither in the description, any information on who this priest is, where, when etc.? Goes without saying that such a quality upload and its enthusiastic audience deserve that.
Baptized Ukrainian orthodox and so is my daughter… she struggles at times with non orthodox’s at times but because of family and cultural heritage she has been doing fine🤝🙏🏻🇨🇦
thats what orthodox is basically. It is a tradition. I broke free from it and became a pentecoastal, I never regret it and I got to know Jesus at a true depth. Orthodoxy is evil. My orthodox family did me bad for converting for example. You guys also pray to Mary which is wrong.
@@colmwhateveryoulike3240 because its like saying Jesus is not enough, I need Mary too , and saint paul too. You belittle God. And God is also a jealous God says the Bible. He does not share glory with anyone. Mary was a human like you and me. Would you like people to pray to you when you are in Heaven? Thats a BIG mistake. Nowhere in the Bible does it say you should pray to humans but the Bible CLEARLY says we should NOT pray to the dead nor the living but to GOD. Speaking to corpses is also what satanists do. Are you satanists?
@@EpicLionMusic Tradition is the tether that holds us to the Church Christ established 40 days after Pentecost. If we sever that tether, we sever our connection to Christ.
The thief on the cross (who precedes the Orthodox church) had faith, but zero works to offer Christ and yet was promised paradise in Luke 23:42-43. The idea that works are needed for salvation is incorrect and is what keeps me from becoming a part of the Orthodox church. I love the worship, admire the disciplines, and the value of silence, but I think that's all I can take from it.
Unless I missed it, I don’t recall hearing Jesus’ name once in this talk. John 14:16 “Nobody comes to the father except through me” - Jesus As Christians, we need to point people to Jesus. Don’t spend your efforts arguing over which denominations are the only way.
Christ did not say you are my disciples if you believe this or that. He said'Yoyou are my disciples if you love one another' Therefore all who live in love live in God and Christ. The spirit of the anti Christ is the spirit of division, Disputes, differences, ideology, sectarian disputes, theological arguments, division of the truth into separate parts, claiming that your philosophy and theology are the only True ones. Etc.. The spirit of Christ is Unity understanding and love.
I was waiting for an answer. Seriously. But just saying to pray, for what? For relative to become Orthodox? Always wondered what the belief was on the Roman Catholic frim the Orthodox Catholic viewpoint
As an outside observer, I think one of the main unique features of Orthodoxy as opposed to other denominations is that they are less afraid to say “I don’t know,” unlike the Roman Catholics, Protestants, etc who always must have a doctrine for everything, sort of giving respect to the divine, unknowable mysteries of the Lord instead of claiming to know perfectly His unfathomable nature.
Every denomination believes “they are the only way” which is a bunch of BS. Jesus saves. Repent, glorify His name, believe in the resurrection of Christ. Pray the Holy Spirit fills you with Grace and love.
Christ did not say you are my disciples if you believe this or that. He said'Yoyou are my disciples if you love one another' Therefore all who live in love live in God and Christ. The spirit of the anti Christ is the spirit of division, Disputes, differences, ideology, sectarian disputes, theological arguments, division of the truth into separate parts, claiming that your philosophy and theology are the only True ones. Etc.. The spirit of Christ is Unity understanding and love.
How about Orthodox people who are baptized but refuse to practice it or even believe in God. Is this the same as being pagan or is it worse or we don't know? Elder Cleopa said Orthodox people who die without confession serve the canon they should have been given by the priest in hell and then the Church takes them out of hell through mentions during DL. This is scary but fair I think. As Orthodox we have more gifts we are expected to do more....
Christ did not say you are my disciples if you believe this or that. He said'Yoyou are my disciples if you love one another' Therefore all who live in love live in God and Christ. The spirit of the anti Christ is the spirit of division, Disputes, differences, ideology, sectarian disputes, theological arguments, division of the truth into separate parts, claiming that your philosophy and theology are the only True ones. Etc.. The spirit of Christ is Unity understanding and love.
So overall other Christian’s good calm people who aren’t orthodox overall have just as good chance into heaven as a Orthodox Church Christian anyone agree
I personally don't eat unclean animals, one of the reasons being that Jesus says "if you love me follow my commandments" and OH MAN does it make people angry. People put a lot of effort into justifying why they don't follow commandments, and not enough effort into acting out their faith in their daily lives.
@@orthodoxnet Where is it explained that unclean animals are no longer considered "not for food"? It's not in Acts 10 because that vision is explained in Acts 11 as pertaining to gentiles, not animals. Even Isaiah 66 states that the Lord will rebuke eaters of swine's flesh when he returns.
@@atlasdmJesus says it is not what a man puts in his mouth that defiles him, as it does not enter the heart, but the stomach and is expelled. it is what comes out of the heart/mouth that defiles him. This is Jesus, in effect stating that the old dietary laws are void. Also, Paul also says that meat is “amoral” essentially, in 1st Corinthians.. eat it or don’t, it does not matter. If you find that not eating “unclean meat” helps you stay focused on God better, then do that. But do not force upon your brother, the standards you set for yourself. Blessings
@@Apoch86 Jesus does say that, but in the context of rebutting the pharisee's tradition of ceremonial hand washing, which they required because they falsely taught that eating with unwashed hands made one unclean. I doubt that Jesus would say not one jot or tittle would pass from the law until heaven and earth pass away and then turn around and declare part of the law void. I'm not making the case that everyone must follow the dietary laws, in fact I don't think that at all, but the (false) idea that the torah is done away with is not the orthodox position on the matter. It's actually a much more recent protestant ideal. Ancient Faith has a video titled "Torah! Torah! Torah!" that I highly recommend for the orthodox take on the subject.
@@atlasdm I'm going to quote to you, directly out of my Orthodox study bible that I received from the Father at a local ROC parish Scripture ---------------------------------------------------------- Mark 7, 18-19 : 18 So He said to them, "Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, 19 because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?"(a) ---------------------------------------------------------- The context for (a) in the passage reads as follows : "Food cannot defile a person because it is created by God and is therefore pure. Evil things (v. 21) are not from God, and these are what defile a person" Again, if you want to follow the Levitical dietary laws, you're welcome to do so, if you find it helps you focus and follow God better. But your original comment stated that you follow them because you read Jesus words that "if you love me, follow my commandments", and that fact according to you makes people in your life angry. So it sounds like you've potentially had debates or arguments with them, because to you they are "justifying why they don't follow commandments". I would just urge you to not condemn or judge a brother for eating something that you won't eat, according to the Levitical law. Biblically speaking, the old Levitical law, while still lawful, is not the full picture. Scripture ---------------------------------------------------------- 1 Corinthians 10, 23-26 : 23 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. 24 Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake; 26 for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.” ---------------------------------------------------------- Also, as an aside, It's not that in general Protestants "throw out" the old testament (although there are definitely some that do), but that most, if not all Protestants, at the very least see that Jesus "fulfilled" the law, and now under the grace of Christ, we are no longer held in judgement under the old law, but we are held in the Grace of Christ. I would also leave you with one more excerpt from Romans, towards the idea of not judging your brothers too harshly. Scripture ---------------------------------------------------------- Romans 14, 5-13 : 5 One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. 10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.” 12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Therefore let us not judge one another [d]anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way. ---------------------------------------------------------- I hope this was helpful to you. Blessings on you, brother.
Thank God we weren't left down here to save ourselves through keeping the law! It's been proven to not work out for us. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No Man comes to the father except though Him! The Bible directs us to our need of Jesus, not to the law!
Man wanted God to just give them a set of rules to follow, and go away. So He did, and Man failed to uphold them perfectly. The only one who could fulfill the law is Jesus. God absolutely wanted us to see our need of Him.
Christ did not say you are my disciples if you believe this or that. He said'Yoyou are my disciples if you love one another' Therefore all who live in love live in God and Christ. The spirit of the anti Christ is the spirit of division, Disputes, differences, ideology, sectarian disputes, theological arguments, division of the truth into separate parts, claiming that your philosophy and theology are the only True ones. Etc.. The spirit of Christ is Unity understanding and love.
You can gather that based on Israel’s attitude all through the Bible. The Pharisees had that attitude. They loved the Law and their own self-righteousness by being legalistic, not God.
Father, you said that “if you are (1) baptized and (2) believe, you are a Christian.” Well, my The Orthodox Study Bible puts it right the other way around. We read thus in Mark 16:16 that “He who (1) believes and is (2) baptized will be saved.” Question: which one should we believe? Your sayings or Bible’s?
It is the same difference. If you read OT part of the Bible, you will find at the time when circumcision was introduced, mainly adults were affected, but afterwards, newborns were affected. At the time when Baptism was introduced, mainly adults were affected, but later babies were mostly affected. Make sure you are not overzealous with the linguistics as substance is what matters.
@@johnnyd2383 What it matters to you - as the one not being “overzealous,” is substance. But what it matters to Jesus, the Son of God, is what is written. He confronted Satan three times in the wilderness with “it is WRITTEN” (Matthews 4), not with the “substance.” So, since Jesus is our Savior, and we are asked to live like He lived (1 John 2:6), I’ll stay with what with “it is WRITTEN.”
@@eotpatriarchs Do as you wish. I was pointing out that we ought to think bigger and not legalistically, because keeping rules and regulations with no change to the heart, doesn’t please God. Pharisees were strict in following every iota of the OT Law and yet, they missed the mark. Bye bye.
