Coming from a Romanian orthodox I must say I am filled with joy to see such powerful sermons coming from foreign to Balkans and this region fathers of the orthodox church. You are truly doing Gods work father Spyridon, with humbleness I allow myself this pleasure of having to wish you strength and love into Jesus Christ, and may the peace of the Lord be with you and us all, may the Lords Will be done.
Faith without works is dead......But its still faith and qualifies for salvation. Dead faith is walking as a desciple where no one (non believers) can see you are a christian. For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.… you cannot do any works to keep salvation…..you cant loose it gain it, loose it gain it, loose it gain it........Once you have it you are saved and judged at the judgement seat of christ for your place in heaven.
Ian Swart id disagree strongly. U can't look at peoples works to see if they are saved. The lost man can go to church just like the saved man that doesn't mean he is saved
Jenny Jenny isnt the act of believing an assenting of the human will toward belief? That action expresses an inner desire. Action is work. Besides, if good works are evidence of salvation are the absence of good works evidence of not being saved?
I've come to learn that works and lifestyle changes are really the natural result of grace, and if you don't at least feel a desire to alter your own life as a result of faith then you may be doing something wrong. Faith is indeed the fount of works, but without works the faith remains of a bourgeois and unfulfilled nature.
Sir please keep me in your prayers I am coming out of the New Age Movement and the Occult.. It has been very difficult thank you for the wisdom you provide.
Thank God for your journey from darkness to light. Two books you may find useful are "Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future" by Seraphim Rose and "The Young Man, Elder Paisios and the Gurus"
Praying for you dear brother. I too came out of the occult / new age movement and understand the heaviness that comes with being in such darkness but our Saviour is greater than any stronghold of the enemy and victory is already ours in Christ Jesus our Lord. Eternal praise and glory be to the One who was, Who is and is to come!
Klak Klak Thats against the Bible that’s a manmade doctrine of Martin Luther faith alone is only mentioned once in scripture explicitly and is rebuked. James 2:24 “We are saved by our works and not by faith alone”
Paul speaks about Christians fulfilling the law by following the command to "love your neighbor as yourself. All Paul’s teaching comes down to this: Our own works can never justify us, but works that grow out of faith in Christ are part of our justification. That’s why Paul says in Philippians 2:12 you must "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
@@asheva4862 can you please elaborate on “faith”? Because seems that people don’t understand that “faith” means obedience- which means “ doing God’s will”, not just believing that Jesus is the Son of God - even Demons know and believe this and they tremble on His name - but are they saved???
@@zoilife3929 Gods will is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life
@@zoilife3929 Devils & Satan believe but they chose not to submitt to HIM. Can they, would they repent? Have they blasphemed not the Holy Spirit? When we believe, repent, do we become born again as a new creature? What do we believe? Jesus Christ was or that Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD our propitiation has washed away our sins by his blood, that because he conquered death & hell by his ressurection that we too will rise from the dead to him. Am I a believer cuz I believe Jesus was, I go to church mostly on a Sunday morning, that's a good work, I try not to lie or steal, surely that's good, I live like the world the rest of the week nobody can pick me out & say I'm different, I act like the world while I'm in it. Ain't that my sign I just ain't no true believer, no faith to see in my life, the faith that has a characteristic of righteousness & holiness? Shouldn't you see who I am pretty clearly by the example & wittness I leave behind because the old man is long gone? Faith without works is dead, no fruit. I'm a cult member, I live to purposely do good things for points, that's what counts? My catholic friends attend all the catholic good works stuff, shoot they even go around picking up trash on our street. Some points right there? Then they booze it up out on the patio at nights comforted by their works. Yes, work out our salvation because there is a work we have to do to put this flesh under our spirit & resist sin & temptation, we ain't autobons. I do know the difference of purposely doing something good from my heart that my spirit leads me to rather than attending a function or doing things to be seen. I do know how to put my flesh in submission and I do feel the conviction if I do something just to look good
@@pabsbenedetto773 this dude indeed has no idea of what the gospel is. His entire message is about oneself and our repentance and not about what Jesus Christ has accomplished for us, for those who BELIEVE it is finished. And it is finished!
@@elisabethdakak878 Seems you need a new Holy Bible, yours is clearly missing pages because you need to read the whole Bible, not just selected passages.
I am not sure why there is so much miss understanding about this issue. In Galatians Paul explicitly scolds the church because they wanted to achieve sanctification by following the law of Moses and not by faith. What James is referring to is that real faith produces works of repentance which means we start to resist our old corrupted nature and this is the work we should do. Some evangelical churches may believe that faith is all there is but faith without works of repentance is dead. We enter salvation by faith alone, God only accepts us by means of the cross from then on we have to strive to develop the fruit of the Spirit by resisting our evil nature and waiting for the righteousness from God as we are being transformed.
Romans 11:6 6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
@@PETERJOHN101 no fruit can be produced by anyone unless they have already been saved. Colossians 1:6 says we bear fruit through the gospel and the gospel points to Jesus not to any of us (1 Cor. 15:1-4). We who have been called , are already justified, and glorified( Romans 8: 30) because we have believed on the one who was sent. The fruit we produce for God comes through the gospel and Jesus Christ has the responsibility as the Chief Shepherd, 100 % , for everyone He recieves....and He loses none.
@@danielrutigliano7938 The Bible calls those who believed as 'believers', 'disciples', or 'Christians'. We don't see believers usually called 'saved ones'. It's a new protestant expression and, I believe, not biblical.
@@ayenewyihune in the Bible there are two kinds of people: believers and unbelievers. Believers are "the called" ( Romans 8:28) Moreover who he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. - Romans 8:30. All past tense. God has ordained it. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are SAVED it is the power of God. - 1 Corinthians 1:18 Eternal life doesn't begin at physical death and resurrection into glory...it begins the moment a person has BELIEVED the word of truth...the gospel...and is baptised with the Holy Spirit once and for good - (Ephesians 1:13)
armyof Jesus it goes off about not calling people on earth teachers and rabbis... What this verse says is ultimate father the same way it goes on with Jesus being the ultimate teacher and rabbi.
armyof Jesus if you take that literally then you can not call your teachers doctor or professor or your teacher pastor or doctor that verse is not about the word father because then Timothy would not call Paul his spiritual father and your dad would not be considered your father. You like most Baptist’s take the Bible too literally without looking at its context.
The misunderstanding comes from the fact that in the West the word "Grace" means that God lets you go to heaven for free, while in Orthodoxy "Grace" refers to the Divine Light/Energy of God, which purifies and illuminates us. God's Grace (Divine Light) is heaven. What the Logos and the Holy Spirit received from the Father by nature we receive by Grace (Divine Light). And Jesus Christ gives us everything He received from the Father by Grace.
@@james-ch Did you convert to Orthodoxy from another faith? I don't see a contradiction between verse 9-10. I see salvation as a gift, accepted by faith, good works as our response to this gift. Many in Christendom today find it uncomfortable to say salvation is a gift, especially a faith like Orthodoxy, which is highly monastic and ascetic. We are climbing the John Climacus ladder, and hopefully will not fall off, etc. I have been recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, so the prayers of the Orthodox are coveted. Pax.......... JLd
@@langleybeliever7789 how do you call the man that together with your mother brought you in this life??? And here a verse from the bible that shows that you are just picking and choosing whatever fits your poor believes: In his first letter to the church at Corinth, the apostle Paul wrote: “Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel” .
That is my dad , biological man ! Not another sinner. As pope,cardinal,bishop etc. Just like you and I ,all sinners. So please don't use that tired argument about your biological father.
If there was an orthodox church near my home I would start attending. I'm Presbyterian but over the last 4 years or so I've felt myself drawn to Orthodoxy because it's the only legitimate continuation of the original church. I've learned an awful lot of the history of the orthodox church
Not if you consider all the later accretions, labeled as "the old ways". Gavin Ortlund is someone I would give a listen before taking all these affirmations at face value.
@@Kauahdhdhd No, he wasn't. As brilliant as some Catholic apologists are in general, they strawman everything into oblivion, just to fit a square peg through a round hole. Be it the Word, be it history.
The early church/orthodoxy came first. Protestantism is the new novel idea from the enlightenment age … just saying. Common sense should tell everyone this. Geez 🤦♂️ doesn’t take a rocket scientist 🧑🔬 🚀
Good !! 👍 it’s because you’re drawn to the truth by the Holy Spirit. All of us orthodox were ex-Catholics, or ex-protestants or clergy!! Welcome to the faith! There’s also a reason Protestantism has failed and is in so much heresy and confusion and decisions and schisms, and they’re all all over the place and led to the failure of western society! This should also tell people something! the proof is in the pudding!!
@@apilkey according to Hebrews 11:8, Abraham by faith left Ur. Hebrews 11:9, he sojourned in the land of promise. Hebrews 11:17, by faith he offered Isaac on the altar. I would add that by faith, he was circumcised. Abraham was justified by faith on several occasions. James says he was justified when he offered Isaac. Paul says Abraham was justified when he was uncircumcised, which was before he offered Isaac. Justification is not a one-time event. When you look at the Greek for justification and righteousness, there are only a few letters different. You are justified each time righteousness is added to your account. Hebrews 11:1 faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For faith to be faith, there needs to be something hoped for, something unseen, and evidence. When there are no works, there is no evidence, and the faith is dead, and there is no righteousness to be added to your account. Righteousness is what you do with God. Sin is what you do apart from God. Death is separation from God, and what you do separated from God brings death, although under the New Covenant he remembers your sin no more. All things you work together with God are good: Romans 8:28. There are works of the flesh - the things you do apart from God, and there are works of the Spirit - the things you do with God. Faith without works is dead. Works without faith are dead works, to be repented of. Repentance - metanoia. Meta - to turn from. Noia is knowledge. It is talking about the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Stop producing fruit from the tree of knowledge and eat from the tree of life. Stop doing your own thing apart from God. Turn from the Great Commandment and turn to the New Commandment. The Great Commandment is the law of sin and death (all your heart, soul, mind, and strength - no Spirit) The New Commandment is the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:2). The law of the Spirit involves the Spirit, absent all your weakness - heart, soul, mind, strength. Enter into his rest.
God bless you Father Spyridon. Please pray for me. Theologically, I'm Reformed, but I'm considering converting to Orthodoxy. I need wisdom, and there's some things I'm struggling with in Orthodox tradition, namely the aerial toll houses. Thank you for your time, sir.
The toll houses should not be taken as a literal description. Take your time and reflect carefully: it took me five years to become Orthodox after I had decided to do so. But once God convinces us of the truth, we must act.
Sam Franklin I’m in the same position: currently reformed in theology but actively being drawn to, and enjoying, the richness of the orthodox faith. I have struggles with prayers to saints, the robes and so on that are used by priests, and with justification...but give yourself time. Given that some time has indeed passed since your comment, where are you at now?
@@TheB1nary Prayers to saints are ridiculous. The saints are dead in their graves waiting to be resurrected. They can not hear your prayers. It is totally unbiblical to ask dead saints to pray for you.
Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your whole house! Acts 16:31 Yes, true faith would lead to a life of continuing repentance and good works!
In return for our trust (faith) in His only begotten Son, God the Father offers us forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Works have no part in God's free grace. Anyone who says that faith is invalid without "works" is adding human effort to the Gospel. Thank God for the free gift of eternal life!
So much sense in this view, as someone who's grown up protestant it's been a blessing to learn more orthodox theology. I intend to convert in the new year.
@@danielrutigliano7938 because Orthodoxy is the True Church? And you must be a part of the True Church to receive God's grace through baptism and the eucharist? Every Christian believed in the eucharist up until the Reformation. Even Luther did. In the 2nd century the pagans and gnostic both accused Christians of being cannibals (they didn't understand the Eucharist, they assumed they were eating people). It is clear that the Eucharist is extremely important, as it's talked about in the New Testament many times. Jesus explicitly says it is his Body and his Blood. There is only one Eucharist as there is only One Body of Christ. You should be a part of that Body, as who knows how God judges people outside of his Body. This was understood for 1500 years until Protestants starting using our Bible (we canonized it in the 5th and 6th centuries) and making up their own ideas and rejecting the Eucharist. (Which is literally rejecting Jesus)
@@ThomasG_Nikolaj the flesh and blood Jesus was referring too in John 6 is the Word. Every one who claims Christ for salvation yet has no life in them has never gotten into the Scriptures. It has nothing to do with eating bread and wine. Many, many verses from the Old Testament to the New allude to this fact. We can only grow through the scriptures AFTER we have received the gospel...the word of our salvation. Take cate.
@@danielrutigliano7938 okay so which gospel? There are 100's of different protestant ideas as a result of Sola scriptura doctrine. You guys have no authority, so it is up to the individual person to figure out the gospel message. This is so dangerous. Paul actually says that the pillar and ground of all truth is the Church. And the Church canonized the New testament 6 centuries later. History refutes you. The men that chose the canon of scripture all believed in the Eucharist. So these men and councils were correct about the canon of scripture but wrong on everything else?
@@ThomasG_Nikolaj Paul says..."according to the scriptures twice in his gospel message in 1 Cor 15:3,4. According to what has been written through God as if the Holy Ghost moved through men. According to the scriptures. Get it? Not, according to the early church fathers, not according to Jerome, not according to the Cathechism. And there is only one gospel that the church..found in Ephesians and Colossians mostly but other books as well...follows.
Being raised in two different churches, Catholicism as well as Protestant, I’ve always found myself with an understanding of Gods word somewhere in the middle of both. Not quite fitting into either. I see this in the Orthodox Church, becoming more and more drawn by it. Thank you fr. Spyridon for your videos.
Why can't you just receive it as a free gift by faith? When you give someone a gift, do they work to earn it, or do they just accept it as a gift from you? When someone gives a gift to you, do you ever have to work for it? Of course not. It's a FREE GIFT. Jesus Himself gave His life for us so we could freely receive His grace - His finished work.