@@johnnyd2383 It is NOT the letter but the order of things. There is a big difference, isn't it? But if you are REALLY interested to know something on this subject, go ahead and do some reading. I recommend you Saint Theodore of Mopsuestia’s Catechesis XII and XIII, Baptism And Forgivness in Acts 2:38, Bibliotheca Sacra 153, Saint Basil the Great’s A Treatise on Baptism and others. As a matter of fact, Saint Basil the Great gets mad about Christians’ jumping over the repentance and believing straight to Baptism. Read his book and you’ll understand that. Then come back and talk with me again. I hope you don’t consider yourself superior to all these writers, do you?
God sent His own son, Jesus into the world to be the place of us guilty sinners. Jesus never sinned. He felt no guilt. His conscience was clear before God. Since Adam, there has never been another man like Jesus who did all things pleasing to God. In every way, at all times, without exception, He pleased His Father, whereas we have displeased Him. Yet Jesus did not come just to give us an example. He came to be our substitute-to take the place of us sinners-and bear the punishment for all sin. At the end of His righteous life, He voluntarily died, as if He were the sinner. He took your sin upon himself and died in your place-in the place of all sinners. Forgiveness does not come through the church or through its leaders. Only God can forgive, and he is ready to forgive all who will believe and receive his forgiveness. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” 1 John 1:9
I am not Orthodox, but let us acknowledge what Paul writes to the Romans. WHOSOEVER confesses with his mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord and believes in his heart that He is risen SHALL BE SAVED. I think he's pretty clear on that. Another thing (that I believe we disagree on): gou DO NOT need to be baptized to be saved. Yes, it is a command from God that you do it. It is not a requirement to be saved. For by grace are we saved through faith, but not of works, lest we should boast. Baptism is a work. Therefore, it is not a requirement to be saved. To say baptism is required to be saved would be to have a doctrine of "faith + works = salvation". That doctrine is not correct. By grace through faith = salvation. Confess that Jesus is Lord and believe He is risen is salvation.
If you confess that "Jesus is Lord" then you should probably follow His commandments. And His commandment to His followers before the Ascension was to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations. And the way that was to be done was through Baptism. 1 Peter 3:21 tells us, in fact, that Baptism *does* save us. But not just because we're going into the water, but because we're using that specific action to appeal to God (through faith) for His saving grace. There should be no wondering, then, about all of the baptisms taking place in the book of Acts. If you are going to insist that Baptism is strictly unnecessary, then you are welcome to become a thief and nail yourself to a cross while appealing to Jesus to remember you when He enters His kingdom. Of course, He is likely to tell you that in this day and age, what you are doing is unnecessary and that he has instituted the sacrament of Baptism for this very purpose instead. Regarding your fear of works, I will remind you of what Saint James states in 2:26 about faith without works being dead. You may benefit from reading the entire second chapter of his epistle. I also invite you to read Revelation 2:1-7 where Jesus comments on the church in Ephesus and why they were about to have their lampstand removed.
Not being able to take communion if you’re not part of the Orthodox Church? I haven’t read that in the Bible. Jesus says “do this in remembrance of Me”. Backing up to exodus where the Passover was introduced to the Jews in Egypt and commanded by God to do for all time to commemorate the deliverance from bondage…. This is the same Passover that Jesus is celebrating with His disciples. Communion is Passover minus the cup of righteousness which He will not drink until the Marriage Super of the Lamb…. Ok I am rambling but we HAVE to follow the word of God as is. Christianity is Completed Judaism only made complete in Christ our living Messiah. All these man made traditions take away from focus on what we should be focusing on. The division amongst us is a plot from the devil to divide us. Everywhere people are awakening to the truth of Jesus as the Messiah and we should be focusing on Him rather than tradition. Also, being a non Orthodox doesn’t mean we ignore the law on the contrary, we strive to follow the law but believe it’s only possible through Jesus. Praying to Saints and looking at Holy relics is breaking of 2 Commandments …”you are to have no other gods. before me… well praying to anyone but God is having another god and “do not make graven images”…. They’re all over the Catholic Churches…so maybe we should just stop pointing the finger at each other and take the plank out of our own eyes….Jesus says that too. We both love God and we should trust in Christ alone for our salvation. He will work out all the details in between. May the Lord bless you and keep you and may the Lord let His face shine on you and give you peace now and always brothers and sisters in Christ.
If you're not part of the Church, the Body, as an outsider then why would you want to take communion? St. Paul speaks in those who are not prepared to receive.
No. In order to be Eastern Orthodox, you would need to be either Baptized in EOC completely or at least Confirmed... which would happen only after you receive proper catechism. You will have to leave your baggage behind before entering Lord's EO Church.
That rock was not St Peter in the literal sense. I understand the Petra/Petros wordplay argument, but read the early church fathers. Even in scripture, when the disciples were arguing about which one would sit at Christ's right hand in the kingdom, he rebuked them. St Peter's confession that "thou art the Christ, the son of the living God" - that was the rock. Not Peter himself. I'm sure most devout Catholics are at least somewhat aware of this. Whether the cognitive dissonance can be overcome is their struggle.
@@sonofthunder-fb3cm "You are the rock upon whom I will build my church" is pretty straight forward. Once you remove St. Peter as the "rock" and the papal line, anything believing in the overall views of Christianity can be seen as the true church, which is wrong. This is why Jesus Christ made sure to have One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church so that our faith could be grounded in something that cannot falter or change.
@@Србомбоница86 well, of course it’s your right to hold that position. Just seems interesting to me tell me which practices of the orthodox churches, the early church besides communion, baptism, and marriage and if they did not do any other practices besides those and how were they saved if they were not practicing all of the religious things that the orthodox are practicing today?
@@pastordavidberman2091 They did practice Orthodoxy as it is today. Protestants have no Tradition so of course they would have no idea what the Church was like.
It is written in John 14:6…Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. The religious denomination a person subscribes to is unimportant given what Jesus stated in John 14:6
This is exactly what both the Catholic and Orthodox churches profess. Both claim to be the one true Church, and both each other and all other denominations are offshoots in schism with it.
I am Catholic. I love Orthodoxy and Orthodox Christians. We are both Catholic. Your sacraments are real and we both eat the same flesh and drink the same blood.
I do see parallels with Catholic doctrine insomuch that there are pagans counted amongst the Just, and there is the Baptism of Desire (hotly contested amongst Traditional Catholics), meaning that if the Just Pagan or pious Protestant had encountered the opportunity to become Catholic (or in the likely opinion of this channel’s primary audience-Orthodoxy) they would have responded to that grace. We should also not commit the sin of presumption (i.e. assuming someone we know is in Heaven or is not). However, the sermon only broaches on the doctrine that outside of the Church there is no salvation (extra Ecclesiam nulla salus). Pagans and Protestants cannot be saved by their false religions. The Church is the mystical body of Christ and salvation can only come through Him. Technically speaking, anyone validly baptized in the Trinitarian form is a member of the Church whether or not they attend Mass or the Divine Liturgy. That is because baptism is a sacrament of the Church. Thanks for reading. Pax Christi.
It’s a Green vestment. Green is typically worn during the time of Pentecost. Orthodox Priests wear vestments as stand ins for Christ during services. Each layer is spiritual armor and serves a purpose.
@@paulkersey7458 sounds like witchcraft. The full armor of God is Spiritual not magic garments like a Harry Potter book. There are’nt stand ins for Christ. Jesus is the risen King and he is alive and in charge. No man can take his place.That is man made doctrine and is Heretical. We access Jesus directly through prayer.
@@3luckydog you and I have had the advantage of knowing how to read, attend school and have almost unlimited information and technology at our finger tips. The Orthodox Church, which has existed since the day of Pentecost, leverages all five senses in order to give Christian’s a glimpse of the eternal liturgy that occurs in heaven. There is nothing heretical about priests wearing vestments. The early church was hierarchical, liturgical and sacramental. Almost no one could read. People learned the faith by attending divine services, partaking of the sacraments, understanding the movements of the clergy and seeing salvation history depicted in holy icons. Perhaps if you understood that historical fact, you wouldn’t act like a Bible thumping loon who “got saved and cured off the devils brew”, waving his dog eared Bible in everyone’s face and denouncing the unchanged faith of around 300 million people.
@@paulkersey7458 Following God’s Word as it is written makes me a “loon”? I said Priests as stand ins for Jesus was heretical not the vestments….nice try👍.The Church in ancient times couldn’t teach their flock how to read? What about today…. Can people read today? An unchanged Faith for hundreds of years is not NECESSARILY something to boast about. The Muslims, Freemasons, Hindus, rabbinical Jews…etc. have had an unchanged Faith for hundreds of years too. Too bad it’s the wrong Faith. John 4:24 says we are to worship God in Spirit and Truth. There is no excuse for Heretical nonsense. Are you gonna cry 😢 because I quoted the Bible? Is that too Loony?
@@3luckydog I bet you were nicer when you were drinking. There is nothing heretical about the priest standing in for Christ. He prepares communion, he anoints the sick, baptizes children in place of Christ. I have holy tradition and almost 2000 years of apostolic tradition on my side. You have the 700 club the purpose driven life.
I was born into and baptised by the Greek Orthodox Church. As a young man I left the church and wandered the wilderness like many young men of my age. Later I refound Christ through a non-denominational church. I respect the Orthodox church, but I heard the priest say we must obey the law. Let me ask you this, do you observe all 613 laws? Do you eat pork or shellfish? If you do then you don't "observe the law."