@@jgilbert1935 🤦♂️ doesn’t work that way. To answer your question we do accept a free gift. But then once u have it eventually at some point you change your spirit and soul is renewed and you change. So Not even most Protestants agree with you. I was a pastor for 20 years before becoming Ortho and technically the ortho way was EXACTLY how we understood salvation and taught it. Most churches that are not Calvinist this is what is also taught. It’s not a “once saved always saved” eternal security thing. So just because you said a one time prayer, and had faith and grace does it mean you’re forever safe..that’s ridiculous. We in EO, also believe salvation is by grace thru faith. The difference is as James says you have to eventually show works. Your salvation shows works. Ie “faith without works is dead”. belief is not something you do just in your mind..it incorporates your whole body, mind, spirit, and soul and everything. So when you are right with God, you naturally change and grow and so called “works” flow FROM or OUT OF that. it’s not like you’re TRYING to obtain it ..it’s more of you’re working FROM a place of justification, salvation, etc. Get it!?? 🤦♂️ So Paul doesn’t agree with you James doesn’t agree with you the apostles or The early church doesn’t agree with you. Christ doesn’t agree with you nothing in the Bible agrees with that so I don’t know where people get this idea from. 🤷🏻♂️ I really don’t understand why this is so confusing for everyone and why there’s so much misunderstanding on it. This truth of the true gospel has always been there. Just Because some protestant “reformers” all of a sudden came around and tried to change things around and so now there’s all these lies going out to confuse people now, doesn’t automatically make that the truth. Even as a kid that never made sense to me, how can you believe in God and believe in something and not ever change or do anything differently? That doesn’t even pass the common sense test much less any other litmus test.
armyof Jesus maybe you should tell the apostle Paul who in his statement said “ I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel” (1 Cor. 4:14-15).
@@georgeibrahim7945 1 Corinthians 4:14-15 KJV I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. [15] For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. This verse doesn't mean the folks at Corinth called him father. Sorry pagan worshippers you replaced mother earth for Mary and the Roman / Greek gods for the saints. WAKE UP!!!
Greek Baptist Bro, I have lived in a Protestant church my entire life and we call each other brother and sister all the time. FYI i'm getting into the Orthodoxy because the tradition and style has helped me to repent more than I used to, not that there's anything wrong with Protestant theology, or at least in most Protestant branches.
You are only not allowed to call someone “father” if the word equates to “Father” as God. Even God Himself said to Abraham that he will make him the father of all nations. God bless you
Not true. Check Acts of the Apostles 16:30-31. - And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
@@contra1138 the way to salvation is as diverse and changing as humanity itself. There are many truths there to be found in scripture and it's up to the individual through God's grace to find his purpose with the aid of God's Church. It seems you have found yours, so allow others in His Grace to find there's! After all, 'what is truth?'
Matthew Dobbs Seriously? You try to disprove sound doctrine by quoting Pontius Pilate? By the way, Jesus gives an answer to that question too, he says God’s word is truth in John 17:17. Way of salvation never changes: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6) Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. (Hebrews 13:8)
@@contra1138 Matthew 19,16-17: Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” So Acts/Paul's epistles overrule Jesus' teachings now? Protestants can't stop to contradict scripture, which they apparently believe is infallible.
Very good sermon. It is the very last Words said we must be careful about, “We must work and repent to receive God’s grace.” God’s grace is always there waiting for us to receive and respond. I agree with the sermon if your faith is genuine and you have been form of the Spirit, your life will be produce good works to glorify God. Indeed this is God’s purpose for us as it was for Christ. Our carnal good works are as filthy rags before God IF we think they are going to somehow justify us. Our good works, as the sermon implies, should be because God lives within us and by by a loving faith in God we are zealous of good works so that we might please and glorify our Father in Heaven. Faith itself is a gift from God. We can lay no claim to it. It is the Father who draws all to Himself. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, there is none righteous, no not one; only God. And if there is anything truly good it is God within us doing His will for His glory. Let us be clear, as the Apostle Paul said, we are justified by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, we need to repent from our sin. Repent means turn from our own ways, the worlds way, that can only produce sin in our live and (repent ) to God ways. Please read Psalm 25:4-5. God saves us, sanctifies us -- it is His work no our own. Sanctification is a Holy Spirit process that begins in our life when we believe upon Jesus Christ and receive Him as our Lord and Savior. In the end we are completely changed from mortal to immortal in a twinkling of an eye. It is as much or more a mystery on how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly as a sinner can be redeemed and sanctified to be transformed by the Word and Holy Spirit to have a new heart and spirit for the God’s aim that we become Christ-like. Jesus said, So the Father has sent Me, I send you. Jesus was sent by the Father to do His will, Christ knew that and pursued that aim perfectly all His life. May we awaken to calling God has put on all our lives that by loving faith we be found zealous of good works; not for our salvation, but for the Father’s glorification!
This was so beautiful until he said "We must work and repent to enable ourselves to receive God's grace." Yikes! This goes against Romans 11:6, "But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace." It makes no sense to work for grace!
Paul says we must work out our salvation…Yikes!! Guess the Bible is wrong…😂 Works are necessary, any tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down…adulterers will not inherit the kingdom of God…therefore, you MUST repent, and btw, faith is a work, since it is something we have to do. 😅
@@martiecejohnson works are necessary, yes but as proof of your faith. You do not become saved by having works but you prove your salvation through works
1 Corinthians 4:15 Mark 7:10 Exodus 20:12 Luke 15:11-32 "The tradition of spiritual fatherhood was part of the lifeblood of the early Church. Paul's understanding of himself as the father of the Church of Corinth, though, raises a very old controversy within the Christian world. Many Christian denominations have, since at least the Protestant Reformation, rejected the title of "father" for spiritual elders, despite the clear fact that St. Paul and other great early leaders of the Church thought of themselves as exactly this." "Now, let's also remember that in Matthew 23, Christ also says "do not be called teacher". Yet, elsewhere in the Gospels, Our Lord himself uses this title for others, such as Nicodemus." (antiochian.org/node/19193)
@@kevinlove2426 In his first letter to the church at Corinth, the apostle Paul wrote: “Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel” (1 Corinthians 4:15)
I like the Orthodox interpretation of this. We are saved by faith alone but your faith should lead you to do good works. Catholics have some views I dont like at all I'm afraid. Like purgatory
Your word pun, works without faith is dead, is simply wrong! All good works come from God's inspiration. That is the truth, even if a staunch atheist were to do good works. Therefore, a good work done without any faith per se will still surely be rewarded by God as He sees fit. God is the source and rewarder of all good works!
It's interesting to read people and see how they react to Orthodoxy. I was a Protestant for fifty years. I studied Orthodoxy and what I found surprised me. Protestants don't understand that Orthodoxy does not have dialectic tension in it. Orthodoxy does not set up tensions between things like faith and works. This is because Orthodoxy operates on a balance between Cataphatic affirmation and Apophatic negation. The idea of Apophatic negation was lost in Western Christianity all the way back to the split between the Latin and eastern church. Western Christianity operates almost exclusively on the principle of Cataphatic affirmations and it does not apply negation in it's reading of scripture. This Cataphatic reading is why Protestants are always formulating questions like the tension between faith and works. This is why you get this constant presentation in Protestantism telling people how they get saved. We aren't getting saved. We are being saved. Salvation is a mystery. It is not something you can reduce to a three-step method or some commercial theory like you get in a Billy Grahmn Crusade. Just come forward and receive Jesus and now your saved kind of approach. If your a Protestant then spend some time exposing yourself to the idea of Apophatic Negation. That will help balance out your theology. If you can understand this you will give up being a Protestant and convert to Orthodoxy. Because you can't put God in your little formulation box.
God saved me upon my hearing of the Gospel by faith, and calling upon the name of the Lord. I will never desert this Gospel. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. I'm not defending protestantism, or orthodoxy or catholicism, but whenever someone talks about working to be able to receive God's grace that raises a HUGE red flag.
I would have responded the same way a few years ago. There is no tension between faith and works. But you have set up tension between these two things. Imagine saying to your wife that you were married the minute you signed your marriage license and your marriage is not based on any works that you do. But if you want to benefit from your marriage and have the best relationship you can have with your wife you have to work at that relationship. If you love God your going to work to better your relationship with God. You don't really see it as work because you love God. You don't see your devotion as labor or work because it flows from your thankfulness to God for His love, mercy, and grace. Your response to what I said comes from a lot of misunderstanding about Orthodoxy. Check out these video's and see if they help you. The Gospel IS Theosis: Direct Knowledge of God - Jay Dyer th-cam.com/video/yx0khK_Qe1w/w-d-xo.html Popes, Protestants, Palamas & Philosophy: Jay Dyer on GlobalStoryline th-cam.com/video/KFh6pWQ5i_4/w-d-xo.html
I don't see a tension, I see fruit produced from a true believer which comes from God working through them (John 15:5, Zechariah 4:6), and comes only because God has saved that person (John 6:63). I will check these videos out though, thanks.
There are hundreds of religions which have their believers and they produce good works. Good works can occur in unbelievers as well since there is even grace outside the church. If there was no grace outside the church then unbelievers would not have the grace to come into the church. Orthodoxy is the true apostolic faith and it has the true spiritual meaning and reading of the scripture. Orthodoxy has and is the mind of the church. If you only have the Bible and all you do is proof-text it without the Orthodoxy meaning attached to it you are interpreting the Bible individually and privately which is a misuse of the scripture. You have to read the Bible in the Orthodox way or your just wasting your time because that is why people become heretics.
I think saying that it's misuse of Scripture without the Orthodoxy-meaning attached is heresy, friend. Although we should belong to a church of fellow, like-minded believers, it's God who gives all understanding and wisdom. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of such, leaning not on one's own understanding.. and "the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you" if indeed you have the Holy Spirit. Blessings.
Thank you SO very much Father Spyridon. All your messages are so inspiring and educational. I am grateful and always enjoy listening to you. Thank you once again. K 🙏🙏🙏
still not completely sure about this, but I am becoming more and more inclined to join Orthodoxy rather than the more hedonistic Lutheran church. Blessings upon you Father Spyridon.
@@blair00725 you are not calling the man father, it is his representation before God that the term father refers. It's much like an army officer, thats all it is. People get too fixated on detail...most priests are happy to be called by their name alone.
@@gunner678 2 Timothy 4 : I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Holy Father~ Can I really ever do enough good works? I know I fall down however I do always get back up. Lord Jesus Christ Son of God Have mercy on me a sinner.
@@oka1424 I am such a sinful servant & so undeserving....I fail every single day...I say The Jesus prayer very often & ask for forgiveness..that is not enough....may I ask for direction? Thank you so very much for your reply...God knows how much I need it..He sent me you.... Sinful & Unworthy servant Elizabeth
@@lisabrown8894 Well, Elizabeth, I too am not in a very good situation spiritually, physichally or mentally, but the point is to help each other and love each other. I can only instruct you to continue doing good, put trust only in the Word of God, and God Himself, and have faith. The same we all must do. And remember to be thankful. We don't deserve anything, good or bad, so be thankful for EVERYTHING you have.
@@lisabrown8894 I can tell you a story I just read in “my elder Joseph the hesychast”, they report elder Joseph as having much grace from God so much so that he could predict things very well and foresee how to handle situations very well. Elder Joseph suffered a very austere life and suffered a very painful end of his life of sickness and he wanted to “go home” as he would say and would repeatedly ask God to take him. On his last day on earth he somehow had a knowing of the time he would pass, but God tested him by not letting him go at that time, it was enough for him to doubt the austerities, compassion, and teaching he had done. It made it so elder Joseph could not think of himself as strong as wise as he traversed the canal of death, but instilled humility. Keep reaching for and accepting Gods grace and it will guide you I believe, ❤
Is salvation by faith alone or by works? That question usually pertains to what can I DO to save myself? Catholics would state that you need faith and good works whereas Protestants would state you only need the grace of God. But they are really opposite ends of the same coin because to a real Christian: "What Can I do to obtain salvation?" is asking the wrong question entirely. For a Christian, the true question is "what can I do to save others or what can I do to put others first." Real Christians are modeled after Jesus, and Jesus never thought about himself-- he was selfless, altruistic and noble. So, like the parable of the Shepherd who leaves the herd to find that one lost sheep, a real Christian would ask "How can I enjoy salvation or even heaven when I know that my neighbor is lost; for all people are my brothers and sisters." Thus, to borrow a phrase and slightly modify it paraphrasing President Kennedy, "Ask not what your God can do for you, but I ask what can you do for God."
Ephesians 2:8-9English Standard Version (ESV) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Faith, grace and repentance are gifts. It is not of our own doing.
@@TheRealRealOK didn't he kind of address our works through the mention of repentance? Don't twist other people's words so you can feel high and mighty over them.
We need to seek the grace of God. If we say our lifestyle of sin is ok. We had stop seeking his free gift. If we say our life is righteous and we have merit. We have fallen also from grace, since we seek it not. The kingdom of heaven is for those weak of spirit. In need of the holy ghost.
The meaning of words can change over time, development of culture and theological struggle. In the West much of our thinking has been formed through the lens of the reformation. Therefore when we here the word "works" in the West we have an almost automatic negative response or at least a suspicion. In Scripture we have both Paul and James using the same words but because of semantic range the meaning is quite different. So when Paul speaks of faith he is not using the word in the same way James is. Paul does not envision a saving faith apart from obedience or action on the part of man.
@@binsonthomas2158 Actually, Orthodoxy and Pentecostal are on opposite ends when it comes to Icons, which are a necessary part of the Orthodox faith. Pentecostals broadly interpret the graven images language in Exodus, and therefore would abhor any Icons whereas Orthodox would hold that Icons not only serve as visual reminders of Bible passages, but they are also windows into heaven, which should be venerated.
I can see that. It is exactly why the Holy Spirit yanked me out of my seat & told me to leave the Pentacostal church of Christian carnivalism. It is a snare for sure. Honestly, your head ain't right from all that false doctrine conditioning. Get out, get it together in the Word, pray & hope you don't fall for another false religion. I would run fast & hard not looking back on the RCC or Orthodox
Faith alone is not enough. It is *_through_* faith that we realize we must make a decision: to obey God and seek to do His will, or else to remain separate from God and continue on our own path. It is faith that makes the choice real to us, then we must choose. The verses below feature obedience, not "faith alone": "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" (1 Peter 4:17) "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Thessalonians 1:8) *_Abraham's example illustrates the difference between "faith alone" and faith followed by obedience._* Abraham was promised blessings if he would leave home and journey to the promised land. Without any faith, he would have shrugged off the promises as unreal and that would have been the end of the story. But even with faith Abraham could have said to himself, "Well, even though I trust God's promises I'd really rather stay home, in my comfort zone, so I'm not leaving." Would he have received the promised blessings? Of course not. Abraham *_obeyed._* He acted on his faith. He left home, journeyed to the promised land and received the blessings: "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went" (Hebrews 11:8). *_By_* or *_through_* faith he realized he had a real choice to make, and he *_chose to obey._* The Lord explained to Abraham's son Isaac that Abraham received the promised blessings because of his *_obedience:_* "Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws" (Genesis 26:5). The apostle James wrote "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and *_not by faith only"_* (James 2:24). Abraham's obedience was his "works." He *_believed_* in the true, complete sense of the word _believe:_ he committed himself, he *_acted_* on his faith. In the source New Testament Greek texts, "faith" and "believe" are different words; "faith" (pistis) is a noun, "believe" (pisteuō) is a verb. "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also" (James 2:26). Faith without commitment, without action, is useless. Nothing changes. If Abraham had stayed home, his faith would have been dead, useless. Abraham acted on his faith; his works, his obedience brought life and completion to his faith, making him a believer. James wrote: "Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God." (James 2:22,23) So what does God want us to do today? How do we believe, how do we "act" on our faith? God "now commands all men every where to repent" (Acts 17:30). This is how we can receive mercy: "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." (Proverbs 28:13) With the ransom Jesus made available on the cross, we can be redeemed from the death penalty (Romans 6:23) we have earned for our past sins. That redemption is mercy and is available by grace IF we'll choose to turn from sin, turn from sin that earned us the death penalty to begin with. If we choose not to turn from sin, we'll remain unredeemed from the death penalty earned for our past sins and will surely perish in death for those sins. That's why Jesus warned, "except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3,5). At first glance "except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" appears to contradict John 3:16 which says we have to believe in Him: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." If "believeth" means no more than "have faith," or think something is true, then there certainly *_is_* a contradiction with "except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." But "believeth" goes beyond just "have faith." It is *_through_* faith that we realize we have a real choice to make: whether or not to believe, to commit ourselves and act and obey. We must truly "believe," we must act on our faith, obey and repent to avoid perishing. BTW, it is very helpful to realize that "works" refers to different things, depending on the context. Paul correctly pointed out the error of thinking you are justified or made righteous by doing the "works of the law": for example by obeying a long list of homemade "do this, don't do that" rules made by the Jews to "establish their own righteousness" (Romans 10:3). In other contexts "works" refers to doing good deeds out of love toward neighbor; James 2:14-17 gives an example. Finally, we have "works" of simple obedience to God, like Abraham's obedience when he was instructed to leave home and journey to the promised land, and when he was told to offer his son as a sacrifice.