Our sin made things unclean. The world was tainted by our sin. Christ cleansed the world so no thing by itself is unclean. So the law against eating unclean foods is still in place but there are no unclean foods so it doesn’t apply. Orthodoxy clearly explains things Protestants shipwreck on. I say this as a former southern Baptist pastor.
@@RussellSnow Let me see if I got your point. You said because of Jesus everythings clean, but Gods law not to eat unclean things is still in effect but since there are no unclean foods pay no attention to Gods law and go ahead and eat?.. You sound very confused to me..Long before Christ was manifested on earth God the Father said all things were clean to eat ( Gen 9:3 ) We who belong to Christ are no longer under the law. So from your post I will again ask which laws do you observe?
@@paulmelonas7263 we are under the whole law. I believe what the Orthodox Church believes, if what I am says contradicts the Church, I will change to the church teaching. The church says we can eat those things under the law. That’s good enough for me. The explanation as I understand it is that all food is now clean because Christ cleaned it. I’m not smart enough to think much beyond that.
I am from Orthodox family but I wouldn't say I associate with the church. I prefer just to believe in God and live according to commandments. I believe that is truly important.
Call No man Father upon the Earth. Orthodoxy is Antichrist, taking the Name of God, In the Place of Christ. Clear Violation of Gods Word.🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Matthew 23:9 King James Version 9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
My copy and paste: That is copied and pasted in every comment section, sometimes without commentary, by Evangelicals who do not rightly interpret Holy Scripture. That very literalist reading of Matthew 23:9 is dispelled by St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 4:14-17, him calling himself a father of his spiritual children, especially St. Timothy, and saying there are other fathers. "Paul’s Paternal Care 14 I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. 15 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you, imitate me. 17 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church." (NKJV / OSB NT) Christ referred in the passage Matthew 23:1-36 to those who *lord* titles over others as the Pharisees did often. It was not just an admonishment against calling a man father, but teachers and rabbis as well (doctors too), which I have never seen Evangelicals object to hardly. It seems to be a double standard as most are anti-Roman Catholic which sadly they lump us in. The title 'Father' our Presbyters use is not lording a title but it is a spiritual truth as they *are* the fathers of spiritual children just like St. Paul was over his flock. And it can be gathered that indeed St. Timothy and others called St. Paul 'father' as it would have been only respectful, him being their spiritual father to help them grow in the Faith. And that's where we get it from. It is from the very earliest of the Church. Also, Christ refers in many places to fathers both biological and spiritual (the Old Covenant Patriarchs and Forefathers). Christ does not say when He refers to them as fathers not to call them such as they are *legitimate* fathers of children. It isn't just a haughty title being put on them. They do not lord titles over others as this vocation, fatherhood, is a reality both to biological fathers and spiritual fathers. If you like to understand this passage in the Holy Scriptures better, this video might help you: th-cam.com/video/j4F-xow3Vzg/w-d-xo.html May God bless you. ☦
No he was a jew who passed his teachings to Jewish apostles who under him established a church with a hierarchy and liturgical worship just because Rome went into error and the protestants are there fruit doesn't have anything to with true or falsity of that claim I recommend a video by orthodox shahada which demonstrates that the orthodox liturgical worship is derived f4om Jewish synagogue worship and even protestants like Hugh wybrew wrote books discussing and backing up this claim more importantly why do you ignore the Lord when he says you need to ear his flesh the word in Greek means to gnaw specifically, and in the Pauline epistles Paul writes about the holy eucharist and says if anyone partakes unworthy they may get sick or even die
The "Jewish Law" is imperfect not complete: 7 The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the LORD are firm, and all of them are righteous. 10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. 11 By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Psalm 19 You speak false words Mr Orthodox Priest
You just misrepresent his words to try to paint yourself as better and accuse a brother in Christ of speaking false words. Not christ like and not a good way to treat others. He didn’t say anywhere that Jewish law is perfect, it’s completely semantics to have a problem with him calling it incomplete, which is by definition not perfect, and to accuse him of lying because if it. What does the Bible say about such behaviors?
@@CanadaExplorer101 Islam is Mohammad's personal sex cult. What kind of prophet keeps sex slaves? What kind prophet has sex with a 9 year old child? Read Quran 33:50 and 33:51. It's disgusting. Then listen to "Christian Prince" to learn what the Quran says in the original Arabic, which is even worse than the translations. How? Well, Islamic scholars have always done their best to hide how horribly written it is, how disgusting it is, and how inconsistent it is. Most Muslims aren't Arab and won't know the language, so it's easy to play on the myth & lie that the quran is perfect in Arabic. People like Mohammad Hijab (and so many other Muslims in the west) always use this trick to fool people. Christian Prince is an Arab and will explain all of their dirty tricks.
A new law… I don’t think I’ve seen a worse eisigesis. You cannot disconnect: Romans 2:13 (ESV): 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. from the fuller context of the passage. Paul is making a point here. If you keep the law you will be justified. But then he goes on to rebuke them for boasting in the law because they are breakers of the law who blaspheme God. Let’s not forget that later Paul goes on to show that through the law came condemnation, for all have sinned. Romans 2:23-25: 23 You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. 24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” 25 For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. The new law is Christ and faith in him to all who will believe, and it is counted to them as righteousness with nothing added. To boast in the law is become just as the gentiles, there is no new law, only the fulfillment of the law, which is Christ.
It's kind of ironic that when you criticized my exegesis you misspelled the word. I understand where you're coming from. You have the Bible but not the church. So your interpretation is what others that are not in the church have told you the Bible says. May you find paradise!
No, I intentionally used the word eisegeses. You pulled Romans 2:13 completely out of context from the rest of the chapter and from the rest of Romans. What is ironic is that you don’t defend your interpretation from the scriptures or the church fathers, but instead relegate me to a lower class because I am not in your church. How do expect to win converts to your church if you just insult those most likely to convert? I’m listening to your teaching… and others. This is the Orthodox Church I experienced in Romania, but at least you wish me well to find paradise and didn’t curse me and call me a Protestant dog.
How beautiful to hear Godly words with the happy sounds of little ones in the background. I love Orthodoxy. Glory to God.
orthodoxy yes but not unia with the green ? no oan and orthodox dont give unia. Every body love every body but unia is papa and deceptive.
As an Orthodox from Eastern Europe, I love the American way of thinking about it. You don't take a lot for granted and re-energize the faith. Thank you for that.
We look to you for strength in stories of what happened to the faithful of the East, we are young in acquiring the faith as a nation. I am baptized in the Serbian Orthodox Church. It’s good to have this bridge! Truly the best bridge to bring people together.
Christ did not say you are my disciples if you believe this or that. He said'Yoyou are my disciples if you love one another' Therefore all who live in love live in God and Christ. The spirit of the anti Christ is the spirit of division, Disputes, differences, ideology, sectarian disputes, theological arguments, division of the truth into separate parts, claiming that your philosophy and theology are the only True ones. Etc.. The spirit of Christ is Unity understanding and love.
It's not the American way. It's the way of this nutcase. Please don't confuse things.
@@sanjushah3061 Unity in the Church, schism is a breakdown in mutual affection.
@@OrthodoxChristianTheology If you think that only the Orthodox church is correct and all the other sects and churches are false then your understanding of the message of Christ needs adjustment. I'm not against the Orthodox church but Christ came with the teachings he gave us primarily to be found on the teachings in the sermon on the mount. I didn't hear him say during those teachings " Establish a Greek orthodox church after I am gone. And those who are not part of it do not consider them to be my followers " Instead he said : "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Unfortunately humans love to complicate things and separate truth into complexities and systems. This is why Christ told us that unless we humble ourselves and become like little children we will never enter the kingdom of God.
Those of us living in America, especially those whose faith journey has been completed in Holy Orthodoxy, have the responsibility of being apostles to those who are not yet Orthodox but still hear the Savior's call. This begins with refusing to make snide comments towards them, to roll our eyes at them, and to second-guess their sincerity and faith in Christ. If our behavior drives others away from Christ's Church, how bitter will His words of "depart from me, I never knew you" be to us who thought we knew better than our neighbor?
It is hard to tell with comments. I did not hear your words or see your face. My entire sermon is exactly as you say it should be. I am not mocking anyone. There are standards for the church. I cannot tell if you took my words as mockery. If you did, you have heard them through a "glass darkly". Priest seraphim Holland
@@orthodoxnetI don’t think he was accusing your sermon of those things, just giving general advice perfectly complementary to your message.
@orthodoxnet This was intended to be general commentary regarding the mission field that is America, please forgive me for introducing any confusion.
Christ did not say you are my disciples if you believe this or that. He said'Yoyou are my disciples if you love one another' Therefore all who live in love live in God and Christ. The spirit of the anti Christ is the spirit of division, Disputes, differences, ideology, sectarian disputes, theological arguments, division of the truth into separate parts, claiming that your philosophy and theology are the only True ones. Etc.. The spirit of Christ is Unity understanding and love.
Whether you’re orthodox or not doesn’t matter. The question is, do you trust in Christ alone or not?
As someone non orthodox, i see all members of all christian denominations as my brothers and sisters of gods kingdom, regardless of denomination. Rejoice in the presence of jesus and the holy spirit ❤❤❤❤️
Of course you do but we have different standards. These are the ancient standards of the church. There is no membership in the church which is the body of Christ without baptism into that church and belief according to that church. I make no judgments about people outside of church except that they are outside the church. May you find Paradise.