When protestants say "by faith alone" you should interpret as "by grace alone". Works comes from men and the grace from God. God takes the first step and men reacts, so works are a resulting of faith (by grace) and without it all men works are vain and unnecessary. Men cannot be saved by his own efforts and the "works" that save are the ones influenced by Gods grace. So, works are important in protestant faith but are the result (root) of the grace of God. That is why we say "by faith alone" because the real and genuine fruit starts with the belief/experience of God's grace on men (through His Spirit) and never by human mere efforts.
@@harryallenpearce89 Sola fide, sola scriptura, solus cristos, soli deo gloriam, sola gratia "Sola" is not a separated and unique elements, it is a figure of speech. It means, probably, "nothing above". There is more than one sola. Luther used at least the sola gratia, sola fide and the sola scriputura and Calvin add others. But you cannot interpret it too close minded.
Joshua Theo When did 2 Thessalonians 2:15 become unbiblical? Sounds pretty clear to me, hold to the Traditions, both spoken and written. And who would know these “spoken” Traditions? Titus 1:7-9. The Apostle anointed the Bishops, and even gave them the Authority to teach the correct doctrine. Who were these Bishops that the Apostles taught and appointed? Polycarp Ignatius Clement All three taught by the Apostles. ^THAT is following Scripture.
Faith is NOT a checkbox like "yeah I believe in Jesus." Remember, if you love Him you OBEY His commandments and gospels. So it is an "active faith." Also remember the parable of a rich young man? asking how to go to Heaven? then Jesus enumerated most of the Commandments? So it is not a check box that by believing you are saved. 👍
Reading these protestant comments make me sick. It’s sad that they choose to listen to an invented interpretation from the 1500’s rather than what the Church has always taught. This is historic, undeniable fact. And they are so dense and blind they cannot be convinced otherwise. May we pray to God to soften their hearts.
Ephesians 2:8-10 You receive grace through faith and belief and not works lest any man can boast. So that you can do the good things God planned before the world began.
I am Roman Catholic and I agree with your message, except the Catholic Church does not believe in justified by works, it's a misconstrued perspective. Saved by Grace! Through faith. Faith without works is dead. Cannot receive Christ forgiveness and grace without repentance. And here we are at the truth.
@@N.barakos1845 is that what was said? Be careful calling those simply trying to wrap their finite minds around the infinite God and their proper relationship with him a heretic. Simply being wrong is not inherently heresy either. If you think someone has improper thinking, show grace and understanding and try to show them a better way instead of destroying them with condemnation.
@@ActsKJV Again, out of context verse. That passage refers to works done apart from the grace of God, that is, works alone. Any true and living faith comes with good works. The two are not against each other, they work together. Works without faith are done in vain. Faith without works is dead.
@Father Scyridon For the sake of clarity and mutual Good Will, More precisely The Protestant position is Good Works etc. will not Save you, nor will Faith in Good Works etc. Rather, Good Works are the inherent result and consequence of Saving Faith in Christ Jesus and HIS Finished Work on our behalf via HIS Perfect Virginal Conception, Birth, Baptism, Life, Death, Burial, Resurrection, Ascension, and Intercessory High Priesthood. Albeit, we can stifle our consequential Good Works and in so doing our growth in Christ as Believers.
Yes, but let us also remember the parable of the sheep and the goats, divided not just on an internal state of belief, but on the fruit of their faith. Let us pray Christ does not say to us at Judgement "Get away from me, I never knew you!"
The irony is that Luther and Calvin were German and French just like Pope Leo the 9th and Cardinal Humbert during the East-West Schism. The point isnt so much doctrine and theology but why people didnt understand each other in the first place and the clash of cultures. Language played a big role in the development of the Church and the history of Christianity just like any other movement. The History of the West during and after Constantine made this possible. When the Roman world came into contact with the barbaric world and so many converts came in. It was inevitable. Its human evolution.
Thank you Father Spyridon I have been drawn to the Orthodox church after all that I have been up until this point in life, finally knowing where i must be, and have been praying in the dark on my knees daily for God to let me feel faith in Jesus Christ not just know him and his deed. Though on my knees I do know and feel I have lived wickedly and repent, I cannot feel my faith i have intellectually in Jesus Christ, but I will continue to pray each day no matter the silence in reply in both my waking life and my dreams, for I want salvation for myself and my wife, and I will never stop asking him to be with me. Bless you father
Joseph, God has already given salvation through His Son. Anyone who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ is already saved. Please, trust God's Word....not your feelings and emotions. They are a haven for the enemy. I pray you receive this message.
Good job, you took it out of context. Don't mistake doing good works with the sin of vainglory that was also partly described in Ephesians 2. Doing good works just to silently boast about them and basking in the glories that people are showering you with, when they should be giving praise to God. Such way of sinning is also a symptom of a very serious sin of false humility. Matthew 5:14-16 elaborates on what good works we are to do and what for. Christ Himself calls us to be saints. Not just a vague "believe" without doing good works. Also, which came first - the Bible, or the Church?
We are justified by faith alone in order to receive righteousness as a free gift Romans 3:24-28, 4:1-5, 5:1 and works or fruit come as a result of genuine faith, if there is no works the faith is false John 15:1-4, Eph 2:10, James 2:14-24. Many misunderstand the Evangelical (or Protestant) view of Justification, we mean by faith alone in order to receive the gift of righteousness, NOT that works are not needed, they are indeed needed NOT for salvation but as evidence of salvation. This does NOT mean we can sin how much we want, this is a total distortion of this doctrine. If someone sins all he wants he is definitely not saved, he is not living in holiness. As St. Paul states in Romans 6 we are dead to sin and alive to God.
@@gregorylehr4944 The Judaizers believed in a system of justification similar to the Orthodox Church (see Galatians). Paul said that they believed a different gospel. Christ says, "no one comes to the Father except through me." The scriptures also say that "the way is narrow." I fear for my Roman and Orthodox brothers, because I believe they practice a false Christianity. When talking about those who believe in a mixture of faith and works Paul said that "they have fallen from grace." This is what the Orthodox Church believes.
Hector Lopez however scripture does not make being saved a past event it is a process and by saying you know you are saved you commit the sin of presumption that all Baptist’s and evangelicals make everyday. We Have Been Saved (2Timothy 1:9) Our Past Salvation There is a sense in which God has already saved each and every Christian. In this sense salvation is equated with the forgiveness of sins. Ananias said to Paul, "Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins" (Acts 22:16). So Paul, as soon as he obeyed, had his sins washed away. He was saved. Paul said to the Corinthians, "You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified..." (1Corinthians 6:11) They were saved. Paul says of God our Saviour, "he saved us..." (Titus 3:4-5). That's past tense, isn't it?. A little earlier there in Titus, Paul says, "The grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to all men" (Titus 2:11) 2 We Are Being Saved (1Corinthians 1:18) Paul spoke to the Corinthians of "those who are being saved" (2Corinthians 2:15). Here we do not have past tense. We have the word "saved" used in a present and ongoing sense. Paul tells the Philippians, "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you..." (Philippians 2:12-13). Here we see salvation presented as something being worked for by us in synergy with God. It is not all over and done with. Note the implication of this question, "How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?" (Hebrews 2:1-3). Another telling statement, "be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure..." (2Peter 1:10) John says that "the blood of Christ cleanses us..." (1John 1:7). Past sins were forgiven when we became Christians, but further sins since then need to be forgiven too. Forgiveness and salvation continue as we walk in the light. 3 We Shall Be Saved (Romans 5:9-10) Jesus said, "these (wicked) shall go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life" (Matthew 25:46). This is a future event. As we saw at the introduction to this lesson, Paul twice says, "We shall be saved..." (Romans 5:9-10). This is neither past nor present, but future, isn't it? Paul makes an interesting statement, "Our salvation is now nearer than when we first believed" (Romans 13:11). The Holy Spirit is given "as a guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession..." (Ephesians 1:14). Here redemption and the eternal inheritance is something in view, something yet future. Paul speaks of "the hope of salvation" (1Thessalonians 5:8). A hope of salvation implies a future salvation. If our salvation were altogether finished, then we would have no need any more to hold it as our hope.
@@pappasc79 why would that be the only thing we repent for. Grace might be a gift, but we have to be good people to be worthy of that gift. At the very least we have to believe to get the gift. Already that is some sort of effort. If we didn't have to put effort to get God's gift, he would have given it everyone, even who does not believe.
The Apocalypse 22:12 Behold, I come quickly: and my reward is with me, to render to every man according to his works. th-cam.com/video/FtK-QCiD-FE/w-d-xo.html
@@kirkbowyer3249 - ⚀ The difference I see, Kirk: Works produced by the Spirit through a self-surrendered faith. *Versus* Works produced by your own initiative through a man-made constructed belief.
I find that self righteousness is a culprit of sinners. It possibly leads to man made works and self acceptance. Faith, Trust, and acceptance in Jesus Christ's sacrificial death alone is what saves man. God doesn't expect perfection from mankind in any way. Amen
John a yes exactly. Through faith and not works. All have sinned and are saved through the gift of Gods amazing grace towards his chosen children available to all humanity.
Thank You Father. I grew up as Presbyterian. Chose to be a Methodist as an adult. I left Methodism when the church voted whether to have Gay Ministers. After many years I was looking for the Early Church and found Orthodoxy. I will be Orthodox forever.
Many years ago when I was very young I converted to the Russian Orthodox church, but it didn't 'take' and I drifted away. However, I like listening to Fr. Spyridion.
Biblically, Christians are once justified, always justified.... We do not earn this Justification. God is changing his flock daily. I know what Jesus did for me. I do good work, because of what Jesus did for me. I don't do it, because it will save me. The finished work of Christ has saved me already. Period.
It's not a matter of "working for salvation." Read James again and the teachings of Christ Himself in Luke and Matthew. "Faith without works" is a notion that Luther arrived at through an exaggerated response to Paul. Many think that the Epistle of James was written partly in response to Paul. Luther could not find psychological comfort from the asceticism he practiced as an Augustinian monk, and so threw the whole thing out as useless. I humbly suggest that this was a case of throwing the baby out with the bath water. "Works" are a natural response to inward grace: they are the outward evidence of love, charity, faith, and repentance. Jesus gives the specific examples of feeding the hungry, visiting prisoners, and comforting widows, and points out that it is these things, and not saying "Lord, Lord," that please Him and constitute a vital aspect of relationship with Him. In fact, He states plainly that those who fail to do such things (see also the parable of the Samaritan) will not be recognized by Him. Too much reliance on a protestant reading of Paul leads to a sort of religion about Jesus that can ignore the religion that Jesus Himself actually preached. Father Spyridon, if you see this, please feel free to comment or make corrections!
Slav in Christ - Sloven u Hristu - Словен у Христу Internal illumination must result in external action (works). This is a totally irrefutable ontological fact. Hence, Faith without works is dead because if the Christian is not transformed by the Holy Spirit for the renewal of his mind then his efforts and deeds will be the same as they were prior to his renewal. So yes, God is the primary mover in our salvation without which we could not by our works be redeemed. However, if the Christian does not exert that saving action in his daily processes and various workings then nothing has actually changed within. So the answer is not either, or. The answer is both - and.
This is what the Bible says: And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." Matthew 7:21 By their fruits you will know them... Matthew 7:16 "Don't be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap." Galatians 6:7 "... let's not love in word only, neither with the tongue only, but in deed and truth" 1 John 3:18 "One who has my commandments, and keeps them, that person is one who loves me. ..." John 14:21 "Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don't give up." Galatians 6:9 "...faith apart from works is dead. James 2:26 "For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment... How much worse punishment, do you think, will he be judged worthy of, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? Hebrews 10:26-29 "who will pay back to everyone according to their works" Romans 2:6 "Behold, one came to him and said, "Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?" He said to him, "...if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." Matthew 19:16-17 "Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "Behold, you are made well. Sin no more, so that nothing worse happens to you." John 5:14 "They profess that they know God, but by their works they deny him, being abominable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work." Titus 1:16 "Don't marvel at this, for the hour comes, in which all that are in the tombs will hear his voice, and will come out; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life; and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment." John 5:28-29 "But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves." James 1:22 "For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." 2 Corinthians 5:10 "I, Yahweh, search the mind, I try the heart, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings." Jeremiah 17:10 "If you love me, keep my commands" John 14:15 "You see then that by works, a man is justified, and not only by faith." James 2:24
That's because it's a reference to the sin of vainglory. Doing good works just to silently boast about them and basking in the glories that people are showering you with, when they should be giving praise to God. Such way of sinning is also a symptom of a very serious sin of false meekness. Matthew 5:14-16 elaborates on what good works we are to do and what for. Christ Himself calls us to be saints. Not just a vague "believe" without doing good works.
How would you explain the parable of the Tax Collector and the Pharisee? The man who cried out for God's mercy, confessing his sinfulness went home justified. Meaning in that moment before any work or deed, he was saved. Doesn't this give a simple and clear answer as to the works/faith alone issue?