Grace to you
A comment and two questions sir. First of all, in my walk with the Lord Jesus, I have discovered the most important salvific doctrinal difference between denominations is justification. I believe that Romans and James together teach us that salvation is clearly by" Grace through faith, not of works, lest any man boast," and, that a truly regenerated heart will desire and produce good works. I am a Christian currently holding a strong Reformed "Calvinist " view ,( which is really a St. Augustine view ) but i would please like to know:
1. What is the official Eastern Orthodox doctrine on Justification?
2. Are there Orthodox missionaries?
Thank u sir and God bless
@@orthodoxnet So for me to have fellowship with you I must agree with and accept these 'ancient standards' I note that the speaker said something about not the hearers of the word but the doers of the word and that Luther failed to receive the memo. Did this speaker fail to receive the memo that we are saved by grace and not works. That God works through us.
I was standing in a room in'71 and a being I did not know invaded me. He look at all my issues and faults and told me I was a mess but He could fix that and that I was His. Oddly enough I had a similar experience in Russia with Mother Russia. However, my point is conversion is an act of God not man. God reaches into lives and changes them. I know a woman who went to Bible school, she followed the '4 Spiritual laws' and said her little prayer. Later in life she was married to 3 men inside of 24 months. She has a son that she abandoned some 30 years ago. So, there is a need for a working out of our salvation. That faith without works is dead; but at the same token works without faith is equally dead. We have to repent but we cannot repent unless God draws us to Him.
common
@@orthodoxnetbrother, the Holy Spirit of God dwelling in a man is the mark of those in the body of Christ. His fruit, submission to all of Christs teachings...all who trust in Christ and obey Him are brothers.
@@bobstewart5255 your conception and presentation of "saved by grace and not works" is an issue that has only become common outside of the Church because of the continual falling away of the Romans and all of the confused Protestant sects they produced.
Even sociopaths know that it's wrong to abuse a person. They just don't have anything emotionally that just prevents them from doing it anyway. But they know it's wrong.
Pray for my conversion to orthodox
I will. Send your name, and whatever biographical information you want to send, to seraphim@orthodox.net
From what may I ask
Christ did not say you are my disciples if you believe this or that. He said'Yoyou are my disciples if you love one another' Therefore all who live in love live in God and Christ. The spirit of the anti Christ is the spirit of division, Disputes, differences, ideology, sectarian disputes, theological arguments, division of the truth into separate parts, claiming that your philosophy and theology are the only True ones. Etc.. The spirit of Christ is Unity understanding and love.
@@binderdundit228 Don't condemn Catholicism. Don't Judge or condemn. Love your enemies and bless them. The important thing for Christians of all denominations or none is to follow the way of jesus. His teachings are summed up most perfectly in the sermon on the mount.
@@sanjushah3061 I can say what I think. Catholicism is a pagan religion that absorbed elements of Judaism. Catholicism is the wolf in sheep's clothing. Escape from her abominations and turn to the Torah.
Delighted to hear the children in the background
I'm the only protestant interested in becoming orthodox besides maybe my brother out of all my friends and family... I lost some friends yesterday in a tragic accident. I'm worried about my loved ones, my soul, I'm so exhausted... I need God
What an edifying sermon, thank you and God bless you Father
I'm presbyterian, but I love the Orthodox church :) we're all brothers and sisters in Christ.
No we're not you are an ecumenist and a liar
you are with very high probability doomed
You are not my sister in Christ, but a heretic. Do not asssociate me with you.
@@icwiener9935 If someone expresses love for Orthodoxy and such langauge has them turn away and then eventually fall completely, it'd be better for you to be thrown into the deep with a millstone round your neck.
@@ariversideview5775He's a Miaphysite, not Orthodox.
Thank you for your videos. I want to become Orthodox one day. I’m not in a place in the world where I can pursue that, but one day I will.
Seek and pursue Christ, and you will find The Way
I love to hear this Father's Homilies, thank you.
"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (Jn. 14:6)"
I'm blessed by this sermon. Thank you, father. God bless you.
Thank you for this homily. I always wanted to know more about this. I guess it is hard to just be simple.
Glad it was helpful!
I just found a video of yours tonight and then watched about 10 more! Thank you for putting these vids on TH-cam! I grew up Catholic, Became Protestant at 21. I have been looking into the Orthodox Church for a couple years now and feeling more and more called to become Orthodox! Your talks helped me understand so many things about Orthodoxy! I am now in my 50s! Keep making these videos! 8 need to hear these truths as I am sure others. Do! 😊❤
God bless you Fr. Seraphim Holland ☦️
I feel very calm listening to this video.
Martin Luther did get that memo. He taught that faith alone is a faith that is never alone. Historic Protestants are closer to you than you think. Martin Luther would hardly differ from you in anything you say here.
Besides the fact he removed books of the Bible.
@@starstray4326 only kinda sorta, it’s a bit more complicated than that
@@starstray4326 Yeah he really hated the Epistle of James, who states that faith without works is dead. IMO, Martin Luther over-reacted to the vain teachings of the Vatican at the time.
All in all, this is a wise Christian perspective. Not an Orthodox perspective, nor a Roman Catholic perspective, nor a Protestant perspective, but merely a Christian one.
My one disagreement: I’m not optimistic about the eternal fate of one who rejects God, even if they otherwise live a relatively well-behaved life. Christ says “I am the way and the truth and the life, and no one comes to the Father but through me.” The Bible says that whoever confesses with their lips Christ as Lord and believes in their heart that God raised him from the dead will be saved.
As a Catholic, I deeply hope that all will be saved. I personally think there's a better chance of Orthodox being saved than Protestants, and of Protestants than of non-christians. Catholics are the most likely to be saved.
Thank you! God bless.
I’ve been really enjoying these orthodox talks lately. Im technically Catholic, that’s what I was baptized and confirmed in but I kinda enjoy these videos more than the Catholic Church
My faith started in orthodoxy and I love my orthodox brothers and sisters. Lots of beauty and reverence they appreciate that my other Protestant brothers and sisters do not. Many blessings. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and interpretations
Why would you become a protestant?
I left Protestantism behind and became Orthodox in 2023. I love my Roman Catholic and Protestant friends, and hope they join the one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church sooner then later.
Beautiful, thank you, Father
Thank you for the explanation Fr.!
True faith is evidenced by good works. A "profession" of faith with no fruit is likely not genuine faith. However, doing good works alone does not bring about salvation. Acts 16:30-31 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved-you and your household.”
Paul said "believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved. Nothing else. However, again this will be evidenced by being baptisted and living out your professed belief and trust in Christ for the rest of your life. God bless everyone ✝️
" whoever believes in me is saved." Jesus. The water of life is free for all that come to God.
Exactly.
Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.
Absolutely. Religion does not save you. It’s your faith in Jesus Christ.
@@Kitkat0315 Amen.
Faith as a philosophy or mental state (without works) is a house built on sand and a lamp under a bushel. If you’re not acting like a [Orthodox] Christian (ie, doing the works Christ instructed), then you do not have salvation.
“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
James 2:26
@@aquiladavid5681 Ephesians 2:8-9
God's Word says that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus and not by our own efforts or works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Grace Alone. Faith Alone. Grace alone means that God loves, forgives, and saves us not because of who we are or what we do, but because of the work of Christ.
King James Bible Ephesians 3:15
If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
You are rewarded for you works but it does not affect your salvation. How can you possibly know if you have done enough to be saved. If you say it’s Christ’s blood and your works you are taking Christ’s glory. You are saying Jesus’ blood was not good enough to save you.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Have you ever received a gift you has to work for or earn?
I am catholic. I just found this video and this is so beautiful! I also love the icons in the background. How can I find more about Eastern worship?
Go to your closest Orthodox Church :)
@@vinreverie the closet one is over hour
The Church Ecclesiology series on the Orthodox Ethos YT channel is good.
@@apostolicapologetics4829 Well worth the drive. I'm Catholic too, but I do find Eastern Orthodox liturgy to be very beautiful.
@@letterofthelaw2567 have you ever been to an Eastern catholic liturgy
John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.
Mark 9:38-39, 41
The meaning of that is that they would eventually come to be with Him, in communion with Him, and not stay doing their own thing as they were currently. So too now.
I once saw a short documentary of an elderly Muslim man who, for several decades, would take in newborns abandoned by their parents because they were born with terminal diseases and were, therefore, destined to die young. This man would take these babies in, feed them, change them, lull them to sleep. He gave them all the love and tenderness the world had denied them and loved them like they were his own. Then, they would eventually die, usually in his arms. The man would grieve for them and do it all over again. He put his heart on an anvil repeatedly for others. It's one of the most loving things I've ever heard of. God save him!
If you believe that Lutherans don't see Works as necessary for Salvation, please read Article XX of the Augsburg Confession titled Good Works.
Also read, Augsburg Confession Article VI: of the New Obedience.
Respectfully, your characterization of Paul’s words in Romans 2:13 lacks context. Paul is establishing that to be justified by the law one must “do” the entire law perfectly so that in the next chapter he can show that no one can be justified by the law because no one can do it perfectly.
Romans 3:20 NIV
Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.
The law cannot justify us because we cannot live up to it. What the law does is reveal God’s nature to us so in our repentant faith we can strive to be closer to God. It is through our repentant faith that God gives us salvation as a gift through his grace, and through that gift we receive a new heart which yearns to observe the law and grow closer to God.