No. EO is new to me I have and will continue to study all claims from Christian sects, cults and non cults. I think it's the most important information in our lives . I don't believe the NT teaches that the Church/ body of Christ is a building of brick and mortar or a denomination. It consists of the Justified. Thanks for your question.
So from what understood, we are saved by the blood of Jesus (and His blood is enough), but we crucify our flesh and do these works both to cultivate a relationship with Him and as a form of gratitude to Him? I was raised Protestant and I am moving towards Orthodoxy but I refuse to believe anyone who tries to tell me that we can work our way to Salvation. This video has really comforted me in that aspect.
First off, I always enjoy your videos Fr Spyridon! You are blest with formulating the great wonders of God in simple yet poetic explanations. I do think however that I disagree with just a few points toward the end. Working for God's grace is foreign to holy scripture; rather, the apostles taught that we work in participation with the Spirit always and only because of God's grace, which moved first and continuously sustains us, being the constant cause of our synergy in Christ. That is, the work is the fruit of the grace. Of course, this all still affirms what St. James said, that faith with out works in dead, since works are necessary results of repentance and faith, but never the cause or the reason why God has compassion on us. I think the blessed reformer Martin Luther said it well: "we are saved by faith alone, but faith is never alone." God bless as you continue in the Lord's work!
WHAT DOES “FAITH” REALLY MEAN??? To properly interpret Sacred Scripture you have to understand the verse IN CONTEXT of what the author was intending to convey during his particular time period and culture not ours, the verse within the chapter, the chapter within the book, and the book within the Bible as a whole. Are you aware St. Paul as ”a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth” 1 Timothy 2:7 was constantly writing to defend Gentiles from Mosaic Ceremonial “Works of the Law” (circumcision). Are you aware St. Paul in Romans and Galatians was arguing for the Gentiles to be accepted strictly on "faith" in Jesus Christ through using Abraham as an example who was “justified” and made “righteous” on “faith” yet still uncircumcised??? St. Paul was emphasizing in Romans only "ONE SIDE" of a two sided coin (One side FAITH and the other side WORKS). St. Paul used the "faith" side to argue for the Gentiles to be accepted and grafted in. The other side of the coin "WORKS" was written about in the Book of James (Book of James was written for people like you who were misinterpreting St. Paul in Romans). James 2:24 "You see a man is justified by works, and NOT BY FAITH ALONE". AGAIN, THE BIBLE, THE WORD OF GOD SAYS "NOT BY FAITH ALONE". "Faith and Works" which Jesus Christ clearly taught and the Catholic Church continues to teach in obedience. For example, you all seem to miss Paul's introduction in Romans 2:6-7 "FOR HE WILL RENDER TO EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS WORKS: TO THOSE WHO BY PATIENCE IN WELL-DOING SEEK FOR GLORY AND HONOR AND IMMORTAILY, HE WILL GIVE ETERNAL LIFE". Now, wait a minute you just said all I have to do is "believe"??? Luke 6:37-38 and Matthew 7:1-2 "Judge NOT, that you be not judged. For with the Judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get". So now, I cannot judge harshly otherwise I will be judged harshly by GOD. Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’, shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven, BUT HE WHO DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER IN HEAVEN”. Now, I have to do the Father’s will to even enter the “Kingdom of Heaven”??? Matthew 10:33 “But WHOEVER DENIES ME BEFORE MEN, I WILL ALSO DENY BEFORE MY FATHER who is in heaven”. Now, I have to never deny Jesus before men or risk rejection myself??? Mark 16:16 “He who believes AND IS BAPTIZED will be saved. See 1 Peter 3:21 also. Now, I have to be baptized to be saved??? John 13:34 “A NEW COMMANDMENTS I GIVE TO YOU, THAT YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER; EVEN AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, THAT YOU ALSO LOVE ONE ANOTHER. THIS IS ALL SHALL KNOW THAT YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES, IF YOU HAVE LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER”. Now, no love then I am not a disciple??? How did Jesus love us and now He commands us to do the same??? Did Jesus say I love you “one time” and do nothing else??? Nope, Jesus Christ showed us what LOVE IS by being selfless sacrificial, and emptying Himself out on the cross for us!!! Luke 8:21 “My mother and MY BRETHREN ARE THOSE WHO HEAR THE WORD OF GOD AND DO IT”. Wait a minute, now I have to “DO” what I am told in the WORD of GOD to be considered a “part” of GOD’s family??? 1 John 3:18-19 “Children, let us love not in word and speech, BUT IN DEED AND IN TRUTH. BY THIS WE SHALL KNOW ARE WE OF THE TRUTH”. What does this clearly say about a one-time verbal profession of faith??? Matthew 7:19 "EVERY TREE THAT DOES NOT BEAR GOOD FRUIT IS CUT DOWN AND THROWN INTO THE FIRE" Now, I have to bear good fruit otherwise I risk damnation??? John 15:8 “By this my Father is glorified, that YOU BEAR MUCH FRUIT, AND SO PROVE TO BE MY DISCIPLES”. Once again, I have to “bear fruit” and now “prove to be” Jesus Christ’s disciple. Colossians 1:10 “LEAD A LIFE WORTHY OF THE LORD, FULLY PLEASING TO HIM, BEARING FRUIT IN EVERY GOOD WORK and increasing knowledge of GOD” There’s that “FRUIT” thing again that one must “do” to be “FULLY PLEASING” to GOD. John 5:29 “THOSE WHO HAVE DONE GOOD, TO THE RESURRECTION OF LIFE, AND THOSE WHO HAVE DONE EVIL, TO THE RESURRECTION OF JUDGMENT”. Now, I have to do “GOOD” and avoid “EVIL” or sin to avoid “JUDGMENT”??? John 3:5”TRULY, TRULY I SAY TO YOU, UNLESS ONE IS BORN OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT, HE CANNOT ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD". Now, I have to be REBORN of "Water (Baptism) and SPIRIT (Laying of Hands)" to even enter the ONE “Kingdom of GOD”??? John 6:54 "HE WHO EATS MY FLESH AND DRINKS MY BLOOD HAS ETERNAL LIFE". Now, I have to eat the “Lamb of GOD” (John 1:29, 1 Corinthians 5:7, 1 Peter 1:19) to be saved??? 1 Corinthians 11:27-29 “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the LORD in an UNWORTHY MANNER will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the LORD. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks WITHOUT DISCERNING THE BODY EATS AND DRINKS JUDGMENT UPON HIMSELF”. Now, I have to be “worthy” to partake of the “Lamb of GOD” otherwise I risk JUDGMENT??? James 1:22, 25 “BE DOERS OF THE WORD, AND NOT HEARERS ONLY, DECEIVING YOURSELVES”…”BUT HE WHO LOOKS IN THE PERFECT LAW (referring to John 13:34), THE LAW OF LIBERTY, AND PERSEVERES, BEING NO HEARER THAT FORGETS BUT A DOER THAT ACTS, HE SHALL BE BLESSED IN HIS DOING”. James who was one of the three most beloved disciples in Jesus’s “inner circle” what does he clearly teach here??? Romans 15:18 “For I will not dare to speak of anything except what Jesus Christ has accomplished through me TO LEAD THE GENTILES TO OBEDIENCE BY WORD AND DEED”. St. Paul now emphasizing I need to be OBEDIENT BY WORD AND DEED??? Philippians 2:12 "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING". Wait a minute, I thought you said St. Paul said all I need to do is "believe" and I am saved??? The Bible and St. Paul here is telling me I have to continue in "Good Works" to "WORK OUT YOUR SALVATION"??? Acts 26:20 “Declared…..that they should repent and turn to GOD and PERFORM DEEDS WORTHY OF THEIR REPENTANCE” St. Paul stating now I have to ‘perform deeds worthy of my repentance??? 2 Thessalonians 1:8 “INFLICTING VENGENCE upon those who do not know GOD and those WHO DO NOT OBEY THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS”. Now, I have to OBEY THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST”??? 2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, SO THAT EACH MAY RECEIVE GOOD OR EVIL, ACCORDING TO WHAT HE HAS DONE IN THE BODY”. So, now I HAVE TO DO GOOD??? James 2:24 "SEE HOW A PERSON IS JUSTIFIED BY WORKS AND NOT BY FAITH ALONE" Now, I have to be justified by "works" of charity as Jesus Christ commands per John 13:34??? **John ******3:36****** “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, BUT WHOEVER DISOBEYS THE SON WILL NOT SEE LIFE, BUT THE WRATH OF GOD REMAINS UPON HIM”.*** **John ******5:29****** “THOSE WHO HAVE DONE GOOD, TO THE RESURRECTION OF LIFE, AND THOSE WHO HAVE DONE EVIL, TO THE RESURRECTION OF DEATH”*** John 8:51 “Truly, Truly, I say to you, IF ANY ONE KEEPS MY WORD, he will never see death” Hebrews 5:9 “He became the source of eternal salvation TO ALL WHO OBEY HIM”. Acts 5:32 “And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN TO THOSE WHO OBEY HIM” I could go on and on, but I think you get the point. "Believe" is a loaded word full of expectations for the sons and daughters of GOD. "BELIEVE" really means to "OBEY". Faith is only the first step towards Heaven, and LOVE is the second step which is an ACTION out of OBEDIENCE. FAITH AND WORKS just as the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church teaches.
If you don't teach that salvation happens completely at the moment you REpent(that is change your mind about Christ) you are teaching a works gospel which is heresy.
"work" and repent in order to receive God's grace? Where is that in scripture, that grace is given to us because of our works? Isn't the very meaning of grace "unmerited favor"? If our works are necessary to receive God's grace then how is this anything other than salvation based upon works?
No, God's grace is fee gift, but we can turn ourselves away from it by the way we live. We are nt working to receive grace, we are working to overcome our refusal of grace. We are not starting at a neutral point, we've already turned ourselves the wrong way. Sadly few Protestants are aware that the Church existed for hundreds of years before it decided which texts would go into the New Testament. Nothing went in that is at odds with tradition - but modern man assumes the right to interpret holy scripture as he wills - pride is our enemy in this.
SALVATION MR I don't know what to call you, Sir is a gift from GOD no of ourselves it's a gift from GOD so no one should boast Paul the apostle stablish that very clear now is very much a unmerited gift from GOD and it has always been St Agustine understood that very clearly it's not by works of the law the fruit of salvation are good works no the way around GOD is free to save who ever HE wills Jacob I love Essau I hated before they were even born remember this?
Read the very first verse in James. This was written to Hebrews, the 12 tribes of Israel. Not to church age Christians. The Hebrews are going to go through the Tribulation. This can only be referring to that because in the Christian realm there is no difference between Jew and Greek. “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.” But James differentiates by specifying Israel in particular he is targeting a group. In the Tribulation it will be a works salvation, not so in the Church Age. Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the GIFT of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” This is where it is important to rightly divide Gods Word. All Scripture is for us, however all Scripture is not about us.
If we have to "work and repent to receive God's grace" then salvation is by works.. "For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life." (Eph 2:9,10) God saves us completely by His own doing..Then and only then, can we be about the good works that give evidence of our salvation. Our works in NO WAY contribute to our salvation. Sola Fide - our ONLY hope..
Philippians 1:29 “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,” To believe and to suffer is both granted to us. Soli Deo Gloria
Ephesians 2:8-10 [8]For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; [9]not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. [10]For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
It is a free gift, but as St Paul said, we must keep running to the very end of the race. If you turn your back when offered something, you must turn to accept the free gift. We have rejected God's free gift so profoundly by the way we have chosen sin that even recognising the offer of the gift is difficult for many. We mustn't confuse the free gift of salvation with what we must do to overcome our rejection of that free gift. Simply declaring it a free gift is different from accepting it. There are thousands of Protestant denominations which have pronounced the reality of the giving, but which do you think have really been able to receive it?
So you said that the Salvation is free. But we have to work hard to get it (As you quote: "we must KEEP RUNNING to the very END of the race"), or hopefully get it in the end. If this is true, by what standard God gives out the Salvation? Can any human achieve the requirements from God? If you think about it, your Salvation by--- so called "faith" is even harder than the Salvation by work. Because you not only have to work on your salvation, you also have to keep asking youself if your work is generated from the faith, or your work is just for meeting the requirement from the salvation. If it's the latter, your work is in vain.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 It's all about God. We cannot boast . 'For by grace are ye saved through faith and not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of works lest any man should boast'. Eph. 2:8-9. You see, we obey him out of love for Him and what He has done for us.
salvation is always a free gift, But the gift must be received. it is received not just by a saying the sinners prayer, but by the movement of the heart and will to God. Jesus said if you love me, keep my commandments. the Catholic view is Faith must be accepted by living the truth. we cannot save ourselves, we can only reach out to God in love and love is always action, to do the will of God.
And this is why I will never return to the Catholic Church or any institutionalized church. You're making salvation about what you must do and NOT what has already been done.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” Romans 3:23-24
I see so many people here trying to explain the hierarchical value of works/faith. Two things can be true at once. "For by grace you have been saved through faith" and "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." -- Salvation comes by way of faith but it is keeping God's commandments that keep that faith alive; one cannot exist without the other. Salvation is not a moment in time but a process throughout our life. Only God knows the heart. Only God may judge. Our salvation is determined at the moment we stand before God in judgement. Do not be fooled into thinking that works make you a good person, as Father Spyridon said, nor be so foolish as to think that your salvation cannot be "lost"; You cannot lose what God has not yet given. We are delivered from sin and consequence only through God's judgement. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad."
Jesus said, *"Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits. “Not every one who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."* Matthew 7:19-21 Your faith must produce good fruit; or else, it is not a true one. Salvation begins with true self-surrendered faith.
Coming from a Romanian orthodox I must say I am filled with joy to see such powerful sermons coming from foreign to Balkans and this region fathers of the orthodox church. You are truly doing Gods work father Spyridon, with humbleness I allow myself this pleasure of having to wish you strength and love into Jesus Christ, and may the peace of the Lord be with you and us all, may the Lords Will be done.
+Nihil Sine Deo Thank you for the encouragement. God bless you.
The Gospel of 2 Chairs
@@onik_dovah4354 theres no debate. Orthodoxy its the truth. Go debate sects.
@@vasme973 well the server is usually christianity vs atheism but yes i agree
Faith without works is dead......But its still faith and qualifies for salvation.
Dead faith is walking as a desciple where no one (non believers) can see you are a christian.
For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.…
you cannot do any works to keep salvation…..you cant loose it gain it, loose it gain it, loose it gain it........Once you have it you are saved and judged at the judgement seat of christ for your place in heaven.
Faith is demonstrated by good works. Works are not the cause of salvation; works are the evidence of salvation.
I said "works are not the cause of salvation" so we aren't in any disagreement.
Ian Swart id disagree strongly. U can't look at peoples works to see if they are saved. The lost man can go to church just like the saved man that doesn't mean he is saved
Jenny Jenny isnt the act of believing an assenting of the human will toward belief? That action expresses an inner desire. Action is work. Besides, if good works are evidence of salvation are the absence of good works evidence of not being saved?
I've come to learn that works and lifestyle changes are really the natural result of grace, and if you don't at least feel a desire to alter your own life as a result of faith then you may be doing something wrong. Faith is indeed the fount of works, but without works the faith remains of a bourgeois and unfulfilled nature.
What is considered to be works?
Sir please keep me in your prayers I am coming out of the New Age Movement and the Occult..
It has been very difficult thank you for the wisdom you provide.
Thank God for your journey from darkness to light. Two books you may find useful are "Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future" by Seraphim Rose and "The Young Man, Elder Paisios and the Gurus"
4 months on Jake : how are you managing?
Watch this please my friend: th-cam.com/video/WDEBz25lGdY/w-d-xo.html
Praying for you dear brother. I too came out of the occult / new age movement and understand the heaviness that comes with being in such darkness but our Saviour is greater than any stronghold of the enemy and victory is already ours in Christ Jesus our Lord. Eternal praise and glory be to the One who was, Who is and is to come!
Lord have Mercy +++
I needed to hear this message, I am Hellenic and leaving the protestant church, going back to Eastern Orthodox Christianity in search of salvation.
Thanasis welcome home
Thanasis stay were you are
Thanasis Velianitis he’s leaving your manmade Protestant sects for the church Christ actually established in Matthew 16:18
Research on the SDA
Klak Klak Thats against the Bible that’s a manmade doctrine of Martin Luther faith alone is only mentioned once in scripture explicitly and is rebuked. James 2:24 “We are saved by our works and not by faith alone”
Paul speaks about Christians fulfilling the law by following the command to "love your neighbor as yourself. All Paul’s teaching comes down to this: Our own works can never justify us, but works that grow out of faith in Christ are part of our justification. That’s why Paul says in Philippians 2:12 you must "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
@@asheva4862 can you please elaborate on “faith”? Because seems that people don’t understand that “faith” means obedience- which means “ doing God’s will”, not just believing that Jesus is the Son of God - even Demons know and believe this and they tremble on His name - but are they saved???
@@zoilife3929 Gods will is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
John 6:40
And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life
No
@@zoilife3929 Devils & Satan believe but they chose not to submitt to HIM. Can they, would they repent? Have they blasphemed not the Holy Spirit? When we believe, repent, do we become born again as a new creature? What do we believe? Jesus Christ was or that Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD our propitiation has washed away our sins by his blood, that because he conquered death & hell by his ressurection that we too will rise from the dead to him. Am I a believer cuz I believe Jesus was, I go to church mostly on a Sunday morning, that's a good work, I try not to lie or steal, surely that's good, I live like the world the rest of the week nobody can pick me out & say I'm different, I act like the world while I'm in it. Ain't that my sign I just ain't no true believer, no faith to see in my life, the faith that has a characteristic of righteousness & holiness? Shouldn't you see who I am pretty clearly by the example & wittness I leave behind because the old man is long gone? Faith without works is dead, no fruit. I'm a cult member, I live to purposely do good things for points, that's what counts? My catholic friends attend all the catholic good works stuff, shoot they even go around picking up trash on our street. Some points right there? Then they booze it up out on the patio at nights comforted by their works. Yes, work out our salvation because there is a work we have to do to put this flesh under our spirit & resist sin & temptation, we ain't autobons. I do know the difference of purposely doing something good from my heart that my spirit leads me to rather than attending a function or doing things to be seen. I do know how to put my flesh in submission and I do feel the conviction if I do something just to look good
"god resists the proud BUT GIVES GRACE to the humble"
"I the Lord dwell in a high and lofty place but also with him who is humble and contrite"
GOLDSMITHEXILE 2016 yes I agree now you got to get the Gospel and this guy has no idea
Salvation is the Gift of God. We obtain Salvation by faith and with His grace. We must read the Bible
@@pabsbenedetto773 this dude indeed has no idea of what the gospel is. His entire message is about oneself and our repentance and not about what Jesus Christ has accomplished for us, for those who BELIEVE it is finished. And it is finished!
@@elisabethdakak878
Seems you need a new Holy Bible, yours is clearly missing pages because you need to read the whole Bible, not just selected passages.
@@danielrutigliano7938
So now that it’s finished, can one still turn away from God and lose one’s salvation?
I am not sure why there is so much miss understanding about this issue. In Galatians Paul explicitly scolds the church because they wanted to achieve sanctification by following the law of Moses and not by faith. What James is referring to is that real faith produces works of repentance which means we start to resist our old corrupted nature and this is the work we should do. Some evangelical churches may believe that faith is all there is but faith without works of repentance is dead. We enter salvation by faith alone, God only accepts us by means of the cross from then on we have to strive to develop the fruit of the Spirit by resisting our evil nature and waiting for the righteousness from God as we are being transformed.
This is why I wonder if the reformed and Orthodox views are really all that different.
Romans 11:6
6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
@@PETERJOHN101 no fruit can be produced by anyone unless they have already been saved. Colossians 1:6 says we bear fruit through the gospel and the gospel points to Jesus not to any of us (1 Cor. 15:1-4). We who have been called , are already justified, and glorified( Romans 8: 30) because we have believed on the one who was sent. The fruit we produce for God comes through the gospel and Jesus Christ has the responsibility as the Chief Shepherd, 100 % , for everyone He recieves....and He loses none.
@@danielrutigliano7938 The Bible calls those who believed as 'believers', 'disciples', or 'Christians'. We don't see believers usually called 'saved ones'. It's a new protestant expression and, I believe, not biblical.
@@ayenewyihune in the Bible there are two kinds of people: believers and unbelievers. Believers are "the called" ( Romans 8:28)
Moreover who he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. - Romans 8:30. All past tense. God has ordained it.
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are SAVED it is the power of God. - 1 Corinthians 1:18
Eternal life doesn't begin at physical death and resurrection into glory...it begins the moment a person has BELIEVED the word of truth...the gospel...and is baptised with the Holy Spirit once and for good - (Ephesians 1:13)
A blessing father, thank you.I am from ethiopian ortodox.
Matthew 23: 9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
armyof Jesus it goes off about not calling people on earth teachers and rabbis... What this verse says is ultimate father the same way it goes on with Jesus being the ultimate teacher and rabbi.
armyof Jesus if you take that literally then you can not call your teachers doctor or professor or your teacher pastor or doctor that verse is not about the word father because then Timothy would not call Paul his spiritual father and your dad would not be considered your father. You like most Baptist’s take the Bible too literally without looking at its context.
@@blair00725
Thanks for the advice. From now on I'll call my dad "Male Parent. "
@@amanuelhaile9898lol
The misunderstanding comes from the fact that in the West the word "Grace" means that God lets you go to heaven for free, while in Orthodoxy "Grace" refers to the Divine Light/Energy of God, which purifies and illuminates us. God's Grace (Divine Light) is heaven. What the Logos and the Holy Spirit received from the Father by nature we receive by Grace (Divine Light). And Jesus Christ gives us everything He received from the Father by Grace.
Grace means unmerited favor, you didnt do anything to earn it.
Oh boy. The Orthodox love to muddy things up with West vs. East obfuscation. Working for a gift is an oxymoron! Ephesians 2:8-9.
Salvation is a gift. You do not work for gifts. See Ephesians 2:8-9. Also Romans Chapter 4.
@@jeffreydefreese8807 why did you skip verse 10?
@@james-ch Did you convert to Orthodoxy from another faith?
I don't see a contradiction between verse 9-10. I see salvation as a gift, accepted by faith, good works as our response to this gift. Many in Christendom today find it uncomfortable to say salvation is a gift, especially a faith like Orthodoxy, which is highly monastic and ascetic. We are climbing the John Climacus ladder, and hopefully will not fall off, etc.
I have been recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, so the prayers of the Orthodox are coveted.
Pax.......... JLd
It seems every sentence you utter is edifying, father. God bless you. May God work through you to guide us on the straight and narrow.
As a Protestant, I completely agree with the father's view
Call no man father.
@@langleybeliever7789 you're interpreting it wrong
I don't need to interpret , I use the bible literally, because I could twist scripture any way I want by interpretation.
@@langleybeliever7789 how do you call the man that together with your mother brought you in this life??? And here a verse from the bible that shows that you are just picking and choosing whatever fits your poor believes: In his first letter to the church at Corinth, the apostle Paul wrote: “Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel” .
That is my dad , biological man ! Not another sinner. As pope,cardinal,bishop etc. Just like you and I ,all sinners.
So please don't use that tired argument about your biological father.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God , have mercy on me a sinner.
Thank you for your words Father.
If there was an orthodox church near my home I would start attending. I'm Presbyterian but over the last 4 years or so I've felt myself drawn to Orthodoxy because it's the only legitimate continuation of the original church. I've learned an awful lot of the history of the orthodox church
Not if you consider all the later accretions, labeled as "the old ways".
Gavin Ortlund is someone I would give a listen before taking all these affirmations at face value.
@@szilardfineascovasa6144Gavin ortlund got refuted on this. If you know history you’ll see Gavin is a very dishonest person
@@Kauahdhdhd
No, he wasn't.
As brilliant as some Catholic apologists are in general, they strawman everything into oblivion, just to fit a square peg through a round hole.
Be it the Word, be it history.
The early church/orthodoxy came first. Protestantism is the new novel idea from the enlightenment age … just saying.
Common sense should tell everyone this. Geez 🤦♂️ doesn’t take a rocket scientist 🧑🔬 🚀
Good !! 👍 it’s because you’re drawn to the truth by the Holy Spirit. All of us orthodox were ex-Catholics, or ex-protestants or clergy!! Welcome to the faith!
There’s also a reason Protestantism has failed and is in so much heresy and confusion and decisions and schisms, and they’re all all over the place and led to the failure of western society! This should also tell people something! the proof is in the pudding!!
Salvation is by grace throug faith
@@_____c___482 u have to believe in god first and repent before good works, Good works dont get u to heaven boy
@@_____c___482 When was Abraham’s faith credited to him as righteousness?
@@apilkey according to Hebrews 11:8, Abraham by faith left Ur. Hebrews 11:9, he sojourned in the land of promise. Hebrews 11:17, by faith he offered Isaac on the altar. I would add that by faith, he was circumcised. Abraham was justified by faith on several occasions. James says he was justified when he offered Isaac. Paul says Abraham was justified when he was uncircumcised, which was before he offered Isaac. Justification is not a one-time event. When you look at the Greek for justification and righteousness, there are only a few letters different. You are justified each time righteousness is added to your account.
Hebrews 11:1 faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For faith to be faith, there needs to be something hoped for, something unseen, and evidence. When there are no works, there is no evidence, and the faith is dead, and there is no righteousness to be added to your account.
Righteousness is what you do with God. Sin is what you do apart from God. Death is separation from God, and what you do separated from God brings death, although under the New Covenant he remembers your sin no more. All things you work together with God are good: Romans 8:28.
There are works of the flesh - the things you do apart from God, and there are works of the Spirit - the things you do with God.
Faith without works is dead. Works without faith are dead works, to be repented of. Repentance - metanoia. Meta - to turn from. Noia is knowledge. It is talking about the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Stop producing fruit from the tree of knowledge and eat from the tree of life. Stop doing your own thing apart from God.
Turn from the Great Commandment and turn to the New Commandment. The Great Commandment is the law of sin and death (all your heart, soul, mind, and strength - no Spirit) The New Commandment is the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:2). The law of the Spirit involves the Spirit, absent all your weakness - heart, soul, mind, strength. Enter into his rest.
In simple terms we are saved by God's grace through faith working it self through love
God bless you Father Spyridon. Please pray for me. Theologically, I'm Reformed, but I'm considering converting to Orthodoxy. I need wisdom, and there's some things I'm struggling with in Orthodox tradition, namely the aerial toll houses. Thank you for your time, sir.
The toll houses should not be taken as a literal description. Take your time and reflect carefully: it took me five years to become Orthodox after I had decided to do so. But once God convinces us of the truth, we must act.
Sam Franklin I’m in the same position: currently reformed in theology but actively being drawn to, and enjoying, the richness of the orthodox faith. I have struggles with prayers to saints, the robes and so on that are used by priests, and with justification...but give yourself time. Given that some time has indeed passed since your comment, where are you at now?
Sam, hope you are doing well and have embraced Grace all these years later :)
Toll houses are not the teaching of the church and my priest even called them heresy
@@TheB1nary
Prayers to saints are ridiculous. The saints are dead in their graves waiting to be resurrected. They can not hear your prayers. It is totally unbiblical to ask dead saints to pray for you.
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Romans 4:5
Thank you very much for this video Fr. Spyridon! May your rewards be eternal for providing us with such important explanations!
Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your whole house! Acts 16:31 Yes, true faith would lead to a life of continuing repentance and good works!
Acts 16:32-34 tells the whole story of Acts 16:31. Please read and consider the whole text, and not one proof-text verse.
Ephesians 2:8-9 SAYS NOT OF WORKS!!!
Greek Baptist read James 2
Acts 16:30 KJV that’s talking about works of the LAW smart one
@@_____c___482 it is NOT talking about works of the law. If so, then what works is Titus 3:5 talking about?
In return for our trust (faith) in His only begotten Son, God the Father offers us forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Works have no part in God's free grace. Anyone who says that faith is invalid without "works" is adding human effort to the Gospel. Thank God for the free gift of eternal life!
Ephesians 2:8-9
King James Version
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
So much sense in this view, as someone who's grown up protestant it's been a blessing to learn more orthodox theology. I intend to convert in the new year.
Why would you convert? Have you not already believed the gospel?
@@danielrutigliano7938 because Orthodoxy is the True Church? And you must be a part of the True Church to receive God's grace through baptism and the eucharist? Every Christian believed in the eucharist up until the Reformation. Even Luther did. In the 2nd century the pagans and gnostic both accused Christians of being cannibals (they didn't understand the Eucharist, they assumed they were eating people). It is clear that the Eucharist is extremely important, as it's talked about in the New Testament many times. Jesus explicitly says it is his Body and his Blood. There is only one Eucharist as there is only One Body of Christ. You should be a part of that Body, as who knows how God judges people outside of his Body. This was understood for 1500 years until Protestants starting using our Bible (we canonized it in the 5th and 6th centuries) and making up their own ideas and rejecting the Eucharist. (Which is literally rejecting Jesus)
@@ThomasG_Nikolaj the flesh and blood Jesus was referring too in John 6 is the Word. Every one who claims Christ for salvation yet has no life in them has never gotten into the Scriptures. It has nothing to do with eating bread and wine. Many, many verses from the Old Testament to the New allude to this fact. We can only grow through the scriptures AFTER we have received the gospel...the word of our salvation.