Hello, I am a Methodist and just want to make sure I respectfully understand the position. So there is not a "clear" position for protestants other than they are not "certainly saved" since they did not come into communion with the "One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church"? How do you handle the issue with those who are a part of the Roman Catholic Church due to the historical split after the great schism? I ask this just as I am trying to understand more about Orthodoxy from an ecumenical perspective. I realize my views are more open-minded, and may make for awkward company since they allow me to see Catholics and Orthodox Christians as brothers and sisters in Christ, (even with some of the theological issues that I may have) but nonetheless, I am still interested in hearing your thoughts respectfully.
I thank you for your respectful view towards others of Christian faith while also making it clear of your standards, boundaries, and beliefs, I know that is not easy to maintain and convey.
God bless you! For us, the Roman Catholics are outside of the church just as Methodists or any other Protestant denomination are outside of the church.
@@orthodoxnet thank you for your succinct and clear reply. I appreciate it. Thank you! God bless you as well!
The orthodox church from my understanding believes in the Extra eclessium nulla salus(might have spelled it wrong) but it means no salvation outside the church. So the answer would be, if your not baptized in the one true church, you cannot be saved.
@@k9leadstheway531 thank you for the clarification and providing the terminology.
@@k9leadstheway531 I find this hard to understand. I mean there’s not even an Orthodox Church near me..the Chinese/ North Korea church’s are persecuted, not Catholic or orthodox, and they risk imprisonment for wanting to worship God and the implications of no salvation outside of a particular church implies that church makes someone’s faith better than someone else’s which just doesn’t fit the gospel message. I say the underground church’s have the truer faith since they are really eating the body of Christ and drinking His blood. And yes I’m aware there’s a doctrine about ignorance somewhere…
I am just a lowly inquirer, coming from a Protestant tradition, this teaching of "may their works save them" seems to contradict Ephesians 2:8-9. I thought the Orthodox position was both faith and works. I presume I misunderstand, please correct me.
Of course we have salvation from our faith, which must act through works. If we have no works we have no faith. We are not saved by works, but we are not saved without any works either
@@orthodoxnet Thank you for explaining it to me.
I think there is a special room in heaven where all the protestants and Catholics are gonna have to be really quiet around. Cuz it's gonna be full of people like him. We are gonna have to be quiet because they will think that they are the only ones in there
You will be saved if you follow God's word and it must be genuine.
Enjoyed this Father.
(Also, some Catholics and Orthodox missed the memo as well. I usually refer to those folks as “non practising”)
Have faith in Jesus Christ and we'll be saved. Amen ✝️☦️
Proper faith would lead one to keep His commandments and amongst others, there is also one to go and Baptize (Matthew 28,19).
Could you elaborate or make a video (unless you have already) on how Martin Luther, as you say, ‘got it wrong’ ?
I am here for knowledge and would like to understand that statement in its entirety as the remainder of the video, although carries on this theme, doesn’t provide specifics that substantiate the Martin Luther statement.
Pick up a copy of the book Rock and Sand by Fr. Josiah Trenham for lots of detail on Reformers and their errors.
Thank you so much for this teaching.
May I ask, how would you respond to the claim that these passages guarantee salvation? In other words, we can, in fact, confidently declare we are saved if we follow these passages.
Romans 10:9 (NIV):
"If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
John 5:24 (NIV):
"Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life."
Matthew 19:28-29 (NIV):
"Jesus said to them, 'Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.'"
If you believe in Jesus, you will struggle to keep His commandments. There is no invisible faith inside your mind that saves. That's basically Gnosticism. "Show me your faith apart from your works and I will show you my faith by my works."
There shouldn't be a dichotomy of faith and works, the "works", actions, are what faith consists of. An act of faith is an expression of faith. Without the action, there is no faith but an imaginary one. It isn't that this "imaginary faith" inside your mind "produces good works", because then you're disconnecting the two when they aren't separate things. The "works" are the faith itself. If you're married, you have to remain faithful to your spouse as well as have faith in your spouse. Trust, fidelity, faithfulness. This is the meaning of faith.
You can't possibly imagine that speaking the words "Jesus is Lord" is what saves you. You seem to be turning salvation into an abstract concept rather than an immanent reality that we experience even in this life. Christianity is holistic and encompasses every aspect of life. It isn't a theory. Thinking thoughts about God isn't what saves you. Acquiring special knowledge doesn't save you, and that's just Gnosticism. To follow Jesus means to take up your own cross and follow Him to Golgotha. Repentance and the cultivation of virtues. You can be as assured of your salvation as far as you are abiding in Christ because salvation is in Christ. But we're not "saved", so much as saved, being saved, hoping to be saved. Persevere to the end. And don't base your whole theology on a select few verses.
@@no-one-787
1) Where does Jesus say that works = salvation? Works are the fruit of salvation, not the root. Jesus (our LORD and SAVIOUR) is the root.
2) Read Luke 23:39-43, the thief on the cross confessed his faith in him, and Jesus told him that he will be in Heaven with Him today. Since that man couldn't get baptised nor do good works and was actually a criminal, was Jesus lying?
3) Look at Romans 4:1-8, here the apostle Paul talks about how Abhraham was saved (by faith, not works) and even backs it up with a psalm from King David.
Come on man, there's more than enough evidence in the Bible that says we are justified by faith, not by works and that confessing that Christ is Lord with your tongue and your heart is what saves you. To be born again.
If you disagree with the Bible, then you disagree with God himself, who unites us all together under him. Stop following man-made doctrines about the church and follow Christ.
Also, the church and God shouldn't be a "dichotomy" but men are making it that way. Don't follow them, follow Christ.
With a Bishops blessing a funeral can be served for someone who has taken their life especially if it is a result of mental illness.
This is refreshing to hear. After spending 30 years as an Evangelical ( A year ago I reverted back to RCC via attending Latin Mass) I grew so tired of church folks asking " is he/she saved ?"
" well they prayed to receive Jesus in their heart, so yes"...like a simple prayer was magic or something. If the RCC ( Im in Traditional FSSP) continues to slide into the abyss with the junk the Pope is propelgating I may convert to Orthodox.
I'm a Roman Catholic aswell, and i wanted to address your last point because i'm frustrated aswell. However leaving is NOT the solution, if all the actual godly men left the RCC and we just leave the liberals in there we will lose this beautiful church. We must fight for the life of this Apostolic church established by Peter. I will never convert to Eastern Orthodoxy unless i get kicked out of the RCC of course then I will literally have no physical choice. And besides, the grass is not particularly greener in the East. You must also remember in Scripture when Israel had bad kings, and being King of Israel was a seat ordained by God just like the Roman Bishop.
@@rass4609 thank you for the encouragement!
Ex Orthodox here. When the people of God were worshiping other idols (ofc the RCC doesn’t do this but even in a bad state but definitely far from worse) they didn’t just leave Israel, they stayed in it and obeyed God. We need to do the same + the pope really isn’t bad it’s just these atheistic articles that slander him.
@@hap1678 I sure am not going to take any spiritual advice from someone who is an apologist for this Pope, are kidding me.
" And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."
@@wbl5649 Brother your taking advice from schismatics who have departed from truth, different between me and you is that I won’t betray my faith for something which is empty when things get bad. Eastern Orthodoxy is false for too many reasons but you will come to Rome back to home if God pleases.
May I ask the name of this Father? Wonderful truths. ✝️
Priest Seraphim Holland seraphim@orthodox.net www.orthodox.net (St Nicholas, McKinney TX)
@@orthodoxnetI’m in Fort Worth Texas and have been looking into orthodoxy. It’s difficult to locate anyone nearby. I am concerned if my Baptisms were valid\sufficient.
I just don't get it. Why isn't there, not in the title neither in the description, any information on who this priest is, where, when etc.? Goes without saying that such a quality upload and its enthusiastic audience deserve that.
Priest Seraphin Holland
Thank you
If you think you need to be the right denomination, or think an act like baptism is necessary for salvation, you've missed the point.
Baptized Ukrainian orthodox and so is my daughter… she struggles at times with non orthodox’s at times but because of family and cultural heritage she has been doing fine🤝🙏🏻🇨🇦
thats what orthodox is basically. It is a tradition. I broke free from it and became a pentecoastal, I never regret it and I got to know Jesus at a true depth. Orthodoxy is evil. My orthodox family did me bad for converting for example. You guys also pray to Mary which is wrong.
@@EpicLionMusicI pray to you, tell me why praying to Mary is wrong? Perhaps you mistake prayer for worship?
@@colmwhateveryoulike3240 because its like saying Jesus is not enough, I need Mary too , and saint paul too. You belittle God. And God is also a jealous God says the Bible. He does not share glory with anyone. Mary was a human like you and me. Would you like people to pray to you when you are in Heaven? Thats a BIG mistake. Nowhere in the Bible does it say you should pray to humans but the Bible CLEARLY says we should NOT pray to the dead nor the living but to GOD. Speaking to corpses is also what satanists do. Are you satanists?
Wont even waste time whit you.@@EpicLionMusic
@@EpicLionMusic Tradition is the tether that holds us to the Church Christ established 40 days after Pentecost. If we sever that tether, we sever our connection to Christ.
Do you have a series as to why you are Orthodox? Thank you!
Glory to God
The thief on the cross (who precedes the Orthodox church) had faith, but zero works to offer Christ and yet was promised paradise in Luke 23:42-43. The idea that works are needed for salvation is incorrect and is what keeps me from becoming a part of the Orthodox church. I love the worship, admire the disciplines, and the value of silence, but I think that's all I can take from it.
In the same chapter Paul says that nobody can be justified by the law because we fail so it condemns us.
He was talking about the OT law. Make sure you discern properly....
I agree father with you “ God is no respecter of persons great word !
So Faith + following the Sermon on the Mount = salvation
Father, you were born a priest. Eis Polla Eti, ∆espota. ☦️⚓❤️
Brother only Jesus Christ the son of the most high God can save
Unless I missed it, I don’t recall hearing Jesus’ name once in this talk.
John 14:16 “Nobody comes to the father except through me” - Jesus
As Christians, we need to point people to Jesus.
Don’t spend your efforts arguing over which denominations are the only way.
Thank you. There is no other way but Jesus!
Jesus Christ is God and the Church is the Body of Christ.
Christ did not say you are my disciples if you believe this or that. He said'Yoyou are my disciples if you love one another' Therefore all who live in love live in God and Christ. The spirit of the anti Christ is the spirit of division, Disputes, differences, ideology, sectarian disputes, theological arguments, division of the truth into separate parts, claiming that your philosophy and theology are the only True ones. Etc.. The spirit of Christ is Unity understanding and love.
Why did Jesus found a Church then?
@@neonyankunChurch was meant to spread the Word of Christ and aid in shepherding the believers. Only Christ saves. Not a dogma and not a building.
Please pray for us Father! My wife Cathy wants nothing to do with Orthodoxy. I am ready. Glory is God.
I was waiting for an answer. Seriously. But just saying to pray, for what? For relative to become Orthodox? Always wondered what the belief was on the Roman Catholic frim the Orthodox Catholic viewpoint
As an outside observer, I think one of the main unique features of Orthodoxy as opposed to other denominations is that they are less afraid to say “I don’t know,” unlike the Roman Catholics, Protestants, etc who always must have a doctrine for everything, sort of giving respect to the divine, unknowable mysteries of the Lord instead of claiming to know perfectly His unfathomable nature.
Every denomination believes “they are the only way” which is a bunch of BS.
Jesus saves. Repent, glorify His name, believe in the resurrection of Christ. Pray the Holy Spirit fills you with Grace and love.
Christ did not say you are my disciples if you believe this or that. He said'Yoyou are my disciples if you love one another' Therefore all who live in love live in God and Christ. The spirit of the anti Christ is the spirit of division, Disputes, differences, ideology, sectarian disputes, theological arguments, division of the truth into separate parts, claiming that your philosophy and theology are the only True ones. Etc.. The spirit of Christ is Unity understanding and love.
@@reedplaysgamesno ,we do know ,no Orthodox will EVER say these non Orthodox are saved
Basically no difference between Orthodoxies, Copts, Chaldeans Palestinians and Bishops of Rome, Constantinople, Antioch, Alexandria.
How does this fit in with what I'm told is the teaching of the church... That there is no salvation outside the church?
How about Orthodox people who are baptized but refuse to practice it or even believe in God. Is this the same as being pagan or is it worse or we don't know? Elder Cleopa said Orthodox people who die without confession serve the canon they should have been given by the priest in hell and then the Church takes them out of hell through mentions during DL. This is scary but fair I think. As Orthodox we have more gifts we are expected to do more....
I believe the impression given in the sermon is that these might be the people to whom the Lord will say “I never knew you”
I believe God will decide who are sheep and who are goats.
Christ did not say you are my disciples if you believe this or that. He said'Yoyou are my disciples if you love one another' Therefore all who live in love live in God and Christ. The spirit of the anti Christ is the spirit of division, Disputes, differences, ideology, sectarian disputes, theological arguments, division of the truth into separate parts, claiming that your philosophy and theology are the only True ones. Etc.. The spirit of Christ is Unity understanding and love.
I love you, and my Orthodox bros, but that wasn't a fair take on Luther.
"Nobel Savages" I like that term.
It was a fake study
So overall other Christian’s good calm people who aren’t orthodox overall have just as good chance into heaven as a Orthodox Church Christian anyone agree
Hopefully 🙏
I am more worried about my family members who do not know Christ at all
You should be worried about everyone who is not Oriental (Coptic) Orthodox
@@icwiener9935we are Eastern Orthodox only
Bless you Father its in the heart ,and always repent..God bless world family..
I personally don't eat unclean animals, one of the reasons being that Jesus says "if you love me follow my commandments" and OH MAN does it make people angry. People put a lot of effort into justifying why they don't follow commandments, and not enough effort into acting out their faith in their daily lives.
@@atlasdm you do not understand that the Old Testament dietary laws are no longer in effect. It's right in the new testament.
@@orthodoxnet Where is it explained that unclean animals are no longer considered "not for food"? It's not in Acts 10 because that vision is explained in Acts 11 as pertaining to gentiles, not animals. Even Isaiah 66 states that the Lord will rebuke eaters of swine's flesh when he returns.
@@atlasdmJesus says it is not what a man puts in his mouth that defiles him, as it does not enter the heart, but the stomach and is expelled. it is what comes out of the heart/mouth that defiles him. This is Jesus, in effect stating that the old dietary laws are void.
Also, Paul also says that meat is “amoral” essentially, in 1st Corinthians.. eat it or don’t, it does not matter.
If you find that not eating “unclean meat” helps you stay focused on God better, then do that. But do not force upon your brother, the standards you set for yourself.
Blessings
@@Apoch86 Jesus does say that, but in the context of rebutting the pharisee's tradition of ceremonial hand washing, which they required because they falsely taught that eating with unwashed hands made one unclean. I doubt that Jesus would say not one jot or tittle would pass from the law until heaven and earth pass away and then turn around and declare part of the law void.
I'm not making the case that everyone must follow the dietary laws, in fact I don't think that at all, but the (false) idea that the torah is done away with is not the orthodox position on the matter. It's actually a much more recent protestant ideal.
Ancient Faith has a video titled "Torah! Torah! Torah!" that I highly recommend for the orthodox take on the subject.
@@atlasdm I'm going to quote to you, directly out of my Orthodox study bible that I received from the Father at a local ROC parish
Scripture ----------------------------------------------------------
Mark 7, 18-19 : 18 So He said to them, "Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, 19 because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?"(a)
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The context for (a) in the passage reads as follows : "Food cannot defile a person because it is created by God and is therefore pure. Evil things (v. 21) are not from God, and these are what defile a person"
Again, if you want to follow the Levitical dietary laws, you're welcome to do so, if you find it helps you focus and follow God better. But your original comment stated that you follow them because you read Jesus words that "if you love me, follow my commandments", and that fact according to you makes people in your life angry. So it sounds like you've potentially had debates or arguments with them, because to you they are "justifying why they don't follow commandments".
I would just urge you to not condemn or judge a brother for eating something that you won't eat, according to the Levitical law. Biblically speaking, the old Levitical law, while still lawful, is not the full picture.
Scripture ----------------------------------------------------------
1 Corinthians 10, 23-26 : 23 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. 24 Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.
25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake; 26 for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.”
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Also, as an aside, It's not that in general Protestants "throw out" the old testament (although there are definitely some that do), but that most, if not all Protestants, at the very least see that Jesus "fulfilled" the law, and now under the grace of Christ, we are no longer held in judgement under the old law, but we are held in the Grace of Christ.
I would also leave you with one more excerpt from Romans, towards the idea of not judging your brothers too harshly.
Scripture ----------------------------------------------------------
Romans 14, 5-13 : 5 One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. 10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written:
“As I live, says the Lord,
Every knee shall bow to Me,
And every tongue shall confess to God.”
12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Therefore let us not judge one another [d]anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.
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I hope this was helpful to you. Blessings on you, brother.
We are saved by grace! No one can keep the law! We are sinning in our minds. The law condemns us and the gospel saves us.
Thank God we weren't left down here to save ourselves through keeping the law! It's been proven to not work out for us. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No Man comes to the father except though Him! The Bible directs us to our need of Jesus, not to the law!
@@pravo4586 to show us that we are sinners and to guide us. So we can turn to Jesus for our salvation.
Man wanted God to just give them a set of rules to follow, and go away. So He did, and Man failed to uphold them perfectly. The only one who could fulfill the law is Jesus. God absolutely wanted us to see our need of Him.
Christ did not say you are my disciples if you believe this or that. He said'Yoyou are my disciples if you love one another' Therefore all who live in love live in God and Christ. The spirit of the anti Christ is the spirit of division, Disputes, differences, ideology, sectarian disputes, theological arguments, division of the truth into separate parts, claiming that your philosophy and theology are the only True ones. Etc.. The spirit of Christ is Unity understanding and love.
You can gather that based on Israel’s attitude all through the Bible. The Pharisees had that attitude. They loved the Law and their own self-righteousness by being legalistic, not God.
Father, you said that “if you are (1) baptized and (2) believe, you are a Christian.” Well, my The Orthodox Study Bible puts it right the other way around. We read thus in Mark 16:16 that “He who (1) believes and is (2) baptized will be saved.”
Question: which one should we believe? Your sayings or Bible’s?
It is the same difference. If you read OT part of the Bible, you will find at the time when circumcision was introduced, mainly adults were affected, but afterwards, newborns were affected. At the time when Baptism was introduced, mainly adults were affected, but later babies were mostly affected. Make sure you are not overzealous with the linguistics as substance is what matters.