Take cate.
@@danielrutigliano7938 okay so which gospel? There are 100's of different protestant ideas as a result of Sola scriptura doctrine. You guys have no authority, so it is up to the individual person to figure out the gospel message. This is so dangerous. Paul actually says that the pillar and ground of all truth is the Church. And the Church canonized the New testament 6 centuries later. History refutes you. The men that chose the canon of scripture all believed in the Eucharist. So these men and councils were correct about the canon of scripture but wrong on everything else?
@@ThomasG_Nikolaj Paul says..."according to the scriptures twice in his gospel message in 1 Cor 15:3,4. According to what has been written through God as if the Holy Ghost moved through men. According to the scriptures. Get it? Not, according to the early church fathers, not according to Jerome, not according to the Cathechism.
And there is only one gospel that the church..found in Ephesians and Colossians mostly but other books as well...follows.
Being raised in two different churches, Catholicism as well as Protestant, I’ve always found myself with an understanding of Gods word somewhere in the middle of both. Not quite fitting into either. I see this in the Orthodox Church, becoming more and more drawn by it. Thank you fr. Spyridon for your videos.
God bless you
Why can't you just receive it as a free gift by faith? When you give someone a gift, do they work to earn it, or do they just accept it as a gift from you? When someone gives a gift to you, do you ever have to work for it? Of course not. It's a FREE GIFT. Jesus Himself gave His life for us so we could freely receive His grace - His finished work.
@@jgilbert1935 🤦♂️ doesn’t work that way.
To answer your question we do accept a free gift. But then once u have it eventually at some point you change your spirit and soul is renewed and you change.
So Not even most Protestants agree with you. I was a pastor for 20 years before becoming Ortho and technically the ortho way was EXACTLY how we understood salvation and taught it. Most churches that are not Calvinist this is what is also taught. It’s not a “once saved always saved” eternal security thing. So just because you said a one time prayer, and had faith and grace does it mean you’re forever safe..that’s ridiculous.
We in EO, also believe salvation is by grace thru faith. The difference is as James says you have to eventually show works. Your salvation shows works. Ie “faith without works is dead”. belief is not something you do just in your mind..it incorporates your whole body, mind, spirit, and soul and everything. So when you are right with God, you naturally change and grow and so called “works” flow FROM or OUT OF that. it’s not like you’re TRYING to obtain it ..it’s more of you’re working FROM a place of justification, salvation, etc.
Get it!?? 🤦♂️
So Paul doesn’t agree with you James doesn’t agree with you the apostles or The early church doesn’t agree with you. Christ doesn’t agree with you nothing in the Bible agrees with that so I don’t know where people get this idea from. 🤷🏻♂️
I really don’t understand why this is so confusing for everyone and why there’s so much misunderstanding on it. This truth of the true gospel has always been there. Just Because some protestant “reformers” all of a sudden came around and tried to change things around and so now there’s all these lies going out to confuse people now, doesn’t automatically make that the truth.
Even as a kid that never made sense to me, how can you believe in God and believe in something and not ever change or do anything differently? That doesn’t even pass the common sense test much less any other litmus test.
thank you Father- i am a Filipino Roman Catholic
Matthew 23: 9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
armyof Jesus maybe you should tell the apostle Paul who in his statement said “ I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel” (1 Cor. 4:14-15).
@@georgeibrahim7945
1 Corinthians 4:14-15 KJV
I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. [15] For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
This verse doesn't mean the folks at Corinth called him father. Sorry pagan worshippers you replaced mother earth for Mary and the Roman / Greek gods for the saints. WAKE UP!!!
Greek Baptist Bro, I have lived in a Protestant church my entire life and we call each other brother and sister all the time. FYI i'm getting into the Orthodoxy because the tradition and style has helped me to repent more than I used to, not that there's anything wrong with Protestant theology, or at least in most Protestant branches.
You are only not allowed to call someone “father” if the word equates to “Father” as God. Even God Himself said to Abraham that he will make him the father of all nations. God bless you
Faith and works,both are needed but also humility.
Not true. Check Acts of the Apostles 16:30-31. - And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
@@contra1138 the way to salvation is as diverse and changing as humanity itself. There are many truths there to be found in scripture and it's up to the individual through God's grace to find his purpose with the aid of God's Church. It seems you have found yours, so allow others in His Grace to find there's! After all, 'what is truth?'
Matthew Dobbs Seriously? You try to disprove sound doctrine by quoting Pontius Pilate? By the way, Jesus gives an answer to that question too, he says God’s word is truth in John 17:17.
Way of salvation never changes:
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. (Hebrews 13:8)
@@contra1138 Matthew 19,16-17: Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”
So Acts/Paul's epistles overrule Jesus' teachings now? Protestants can't stop to contradict scripture, which they apparently believe is infallible.
Dan. Sss. Read the rest of the chapter ;)
Very good sermon. It is the very last Words said we must be careful about, “We must work and repent to receive God’s grace.” God’s grace is always there waiting for us to receive and respond. I agree with the sermon if your faith is genuine and you have been form of the Spirit, your life will be produce good works to glorify God. Indeed this is God’s purpose for us as it was for Christ. Our carnal good works are as filthy rags before God IF we think they are going to somehow justify us. Our good works, as the sermon implies, should be because God lives within us and by by a loving faith in God we are zealous of good works so that we might please and glorify our Father in Heaven. Faith itself is a gift from God. We can lay no claim to it. It is the Father who draws all to Himself. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, there is none righteous, no not one; only God. And if there is anything truly good it is God within us doing His will for His glory.
Let us be clear, as the Apostle Paul said, we are justified by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, we need to repent from our sin. Repent means turn from our own ways, the worlds way, that can only produce sin in our live and (repent ) to God ways. Please read Psalm 25:4-5. God saves us, sanctifies us -- it is His work no our own. Sanctification is a Holy Spirit process that begins in our life when we believe upon Jesus Christ and receive Him as our Lord and Savior. In the end we are completely changed from mortal to immortal in a twinkling of an eye. It is as much or more a mystery on how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly as a sinner can be redeemed and sanctified to be transformed by the Word and Holy Spirit to have a new heart and spirit for the God’s aim that we become Christ-like. Jesus said, So the Father has sent Me, I send you. Jesus was sent by the Father to do His will, Christ knew that and pursued that aim perfectly all His life. May we awaken to calling God has put on all our lives that by loving faith we be found zealous of good works; not for our salvation, but for the Father’s glorification!
salvation is a free gift that costs us greatly.
That cost Jesus greatly. He died for us.
Thank you Father Spyridon very much. I am from Ethiopian Orthodox Church Deacon in one of Ethiopian Christian
Great explanation. You taught me something important. Thank you.
This was so beautiful until he said "We must work and repent to enable ourselves to receive God's grace." Yikes! This goes against Romans 11:6, "But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace." It makes no sense to work for grace!
Faith is active not static. Once saved always saved isn’t biblical at all. It requires no free will for it to be possible
Paul says we must work out our salvation…Yikes!! Guess the Bible is wrong…😂 Works are necessary, any tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down…adulterers will not inherit the kingdom of God…therefore, you MUST repent, and btw, faith is a work, since it is something we have to do. 😅
@@martiecejohnson works are necessary, yes but as proof of your faith. You do not become saved by having works but you prove your salvation through works
Thank you Father; Christ spoke of prayer and fasting...both of which require much work.
please pray for me Father; I struggle with the anger I have.
Anger is a common passion from which we can all suffer. God bless you in your struggles.
J.W.H. Jesus said call no man father
1 Corinthians 4:15 Mark 7:10 Exodus 20:12 Luke 15:11-32
"The tradition of spiritual fatherhood was part of the lifeblood of the early Church. Paul's understanding of himself as the father of the Church of Corinth, though, raises a very old controversy within the Christian world. Many Christian denominations have, since at least the Protestant Reformation, rejected the title of "father" for spiritual elders, despite the clear fact that St. Paul and other great early leaders of the Church thought of themselves as exactly this."
"Now, let's also remember that in Matthew 23, Christ also says "do not be called teacher". Yet, elsewhere in the Gospels, Our Lord himself uses this title for others, such as Nicodemus."
(antiochian.org/node/19193)
Anger is a gift.
@@kevinlove2426 In his first letter to the church at Corinth, the apostle Paul wrote: “Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel” (1 Corinthians 4:15)
I like the Orthodox interpretation of this.
We are saved by faith alone but your faith should lead you to do good works.
Catholics have some views I dont like at all I'm afraid. Like purgatory
Faith without works is dead and works without faith are dead👌🏻❤️
Faith without grace is dead
Your word pun, works without faith is dead, is simply wrong! All good works come from God's inspiration. That is the truth, even if a staunch atheist were to do good works. Therefore, a good work done without any faith per se will still surely be rewarded by God as He sees fit. God is the source and rewarder of all good works!
It's interesting to read people and see how they react to Orthodoxy. I was a Protestant for fifty years. I studied Orthodoxy and what I found surprised me. Protestants don't understand that Orthodoxy does not have dialectic tension in it. Orthodoxy does not set up tensions between things like faith and works. This is because Orthodoxy operates on a balance between Cataphatic affirmation and Apophatic negation. The idea of Apophatic negation was lost in Western Christianity all the way back to the split between the Latin and eastern church. Western Christianity operates almost exclusively on the principle of Cataphatic affirmations and it does not apply negation in it's reading of scripture. This Cataphatic reading is why Protestants are always formulating questions like the tension between faith and works. This is why you get this constant presentation in Protestantism telling people how they get saved. We aren't getting saved. We are being saved. Salvation is a mystery. It is not something you can reduce to a three-step method or some commercial theory like you get in a Billy Grahmn Crusade. Just come forward and receive Jesus and now your saved kind of approach. If your a Protestant then spend some time exposing yourself to the idea of Apophatic Negation. That will help balance out your theology. If you can understand this you will give up being a Protestant and convert to Orthodoxy. Because you can't put God in your little formulation box.
God saved me upon my hearing of the Gospel by faith, and calling upon the name of the Lord. I will never desert this Gospel. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.
I'm not defending protestantism, or orthodoxy or catholicism, but whenever someone talks about working to be able to receive God's grace that raises a HUGE red flag.
I would have responded the same way a few years ago. There is no tension between faith and works. But you have set up tension between these two things. Imagine saying to your wife that you were married the minute you signed your marriage license and your marriage is not based on any works that you do. But if you want to benefit from your marriage and have the best relationship you can have with your wife you have to work at that relationship. If you love God your going to work to better your relationship with God. You don't really see it as work because you love God. You don't see your devotion as labor or work because it flows from your thankfulness to God for His love, mercy, and grace. Your response to what I said comes from a lot of misunderstanding about Orthodoxy. Check out these video's and see if they help you.
The Gospel IS Theosis: Direct Knowledge of God - Jay Dyer
th-cam.com/video/yx0khK_Qe1w/w-d-xo.html
Popes, Protestants, Palamas & Philosophy: Jay Dyer on GlobalStoryline
th-cam.com/video/KFh6pWQ5i_4/w-d-xo.html
I don't see a tension, I see fruit produced from a true believer which comes from God working through them (John 15:5, Zechariah 4:6), and comes only because God has saved that person (John 6:63).
I will check these videos out though, thanks.
There are hundreds of religions which have their believers and they produce good works. Good works can occur in unbelievers as well since there is even grace outside the church. If there was no grace outside the church then unbelievers would not have the grace to come into the church. Orthodoxy is the true apostolic faith and it has the true spiritual meaning and reading of the scripture. Orthodoxy has and is the mind of the church. If you only have the Bible and all you do is proof-text it without the Orthodoxy meaning attached to it you are interpreting the Bible individually and privately which is a misuse of the scripture. You have to read the Bible in the Orthodox way or your just wasting your time because that is why people become heretics.
I think saying that it's misuse of Scripture without the Orthodoxy-meaning attached is heresy, friend.
Although we should belong to a church of fellow, like-minded believers, it's God who gives all understanding and wisdom. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of such, leaning not on one's own understanding.. and "the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you" if indeed you have the Holy Spirit. Blessings.
Thank you SO very much Father Spyridon. All your messages are so inspiring and educational. I am grateful and always enjoy listening to you.
Thank you once again. K 🙏🙏🙏
my pastor has always said works follow after one is saved. jesus changes our ways, I love your messages
still not completely sure about this, but I am becoming more and more inclined to join Orthodoxy rather than the more hedonistic Lutheran church. Blessings upon you Father Spyridon.
Dear Father, may I translate your video and show it to some brazilian fellow people who doesn't understand English?
Please feel free to do so. And thank you for sharing them.
Matthew 23: 9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
@@blair00725 you are not calling the man father, it is his representation before God that the term father refers. It's much like an army officer, thats all it is. People get too fixated on detail...most priests are happy to be called by their name alone.
@@gunner678
2 Timothy 4 : I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
@@blair00725 are you free from the log in your own eye in order to take the speck out of your brothers eye?
Holy Father~ Can I really ever do enough good works? I know I fall down however I do always get back up. Lord Jesus Christ Son of God Have mercy on me a sinner.
Remember to never give up doing good, and don't only believe in yourself, but believe in the God Who believes in you.
@@oka1424 I am such a sinful servant & so undeserving....I fail every single day...I say The Jesus prayer very often & ask for forgiveness..that is not enough....may I ask for direction?
Thank you so very much for your reply...God knows how much I need it..He sent me you.... Sinful & Unworthy servant Elizabeth
@@lisabrown8894 Well, Elizabeth, I too am not in a very good situation spiritually, physichally or mentally, but the point is to help each other and love each other. I can only instruct you to continue doing good, put trust only in the Word of God, and God Himself, and have faith. The same we all must do. And remember to be thankful. We don't deserve anything, good or bad, so be thankful for EVERYTHING you have.
@@lisabrown8894 I can tell you a story I just read in “my elder Joseph the hesychast”, they report elder Joseph as having much grace from God so much so that he could predict things very well and foresee how to handle situations very well. Elder Joseph suffered a very austere life and suffered a very painful end of his life of sickness and he wanted to “go home” as he would say and would repeatedly ask God to take him. On his last day on earth he somehow had a knowing of the time he would pass, but God tested him by not letting him go at that time, it was enough for him to doubt the austerities, compassion, and teaching he had done. It made it so elder Joseph could not think of himself as strong as wise as he traversed the canal of death, but instilled humility.
Keep reaching for and accepting Gods grace and it will guide you I believe, ❤
Is salvation by faith alone or by works? That question usually pertains to what can I DO to save myself? Catholics would state that you need faith and good works whereas Protestants would state you only need the grace of God. But they are really opposite ends of the same coin because to a real Christian: "What Can I do to obtain salvation?" is asking the wrong question entirely.