@@johnnyd2383 What it matters to you - as the one not being “overzealous,” is substance. But what it matters to Jesus, the Son of God, is what is written. He confronted Satan three times in the wilderness with “it is WRITTEN” (Matthews 4), not with the “substance.” So, since Jesus is our Savior, and we are asked to live like He lived (1 John 2:6), I’ll stay with what with “it is WRITTEN.”
@@eotpatriarchs Do as you wish. I was pointing out that we ought to think bigger and not legalistically, because keeping rules and regulations with no change to the heart, doesn’t please God. Pharisees were strict in following every iota of the OT Law and yet, they missed the mark. Bye bye.
@@johnnyd2383 It is NOT the letter but the order of things. There is a big difference, isn't it?
But if you are REALLY interested to know something on this subject, go ahead and do some reading. I recommend you Saint Theodore of Mopsuestia’s Catechesis XII and XIII, Baptism And Forgivness in Acts 2:38, Bibliotheca Sacra 153, Saint Basil the Great’s A Treatise on Baptism and others. As a matter of fact, Saint Basil the Great gets mad about Christians’ jumping over the repentance and believing straight to Baptism. Read his book and you’ll understand that. Then come back and talk with me again. I hope you don’t consider yourself superior to all these writers, do you?
Where is the orthodox church after the Messiah returns?
Those who fought the good fight in the church will be with Jesus christ, in the air.
We need to come together to fight the stupidly of the modern world 😅.
It would be torture to stay in the ego of the mind after death.
God sent His own son, Jesus into the world to be the place of us guilty sinners. Jesus never sinned. He felt no guilt. His conscience was clear before God. Since Adam, there has never been another man like Jesus who did all things pleasing to God. In every way, at all times, without exception, He pleased His Father, whereas we have displeased Him.
Yet Jesus did not come just to give us an example. He came to be our substitute-to take the place of us sinners-and bear the punishment for all sin. At the end of His righteous life, He voluntarily died, as if He were the sinner. He took your sin upon himself and died in your place-in the place of all sinners. Forgiveness does not come through the church or through its leaders. Only God can forgive, and he is ready to forgive all who will believe and receive his forgiveness.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” 1 John 1:9
I am not Orthodox, but let us acknowledge what Paul writes to the Romans.
WHOSOEVER confesses with his mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord and believes in his heart that He is risen SHALL BE SAVED.
I think he's pretty clear on that.
Another thing (that I believe we disagree on): gou DO NOT need to be baptized to be saved. Yes, it is a command from God that you do it. It is not a requirement to be saved.
For by grace are we saved through faith, but not of works, lest we should boast.
Baptism is a work. Therefore, it is not a requirement to be saved. To say baptism is required to be saved would be to have a doctrine of "faith + works = salvation".
That doctrine is not correct. By grace through faith = salvation. Confess that Jesus is Lord and believe He is risen is salvation.
If you confess that "Jesus is Lord" then you should probably follow His commandments. And His commandment to His followers before the Ascension was to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations. And the way that was to be done was through Baptism. 1 Peter 3:21 tells us, in fact, that Baptism *does* save us. But not just because we're going into the water, but because we're using that specific action to appeal to God (through faith) for His saving grace. There should be no wondering, then, about all of the baptisms taking place in the book of Acts.
If you are going to insist that Baptism is strictly unnecessary, then you are welcome to become a thief and nail yourself to a cross while appealing to Jesus to remember you when He enters His kingdom. Of course, He is likely to tell you that in this day and age, what you are doing is unnecessary and that he has instituted the sacrament of Baptism for this very purpose instead.
Regarding your fear of works, I will remind you of what Saint James states in 2:26 about faith without works being dead. You may benefit from reading the entire second chapter of his epistle. I also invite you to read Revelation 2:1-7 where Jesus comments on the church in Ephesus and why they were about to have their lampstand removed.
Only Jesus can save and not the church you attend. See John 3:16-17, Acts 4:12 John 10
There is only one Church, the Body of Christ. This is that Church. Christ created it.
bravo pope
Not being able to take communion if you’re not part of the Orthodox Church? I haven’t read that in the Bible. Jesus says “do this in remembrance of Me”. Backing up to exodus where the Passover was introduced to the Jews in Egypt and commanded by God to do for all time to commemorate the deliverance from bondage…. This is the same Passover that Jesus is celebrating with His disciples. Communion is Passover minus the cup of righteousness which He will not drink until the Marriage Super of the Lamb…. Ok I am rambling but we HAVE to follow the word of God as is. Christianity is Completed Judaism only made complete in Christ our living Messiah. All these man made traditions take away from focus on what we should be focusing on. The division amongst us is a plot from the devil to divide us. Everywhere people are awakening to the truth of Jesus as the Messiah and we should be focusing on Him rather than tradition. Also, being a non Orthodox doesn’t mean we ignore the law on the contrary, we strive to follow the law but believe it’s only possible through Jesus. Praying to Saints and looking at Holy relics is breaking of 2 Commandments …”you are to have no other gods. before me… well praying to anyone but God is having another god and “do not make graven images”…. They’re all over the Catholic Churches…so maybe we should just stop pointing the finger at each other and take the plank out of our own eyes….Jesus says that too. We both love God and we should trust in Christ alone for our salvation. He will work out all the details in between. May the Lord bless you and keep you and may the Lord let His face shine on you and give you peace now and always brothers and sisters in Christ.
If you're not part of the Church, the Body, as an outsider then why would you want to take communion? St. Paul speaks in those who are not prepared to receive.
I don’t know what they are talking about Pride month. Everyday , every month , every hour every minute belongs to God. They are out of line .
Orthodox ❤❤❤
Common scenes in a very dark time.
One does not have to be an Orthodox to be a Christian
Only Orthodox are true Christians
True, but you need to be catholic.
@@derniemand360Orthodox are Katholikos.
There are not in union with rome, thus, heretic.
@@derniemand360 Rome is irrelevant,only Orthodox Christians matter
I have been baptised and recieve Jesus. Thanks to the baptist church. Do I count as an orthodox. Your precepts do not defer.
No. In order to be Eastern Orthodox, you would need to be either Baptized in EOC completely or at least Confirmed... which would happen only after you receive proper catechism. You will have to leave your baggage behind before entering Lord's EO Church.
I’m a Catholic and I was saved.. Jesus established his church by the rock St. Peter…
Nobody cares
@@grasroots601222 About you? I do.
That rock was not St Peter in the literal sense. I understand the Petra/Petros wordplay argument, but read the early church fathers. Even in scripture, when the disciples were arguing about which one would sit at Christ's right hand in the kingdom, he rebuked them. St Peter's confession that "thou art the Christ, the son of the living God" - that was the rock. Not Peter himself. I'm sure most devout Catholics are at least somewhat aware of this. Whether the cognitive dissonance can be overcome is their struggle.
@@sonofthunder-fb3cm "You are the rock upon whom I will build my church" is pretty straight forward. Once you remove St. Peter as the "rock" and the papal line, anything believing in the overall views of Christianity can be seen as the true church, which is wrong. This is why Jesus Christ made sure to have One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church so that our faith could be grounded in something that cannot falter or change.
@@sonofthunder-fb3cm Please read the original Greek codices. You have no Idea what you're talking about.
Save from what?
Hell
@@Србомбоница86 I'm sorry for posting that question honestly...the subject in discussion is beyond reasoning.
So you’re saying that if you’re not orthodox you are not saved
Exactly
@@Србомбоница86 well, of course it’s your right to hold that position. Just seems interesting to me tell me which practices of the orthodox churches, the early church besides communion, baptism, and marriage and if they did not do any other practices besides those and how were they saved if they were not practicing all of the religious things that the orthodox are practicing today?
@@pastordavidberman2091 They did practice Orthodoxy as it is today. Protestants have no Tradition so of course they would have no idea what the Church was like.
We don't know. It is off the path of salvation, God may be merciful.
It is written in John 14:6…Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
The religious denomination a person subscribes to is unimportant given what Jesus stated in John 14:6
Try John 8:44
@@patienceobongo
You just validated my point.
I believe in a united christian church no sects just unity
That goes against the teachings of the glorious Reformation; REPENT!!!
This is exactly what both the Catholic and Orthodox churches profess. Both claim to be the one true Church, and both each other and all other denominations are offshoots in schism with it.
I am Catholic. I love Orthodoxy and Orthodox Christians. We are both Catholic.
Your sacraments are real and we both eat the same flesh and drink the same blood.
Unfortunately the love goes one way.
delusional
I can’t hear passed the echo chamber
Can orthodox people be saved is the better question
Where were you prior to 16th century when your guru unhappy, drunken, constipated German monk showed up.?
I do see parallels with Catholic doctrine insomuch that there are pagans counted amongst the Just, and there is the Baptism of Desire (hotly contested amongst Traditional Catholics), meaning that if the Just Pagan or pious Protestant had encountered the opportunity to become Catholic (or in the likely opinion of this channel’s primary audience-Orthodoxy) they would have responded to that grace. We should also not commit the sin of presumption (i.e. assuming someone we know is in Heaven or is not). However, the sermon only broaches on the doctrine that outside of the Church there is no salvation (extra Ecclesiam nulla salus). Pagans and Protestants cannot be saved by their false religions. The Church is the mystical body of Christ and salvation can only come through Him. Technically speaking, anyone validly baptized in the Trinitarian form is a member of the Church whether or not they attend Mass or the Divine Liturgy. That is because baptism is a sacrament of the Church.
Thanks for reading. Pax Christi.
What the heck is he wearing!? Does this make him Holy?
It’s a Green vestment. Green is typically worn during the time of Pentecost. Orthodox Priests wear vestments as stand ins for Christ during services. Each layer is spiritual armor and serves a purpose.
@@paulkersey7458 sounds like witchcraft. The full armor of God is Spiritual not magic garments like a Harry Potter book. There are’nt stand ins for Christ. Jesus is the risen King and he is alive and in charge. No man can take his place.That is man made doctrine and is Heretical. We access Jesus directly through prayer.
@@3luckydog you and I have had the advantage of knowing how to read, attend school and have almost unlimited information and technology at our finger tips. The Orthodox Church, which has existed since the day of Pentecost, leverages all five senses in order to give Christian’s a glimpse of the eternal liturgy that occurs in heaven. There is nothing heretical about priests wearing vestments. The early church was hierarchical, liturgical and sacramental. Almost no one could read. People learned the faith by attending divine services, partaking of the sacraments, understanding the movements of the clergy and seeing salvation history depicted in holy icons. Perhaps if you understood that historical fact, you wouldn’t act like a Bible thumping loon who “got saved and cured off the devils brew”, waving his dog eared Bible in everyone’s face and denouncing the unchanged faith of around 300 million people.
@@paulkersey7458 Following God’s Word as it is written makes me a “loon”? I said Priests as stand ins for Jesus was heretical not the vestments….nice try👍.The Church in ancient times couldn’t teach their flock how to read? What about today…. Can people read today? An unchanged Faith for hundreds of years is not NECESSARILY something to boast about. The Muslims, Freemasons, Hindus, rabbinical Jews…etc. have had an unchanged Faith for hundreds of years too. Too bad it’s the wrong Faith. John 4:24 says we are to worship God in Spirit and Truth. There is no excuse for Heretical nonsense. Are you gonna cry 😢 because I quoted the Bible? Is that too Loony?
@@3luckydog I bet you were nicer when you were drinking. There is nothing heretical about the priest standing in for Christ. He prepares communion, he anoints the sick, baptizes children in place of Christ. I have holy tradition and almost 2000 years of apostolic tradition on my side. You have the 700 club the purpose driven life.
Love the sinner, Hate the sin. Judge Satanic ideologies, not the person/s implementing them.
I was born into and baptised by the Greek Orthodox Church. As a young man I left the church and wandered the wilderness like many young men of my age. Later I refound Christ through a non-denominational church. I respect the Orthodox church, but I heard the priest say we must obey the law. Let me ask you this, do you observe all 613 laws? Do you eat pork or shellfish? If you do then you don't "observe the law."
the position is that ceremonial and ritual observances were temporary things, which are not the same as God’s eternal law
@@jamesbancroft2467 Fine.. What is Gods eternal law? Please list them one by one.
Our sin made things unclean. The world was tainted by our sin. Christ cleansed the world so no thing by itself is unclean. So the law against eating unclean foods is still in place but there are no unclean foods so it doesn’t apply. Orthodoxy clearly explains things Protestants shipwreck on. I say this as a former southern Baptist pastor.
@@RussellSnow Let me see if I got your point. You said because of Jesus everythings clean, but Gods law not to eat unclean things is still in effect but since there are no unclean foods pay no attention to Gods law and go ahead and eat?.. You sound very confused to me..Long before Christ was manifested on earth God the Father said all things were clean to eat ( Gen 9:3 ) We who belong to Christ are no longer under the law. So from your post I will again ask which laws do you observe?
@@paulmelonas7263 we are under the whole law. I believe what the Orthodox Church believes, if what I am says contradicts the Church, I will change to the church teaching. The church says we can eat those things under the law. That’s good enough for me. The explanation as I understand it is that all food is now clean because Christ cleaned it. I’m not smart enough to think much beyond that.
I am from Orthodox family but I wouldn't say I associate with the church. I prefer just to believe in God and live according to commandments. I believe that is truly important.
You are wrong
To live according to the commandments is to follow the teachings of the Church Fathers and to partake in the sacraments
You are doing things your way and not His way (we all do this to some extent..but we must try not to, to repent).
ουνία είσαι βγές από το πράσινο που δεν φορά κανείς. Ουνία είσαι.
Call No man Father upon the Earth. Orthodoxy is Antichrist, taking the Name of God, In the Place of Christ. Clear Violation of Gods Word.🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Matthew 23:9
King James Version
9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
My copy and paste:
That is copied and pasted in every comment section, sometimes without commentary, by Evangelicals who do not rightly interpret Holy Scripture.
That very literalist reading of Matthew 23:9 is dispelled by St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 4:14-17, him calling himself a father of his spiritual children, especially St. Timothy, and saying there are other fathers.
"Paul’s Paternal Care
14 I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. 15 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you, imitate me. 17 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church." (NKJV / OSB NT)
Christ referred in the passage Matthew 23:1-36 to those who *lord* titles over others as the Pharisees did often. It was not just an admonishment against calling a man father, but teachers and rabbis as well (doctors too), which I have never seen Evangelicals object to hardly. It seems to be a double standard as most are anti-Roman Catholic which sadly they lump us in.
The title 'Father' our Presbyters use is not lording a title but it is a spiritual truth as they *are* the fathers of spiritual children just like St. Paul was over his flock. And it can be gathered that indeed St. Timothy and others called St. Paul 'father' as it would have been only respectful, him being their spiritual father to help them grow in the Faith. And that's where we get it from. It is from the very earliest of the Church.
Also, Christ refers in many places to fathers both biological and spiritual (the Old Covenant Patriarchs and Forefathers). Christ does not say when He refers to them as fathers not to call them such as they are *legitimate* fathers of children. It isn't just a haughty title being put on them. They do not lord titles over others as this vocation, fatherhood, is a reality both to biological fathers and spiritual fathers.
If you like to understand this passage in the Holy Scriptures better, this video might help you: th-cam.com/video/j4F-xow3Vzg/w-d-xo.html
May God bless you. ☦
Was Jesus Russian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, Romanian Orthodox, Serbian Orthodox?
Jesus is the Head of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. In other words, He is the Head of the Orthodox Church.
@@TheRadChadDad You better let him know.
@@danarose6314was Jesus Armenian Catholic, Greek Catholic, Roman Catholic, or Coptic Catholic?
Jesus IS a Jew.
No he was a jew who passed his teachings to Jewish apostles who under him established a church with a hierarchy and liturgical worship just because Rome went into error and the protestants are there fruit doesn't have anything to with true or falsity of that claim I recommend a video by orthodox shahada which demonstrates that the orthodox liturgical worship is derived f4om Jewish synagogue worship and even protestants like Hugh wybrew wrote books discussing and backing up this claim more importantly why do you ignore the Lord when he says you need to ear his flesh the word in Greek means to gnaw specifically, and in the Pauline epistles Paul writes about the holy eucharist and says if anyone partakes unworthy they may get sick or even die
The "Jewish Law" is imperfect not complete:
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the LORD are firm, and all of them are righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb.
11 By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Psalm 19
You speak false words Mr Orthodox Priest
You just misrepresent his words to try to paint yourself as better and accuse a brother in Christ of speaking false words. Not christ like and not a good way to treat others. He didn’t say anywhere that Jewish law is perfect, it’s completely semantics to have a problem with him calling it incomplete, which is by definition not perfect, and to accuse him of lying because if it. What does the Bible say about such behaviors?
I'll be praying for you.
@@CanadaExplorer101 Islam is Mohammad's personal sex cult. What kind of prophet keeps sex slaves? What kind prophet has sex with a 9 year old child?
Read Quran 33:50 and 33:51. It's disgusting. Then listen to "Christian Prince" to learn what the Quran says in the original Arabic, which is even worse than the translations. How? Well, Islamic scholars have always done their best to hide how horribly written it is, how disgusting it is, and how inconsistent it is. Most Muslims aren't Arab and won't know the language, so it's easy to play on the myth & lie that the quran is perfect in Arabic. People like Mohammad Hijab (and so many other Muslims in the west) always use this trick to fool people.
Christian Prince is an Arab and will explain all of their dirty tricks.
A new law… I don’t think I’ve seen a worse eisigesis. You cannot disconnect:
Romans 2:13 (ESV): 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.
from the fuller context of the passage. Paul is making a point here. If you keep the law you will be justified. But then he goes on to rebuke them for boasting in the law because they are breakers of the law who blaspheme God. Let’s not forget that later Paul goes on to show that through the law came condemnation, for all have sinned.
Romans 2:23-25: 23 You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. 24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
25 For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision.
The new law is Christ and faith in him to all who will believe, and it is counted to them as righteousness with nothing added. To boast in the law is become just as the gentiles, there is no new law, only the fulfillment of the law, which is Christ.
It's kind of ironic that when you criticized my exegesis you misspelled the word. I understand where you're coming from. You have the Bible but not the church. So your interpretation is what others that are not in the church have told you the Bible says. May you find paradise!
No, I intentionally used the word eisegeses. You pulled Romans 2:13 completely out of context from the rest of the chapter and from the rest of Romans. What is ironic is that you don’t defend your interpretation from the scriptures or the church fathers, but instead relegate me to a lower class because I am not in your church. How do expect to win converts to your church if you just insult those most likely to convert? I’m listening to your teaching… and others. This is the Orthodox Church I experienced in Romania, but at least you wish me well to find paradise and didn’t curse me and call me a Protestant dog.