For a Christian, the true question is "what can I do to save others or what can I do to put others first." Real Christians are modeled after Jesus, and Jesus never thought about himself-- he was selfless, altruistic and noble. So, like the parable of the Shepherd who leaves the herd to find that one lost sheep, a real Christian would ask "How can I enjoy salvation or even heaven when I know that my neighbor is lost; for all people are my brothers and sisters." Thus, to borrow a phrase and slightly modify it paraphrasing President Kennedy, "Ask not what your God can do for you, but I ask what can you do for God."
John 10:38 will help you, then remember Apostle Paul as he teaches, imitate me as I imitate Christ.
To imitate is not a thought process but an action.
Currently looking into the Orthodox church. This video is extremely helpful! Blessings.
GBU Joe. May the Holy Spirit leads you to the truth
Ephesians 2:8-9English Standard Version (ESV)
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Faith, grace and repentance are gifts. It is not of our own doing.
SkiesVibrant Yup, we literally never said that, but you’re ignoring works as mentioned in James. It’s not either/or. That’s a Western dialectic.
@@TheRealRealOK didn't he kind of address our works through the mention of repentance? Don't twist other people's words so you can feel high and mighty over them.
SkiesVibrant you are correct we are saved by grace through faith. Works shows your faith just as stated in James, works shows your faith.
We need to seek the grace of God. If we say our lifestyle of sin is ok. We had stop seeking his free gift.
If we say our life is righteous and we have merit. We have fallen also from grace, since we seek it not.
The kingdom of heaven is for those weak of spirit. In need of the holy ghost.
The meaning of words can change over time, development of culture and theological struggle. In the West much of our thinking has been formed through the lens of the reformation. Therefore when we here the word "works" in the West we have an almost automatic negative response or at least a suspicion. In Scripture we have both Paul and James using the same words but because of semantic range the meaning is quite different. So when Paul speaks of faith he is not using the word in the same way James is. Paul does not envision a saving faith apart from obedience or action on the part of man.
Indeed, the importance of reading scripture in context and in full.
Proper faith produces proper works but proper works cannot produce faith
I'm a Pentecostal believer drawing closer to Orthodoxy each day.
Because the more I learn about orthodoxy the more I realise its similarity with Pentecostal faith.
I used to be a Pentecostal. May God bless and guide all of us 🙏
@@binsonthomas2158 Actually, Orthodoxy and Pentecostal are on opposite ends when it comes to Icons, which are a necessary part of the Orthodox faith. Pentecostals broadly interpret the graven images language in Exodus, and therefore would abhor any Icons whereas Orthodox would hold that Icons not only serve as visual reminders of Bible passages, but they are also windows into heaven, which should be venerated.
I can see that. It is exactly why the Holy Spirit yanked me out of my seat & told me to leave the Pentacostal church of Christian carnivalism. It is a snare for sure. Honestly, your head ain't right from all that false doctrine conditioning. Get out, get it together in the Word, pray & hope you don't fall for another false religion. I would run fast & hard not looking back on the RCC or Orthodox
Faith alone is not enough. It is *_through_* faith that we realize we must make a decision: to obey God and seek to do His will, or else to remain separate from God and continue on our own path. It is faith that makes the choice real to us, then we must choose. The verses below feature obedience, not "faith alone":
"For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" (1 Peter 4:17)
"In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Thessalonians 1:8)
*_Abraham's example illustrates the difference between "faith alone" and faith followed by obedience._* Abraham was promised blessings if he would leave home and journey to the promised land. Without any faith, he would have shrugged off the promises as unreal and that would have been the end of the story.
But even with faith Abraham could have said to himself, "Well, even though I trust God's promises I'd really rather stay home, in my comfort zone, so I'm not leaving." Would he have received the promised blessings? Of course not.
Abraham *_obeyed._* He acted on his faith. He left home, journeyed to the promised land and received the blessings:
"By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went" (Hebrews 11:8).
*_By_* or *_through_* faith he realized he had a real choice to make, and he *_chose to obey._* The Lord explained to Abraham's son Isaac that Abraham received the promised blessings because of his *_obedience:_*
"Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws" (Genesis 26:5).
The apostle James wrote "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and *_not by faith only"_* (James 2:24). Abraham's obedience was his "works." He *_believed_* in the true, complete sense of the word _believe:_ he committed himself, he *_acted_* on his faith. In the source New Testament Greek texts, "faith" and "believe" are different words; "faith" (pistis) is a noun, "believe" (pisteuō) is a verb.
"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also" (James 2:26). Faith without commitment, without action, is useless. Nothing changes. If Abraham had stayed home, his faith would have been dead, useless. Abraham acted on his faith; his works, his obedience brought life and completion to his faith, making him a believer. James wrote:
"Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God." (James 2:22,23)
So what does God want us to do today? How do we believe, how do we "act" on our faith? God "now commands all men every where to repent" (Acts 17:30). This is how we can receive mercy:
"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." (Proverbs 28:13)
With the ransom Jesus made available on the cross, we can be redeemed from the death penalty (Romans 6:23) we have earned for our past sins. That redemption is mercy and is available by grace IF we'll choose to turn from sin, turn from sin that earned us the death penalty to begin with.
If we choose not to turn from sin, we'll remain unredeemed from the death penalty earned for our past sins and will surely perish in death for those sins. That's why Jesus warned, "except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3,5).
At first glance "except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" appears to contradict John 3:16 which says we have to believe in Him: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
If "believeth" means no more than "have faith," or think something is true, then there certainly *_is_* a contradiction with "except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." But "believeth" goes beyond just "have faith." It is *_through_* faith that we realize we have a real choice to make: whether or not to believe, to commit ourselves and act and obey. We must truly "believe," we must act on our faith, obey and repent to avoid perishing.
BTW, it is very helpful to realize that "works" refers to different things, depending on the context. Paul correctly pointed out the error of thinking you are justified or made righteous by doing the "works of the law": for example by obeying a long list of homemade "do this, don't do that" rules made by the Jews to "establish their own righteousness" (Romans 10:3). In other contexts "works" refers to doing good deeds out of love toward neighbor; James 2:14-17 gives an example. Finally, we have "works" of simple obedience to God, like Abraham's obedience when he was instructed to leave home and journey to the promised land, and when he was told to offer his son as a sacrifice.
When protestants say "by faith alone" you should interpret as "by grace alone". Works comes from men and the grace from God. God takes the first step and men reacts, so works are a resulting of faith (by grace) and without it all men works are vain and unnecessary. Men cannot be saved by his own efforts and the "works" that save are the ones influenced by Gods grace.
So, works are important in protestant faith but are the result (root) of the grace of God. That is why we say "by faith alone" because the real and genuine fruit starts with the belief/experience of God's grace on men (through His Spirit) and never by human mere efforts.
Yup. Fruit, not root.
Eyelash85
Only problem is Grace Alone is a separate Sola.
@@harryallenpearce89 the only problem with sola gratia is your unbiblical tradition.
@@harryallenpearce89 Sola fide, sola scriptura, solus cristos, soli deo gloriam, sola gratia
"Sola" is not a separated and unique elements, it is a figure of speech. It means, probably, "nothing above".
There is more than one sola.
Luther used at least the sola gratia, sola fide and the sola scriputura and Calvin add others. But you cannot interpret it too close minded.
Joshua Theo
When did 2 Thessalonians 2:15 become unbiblical? Sounds pretty clear to me, hold to the Traditions, both spoken and written.
And who would know these “spoken” Traditions? Titus 1:7-9. The Apostle anointed the Bishops, and even gave them the Authority to teach the correct doctrine.
Who were these Bishops that the Apostles taught and appointed?
Polycarp
Ignatius
Clement
All three taught by the Apostles.
^THAT is following Scripture.
Works are a result of faith.
Faith is NOT a checkbox like "yeah I believe in Jesus."
Remember, if you love Him you OBEY His commandments and gospels.
So it is an "active faith."
Also remember the parable of a rich young man? asking how to go to Heaven? then Jesus enumerated most of the Commandments?
So it is not a check box that by believing you are saved.
👍
Reading these protestant comments make me sick. It’s sad that they choose to listen to an invented interpretation from the 1500’s rather than what the Church has always taught. This is historic, undeniable fact. And they are so dense and blind they cannot be convinced otherwise. May we pray to God to soften their hearts.
Ephesians 2:8-10
You receive grace through faith and belief and not works lest any man can boast. So that you can do the good things God planned before the world began.
I am Roman Catholic and I agree with your message, except the Catholic Church does not believe in justified by works, it's a misconstrued perspective. Saved by Grace! Through faith. Faith without works is dead. Cannot receive Christ forgiveness and grace without repentance. And here we are at the truth.
Orthodox love is for all the world. God Bless! Thank you Father!
if they become Orthodox
@@Србомбоница86 true Christians want everyone to be saved. and don't put themselves above others
@@SargeAlexSanderson we have to be realistic,Truth is above love,most of the planet is not Orthodox
@@Србомбоница86 you must have forgoten the first who entered the Kingdom of God is the thief on the cross. Not the so called good Christians
@@SargeAlexSanderson you are not the thief on the Cross,nor am I ,we NEED Orthodoxy!!!
I am a Protestant and I say amen to this teaching!
Faith alone will inspire your work. And your work shall strengthen your faith
it is only by faith through the grace of GOD
Romans 4 verse 5. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
@@N.barakos1845 is that what was said? Be careful calling those simply trying to wrap their finite minds around the infinite God and their proper relationship with him a heretic. Simply being wrong is not inherently heresy either. If you think someone has improper thinking, show grace and understanding and try to show them a better way instead of destroying them with condemnation.
Amen. Ephesians 2:8-9 says NOT OF WORKS!!!
That passage refers to works of the Law, the Torah. If you need to take verses out of context to support your view, its not a view worth holding.
@@ActsKJV Again, out of context verse. That passage refers to works done apart from the grace of God, that is, works alone.
Any true and living faith comes with good works. The two are not against each other, they work together.
Works without faith are done in vain. Faith without works is dead.
@@someguy9571agree 100%. they are taking bible verses out of context
@Father Scyridon
For the sake of clarity and mutual Good Will, More precisely The Protestant position is Good Works etc. will not Save you, nor will Faith in Good Works etc.
Rather, Good Works are the inherent result and consequence of Saving Faith in Christ Jesus and HIS Finished Work on our behalf via HIS Perfect Virginal Conception, Birth, Baptism, Life, Death, Burial, Resurrection, Ascension, and Intercessory High Priesthood.
Albeit, we can stifle our consequential Good Works and in so doing our growth in Christ as Believers.
Yes, but let us also remember the parable of the sheep and the goats, divided not just on an internal state of belief, but on the fruit of their faith. Let us pray Christ does not say to us at Judgement "Get away from me, I never knew you!"
But "I never knew you!" is precisely the point.
Anyway, Happy Easter. Hope this Blesses and encourages you. Love and Prayers.
Genesis
2; 9, 17
3; 1-13, 17-19, 22-24
Jeremiah 17; 9
Psalm 51; 1-5
Ephesians 2; 1-3
John 6; 44, 63, 65
1 Corinthians 2; 14
Romans 3; 23
Genesis 6; 5
Psalm 58; 3
Romans 8; 7, 8
Isaiah 64; 6
Romans 5; 12
John 5; 40
Ecclesiastes 7; 20
Genesis 8; 21
1 John 1; 8-10
Titus 3; 3
1 Timothy 4; 10
Romans 2; 14
John
3; 19
8; 34, 44
Ecclesiastes 9; 3
Ephesians 4; 18
Romans
1; 21
3; 12, 9-19(Particularly VS 10-12)
6; 17, 23
7; 18
9; 18-24
Revelation 3; 17
2 Timothy 3; 4, 13
Ephesians 2; 2, 5, 12
1 John 2; 2
Psalm 139; 1-3, 13-18
Matthew 10; 29-31
Genesis 1; 27
Acts 17; 26, 28
Jeremiah 1; 4, 5
Ephesians 1; 11, 12
Psalm 71; 6
John 8; 41-44
1 John
3; 1
4; 16
Matthew
5; 48
7; 11
James 1; 17
Matthew 6; 31-33
Jeremiah
29; 11
31; 3
Zephaniah 3; 17
Jeremiah 32; 40, 41
Exodus 19; 5
Jeremiah 33; 3
Deuteronomy 4; 29
Psalm 37; 4
Philippians 2; 13
Ephesians 3; 20
2 Thessalonians 2; 16, 17
2 Corinthians 1; 3, 4
Psalm 34; 18
Isaiah 40; 11
Revelation 21; 3, 4
John 17; 23, 26
Hebrews 1; 3
Romans 8; 31, 32, 38, 39
2 Corinthians 5; 18, 19
1 John
4; 10
2; 23
Luke 15; 7, 11-32
Ephesians 3; 14, 15
John 1; 12, 13
Isaiah 25; 6-10
Hosea 13; 14
Psalm 68; 18-20
Romans 6(Particularly VS 2, 11)
Psalm 14; 3
Isaiah 53
Colossians
1; 21
2; 13
Romans 1; 23, 32
John 3; 1-36(Particularly VS 3, 6, 36)
1 Corinthians 15; 50-57
2 Corinthians 5; 14
Romans
1; 18
3; 11
5
Ephesians 2; 1, 3
John
3
1; 1-5, 9-14, 16-18
Titus 3; 5
Acts
8; 37
16; 31
John 14; 6
Romans 10; 9
John 10; 27
1 John
3; 14
2; 3
John 15; 14
Matthew 12; 50
John
8; 31
17; 6
Ephesians 2; 10
Matthew
27; 32-66
28
Mark
15; 21-47
16
Luke
23; 26-56
24
John
19
20 Matthew 5; 11, 12
John 15; 18
1 Corinthians 1; 18
Psalm 51; 5
Romans 5; 10
John 10; 25, 26
Matthew
13; 23
25; 19, 20
Romans 10; 17
Ephesians 1; 13
The irony is that Luther and Calvin were German and French just like Pope Leo the 9th and Cardinal Humbert during the East-West Schism. The point isnt so much doctrine and theology but why people didnt understand each other in the first place and the clash of cultures. Language played a big role in the development of the Church and the history of Christianity just like any other movement. The History of the West during and after Constantine made this possible. When the Roman world came into contact with the barbaric world and so many converts came in. It was inevitable. Its human evolution.
KATY TV at last someone tells everyone how it is
This is my favorite channel. Please continue to make these videos. I love hearing the wisdom of Christ.
Thank you Father Spyridon I have been drawn to the Orthodox church after all that I have been up until this point in life, finally knowing where i must be, and have been praying in the dark on my knees daily for God to let me feel faith in Jesus Christ not just know him and his deed. Though on my knees I do know and feel I have lived wickedly and repent, I cannot feel my faith i have intellectually in Jesus Christ, but I will continue to pray each day no matter the silence in reply in both my waking life and my dreams, for I want salvation for myself and my wife, and I will never stop asking him to be with me. Bless you father
Joseph, God has already given salvation through His Son. Anyone who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ is already saved. Please, trust God's Word....not your feelings and emotions. They are a haven for the enemy. I pray you receive this message.
If you want to recieve Gods grace just have faith. It is written. We are saved by GRACE through FAITH.
Ephesians 2:8-9. If the church disagrees with the Bible, the church is wrong. No exceptions.
Amen couldn’t say it better myself
Good job, you took it out of context. Don't mistake doing good works with the sin of vainglory that was also partly described in Ephesians 2. Doing good works just to silently boast about them and basking in the glories that people are showering you with, when they should be giving praise to God. Such way of sinning is also a symptom of a very serious sin of false humility.
Matthew 5:14-16 elaborates on what good works we are to do and what for. Christ Himself calls us to be saints. Not just a vague "believe" without doing good works.
Also, which came first - the Bible, or the Church?
We are justified by faith alone in order to receive righteousness as a free gift Romans 3:24-28, 4:1-5, 5:1 and works or fruit come as a result of genuine faith, if there is no works the faith is false John 15:1-4, Eph 2:10, James 2:14-24.
Many misunderstand the Evangelical (or Protestant) view of Justification, we mean by faith alone in order to receive the gift of righteousness, NOT that works are not needed, they are indeed needed NOT for salvation but as evidence of salvation. This does NOT mean we can sin how much we want, this is a total distortion of this doctrine. If someone sins all he wants he is definitely not saved, he is not living in holiness. As St. Paul states in Romans 6 we are dead to sin and alive to God.
@@gregorylehr4944 The Judaizers believed in a system of justification similar to the Orthodox Church (see Galatians). Paul said that they believed a different gospel. Christ says, "no one comes to the Father except through me." The scriptures also say that "the way is narrow." I fear for my Roman and Orthodox brothers, because I believe they practice a false Christianity. When talking about those who believe in a mixture of faith and works Paul said that "they have fallen from grace." This is what the Orthodox Church believes.
@@joshuadutrieux7874 boomer comment
What purpose does faith alone serve? What use is belief unless it produces good fruit. Faith and works are intertwined.
absolutely, agreed.
James 2 was referring to the already saved if u noticed all thru James 2" MY BRETHREN " which was telling the saved to get to work
Amen
Hector Lopez however scripture does not make being saved a past event it is a process and by saying you know you are saved you commit the sin of presumption that all Baptist’s and evangelicals make everyday.
We Have Been Saved (2Timothy 1:9)
Our Past Salvation
There is a sense in which God has already saved each and every Christian. In this sense salvation is equated with the forgiveness of sins.
Ananias said to Paul, "Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins" (Acts 22:16). So Paul, as soon as he obeyed, had his sins washed away. He was saved.
Paul said to the Corinthians, "You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified..." (1Corinthians 6:11) They were saved.
Paul says of God our Saviour, "he saved us..." (Titus 3:4-5). That's past tense, isn't it?.
A little earlier there in Titus, Paul says, "The grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to all men" (Titus 2:11)
2 We Are Being Saved (1Corinthians 1:18)
Paul spoke to the Corinthians of "those who are being saved" (2Corinthians 2:15). Here we do not have past tense. We have the word "saved" used in a present and ongoing sense.
Paul tells the Philippians, "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you..." (Philippians 2:12-13). Here we see salvation presented as something being worked for by us in synergy with God. It is not all over and done with.
Note the implication of this question, "How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?" (Hebrews 2:1-3).
Another telling statement, "be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure..." (2Peter 1:10)
John says that "the blood of Christ cleanses us..." (1John 1:7). Past sins were forgiven when we became Christians, but further sins since then need to be forgiven too. Forgiveness and salvation continue as we walk in the light.
3 We Shall Be Saved (Romans 5:9-10)
Jesus said, "these (wicked) shall go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life" (Matthew 25:46). This is a future event.
As we saw at the introduction to this lesson, Paul twice says, "We shall be saved..." (Romans 5:9-10). This is neither past nor present, but future, isn't it?
Paul makes an interesting statement, "Our salvation is now nearer than when we first believed" (Romans 13:11).
The Holy Spirit is given "as a guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession..." (Ephesians 1:14). Here redemption and the eternal inheritance is something in view, something yet future.
Paul speaks of "the hope of salvation" (1Thessalonians 5:8). A hope of salvation implies a future salvation. If our salvation were altogether finished, then we would have no need any more to hold it as our hope.
"we must work and repent in order to receive God's grace"
😆😆😆😆😆😆😆
Double-talking clown.
Salvation is a gift!
Doesn't Jesus claim that we must repent to be saved. Repent for the kingdom of God is near!
@@elyaneschou4750 repent of believing that you can earn your salvation
@@pappasc79 why would that be the only thing we repent for. Grace might be a gift, but we have to be good people to be worthy of that gift. At the very least we have to believe to get the gift. Already that is some sort of effort. If we didn't have to put effort to get God's gift, he would have given it everyone, even who does not believe.
Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you are saved through faith: and that not of yourselves, for it is the gift of God.
Not of works, that no man may glory.
The Apocalypse 22:12
Behold, I come quickly: and my reward is with me, to render to every man according to his works.
th-cam.com/video/FtK-QCiD-FE/w-d-xo.html
@@kirkbowyer3249 - ⚀ The difference I see, Kirk: Works produced by the Spirit through a self-surrendered faith. *Versus* Works produced by your own initiative through a man-made constructed belief.
I find that self righteousness is a culprit of sinners. It possibly leads to man made works and self acceptance. Faith, Trust, and acceptance in Jesus Christ's sacrificial death alone is what saves man. God doesn't expect perfection from mankind in any way. Amen
Kayla A I'm not sure. Didn't jesus say "be perfect like the father is perfect"?
John a yes exactly. Through faith and not works. All have sinned and are saved through the gift of Gods amazing grace towards his chosen children available to all humanity.
Kayla A Since you have faith are you perfect than like our Father in Heaven is? Did your faith made you perfect?
Amen!
For Catholics is both, with faith and work. Respect to Orthodox (I'm Roman Catholic), better than protestants
Tom19142 yes paganism is definitely better
Thank You Father.
I grew up as Presbyterian. Chose to be a Methodist as an adult. I left Methodism when the church voted whether to have Gay Ministers. After many years I was looking for the Early Church and found Orthodoxy. I will be Orthodox forever.
He's only a man like you.
Many years ago when I was very young I converted to the Russian Orthodox church, but it didn't 'take' and I drifted away. However, I like listening to Fr. Spyridion.
Biblically, Christians are once justified, always justified.... We do not earn this Justification. God is changing his flock daily. I know what Jesus did for me. I do good work, because of what Jesus did for me. I don't do it, because it will save me. The finished work of Christ has saved me already. Period.
Isn't it both faith and works?
yes :) of course!
It's not a matter of "working for salvation." Read James again and the teachings of Christ Himself in Luke and Matthew. "Faith without works" is a notion that Luther arrived at through an exaggerated response to Paul. Many think that the Epistle of James was written partly in response to Paul. Luther could not find psychological comfort from the asceticism he practiced as an Augustinian monk, and so threw the whole thing out as useless. I humbly suggest that this was a case of throwing the baby out with the bath water. "Works" are a natural response to inward grace: they are the outward evidence of love, charity, faith, and repentance. Jesus gives the specific examples of feeding the hungry, visiting prisoners, and comforting widows, and points out that it is these things, and not saying "Lord, Lord," that please Him and constitute a vital aspect of relationship with Him. In fact, He states plainly that those who fail to do such things (see also the parable of the Samaritan) will not be recognized by Him. Too much reliance on a protestant reading of Paul leads to a sort of religion about Jesus that can ignore the religion that Jesus Himself actually preached.
Father Spyridon, if you see this, please feel free to comment or make corrections!
Slav in Christ - Sloven u Hristu - Словен у Христу Internal illumination must result in external action (works). This is a totally irrefutable ontological fact. Hence, Faith without works is dead because if the Christian is not transformed by the Holy Spirit for the renewal of his mind then his efforts and deeds will be the same as they were prior to his renewal. So yes, God is the primary mover in our salvation without which we could not by our works be redeemed. However, if the Christian does not exert that saving action in his daily processes and various workings then nothing has actually changed within. So the answer is not either, or. The answer is both - and.
This is what the Bible says: And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."
Matthew 7:21
By their fruits you will know them...
Matthew 7:16
"Don't be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap."
Galatians 6:7
"... let's not love in word only, neither with the tongue only, but in deed and truth"
1 John 3:18
"One who has my commandments, and keeps them, that person is one who loves me. ..."
John 14:21
"Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don't give up."
Galatians 6:9
"...faith apart from works is dead.
James 2:26
"For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment... How much worse punishment, do you think, will he be judged worthy of, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?
Hebrews 10:26-29
"who will pay back to everyone according to their works"
Romans 2:6
"Behold, one came to him and said, "Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?"
He said to him, "...if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."
Matthew 19:16-17
"Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "Behold, you are made well. Sin no more, so that nothing worse happens to you."
John 5:14
"They profess that they know God, but by their works they deny him, being abominable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work."
Titus 1:16
"Don't marvel at this, for the hour comes, in which all that are in the tombs will hear his voice, and will come out; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life; and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment."
John 5:28-29
"But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves."
James 1:22
"For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad."
2 Corinthians 5:10
"I, Yahweh, search the mind, I try the heart, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings."
Jeremiah 17:10
"If you love me, keep my commands"
John 14:15
"You see then that by works, a man is justified, and not only by faith."
James 2:24
Eph 2:8-9: "For by grace are ye saued, through faith, and that not of your selues: it is the gift of God: Not of workes, lest any man should boast."
That's because it's a reference to the sin of vainglory. Doing good works just to silently boast about them and basking in the glories that people are showering you with, when they should be giving praise to God. Such way of sinning is also a symptom of a very serious sin of false meekness.
Matthew 5:14-16 elaborates on what good works we are to do and what for. Christ Himself calls us to be saints. Not just a vague "believe" without doing good works.
Very excellent. Really touched me. Thank you.
How would you explain the parable of the Tax Collector and the Pharisee? The man who cried out for God's mercy, confessing his sinfulness went home justified. Meaning in that moment before any work or deed, he was saved. Doesn't this give a simple and clear answer as to the works/faith alone issue?
His cry to God was filled with humility and repentance. This is what is meant by works.
No. EO is new to me I have and will continue to study all claims from Christian sects, cults and non cults. I think it's the most important information in our lives . I don't believe the NT teaches that the Church/ body of Christ is a building of brick and mortar or a denomination. It consists of the Justified.
Thanks for your question.
.
So from what understood, we are saved by the blood of Jesus (and His blood is enough), but we crucify our flesh and do these works both to cultivate a relationship with Him and as a form of gratitude to Him? I was raised Protestant and I am moving towards Orthodoxy but I refuse to believe anyone who tries to tell me that we can work our way to Salvation. This video has really comforted me in that aspect.
First off, I always enjoy your videos Fr Spyridon! You are blest with formulating the great wonders of God in simple yet poetic explanations. I do think however that I disagree with just a few points toward the end. Working for God's grace is foreign to holy scripture; rather, the apostles taught that we work in participation with the Spirit always and only because of God's grace, which moved first and continuously sustains us, being the constant cause of our synergy in Christ. That is, the work is the fruit of the grace. Of course, this all still affirms what St. James said, that faith with out works in dead, since works are necessary results of repentance and faith, but never the cause or the reason why God has compassion on us. I think the blessed reformer Martin Luther said it well: "we are saved by faith alone, but faith is never alone." God bless as you continue in the Lord's work!
where do I get a hat like that
You are obviously to stupid to be saved !!
WHAT DOES “FAITH” REALLY MEAN???
To properly interpret Sacred Scripture you have to understand the verse IN CONTEXT of what the author was intending to convey during his particular time period and culture not ours, the verse within the chapter, the chapter within the book, and the book within the Bible as a whole. Are you aware St. Paul as ”a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth” 1 Timothy 2:7 was constantly writing to defend Gentiles from Mosaic Ceremonial “Works of the Law” (circumcision). Are you aware St. Paul in Romans and Galatians was arguing for the Gentiles to be accepted strictly on "faith" in Jesus Christ through using Abraham as an example who was “justified” and made “righteous” on “faith” yet still uncircumcised???
St. Paul was emphasizing in Romans only "ONE SIDE" of a two sided coin (One side FAITH and the other side WORKS). St. Paul used the "faith" side to argue for the Gentiles to be accepted and grafted in. The other side of the coin "WORKS" was written about in the Book of James (Book of James was written for people like you who were misinterpreting St. Paul in Romans). James 2:24 "You see a man is justified by works, and NOT BY FAITH ALONE". AGAIN, THE BIBLE, THE WORD OF GOD SAYS "NOT BY FAITH ALONE". "Faith and Works" which Jesus Christ clearly taught and the Catholic Church continues to teach in obedience.
For example, you all seem to miss Paul's introduction in Romans 2:6-7 "FOR HE WILL RENDER TO EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS WORKS: TO THOSE WHO BY PATIENCE IN WELL-DOING SEEK FOR GLORY AND HONOR AND IMMORTAILY, HE WILL GIVE ETERNAL LIFE".
Now, wait a minute you just said all I have to do is "believe"???
Luke 6:37-38 and Matthew 7:1-2 "Judge NOT, that you be not judged. For with the Judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get". So now, I cannot judge harshly otherwise I will be judged harshly by GOD.
Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’, shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven, BUT HE WHO DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER IN HEAVEN”. Now, I have to do the Father’s will to even enter the “Kingdom of Heaven”???
Matthew 10:33 “But WHOEVER DENIES ME BEFORE MEN, I WILL ALSO DENY BEFORE MY FATHER who is in heaven”. Now, I have to never deny Jesus before men or risk rejection myself???
Mark 16:16 “He who believes AND IS BAPTIZED will be saved. See 1 Peter 3:21 also. Now, I have to be baptized to be saved???
John 13:34 “A NEW COMMANDMENTS I GIVE TO YOU, THAT YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER; EVEN AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, THAT YOU ALSO LOVE ONE ANOTHER. THIS IS ALL SHALL KNOW THAT YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES, IF YOU HAVE LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER”. Now, no love then I am not a disciple??? How did Jesus love us and now He commands us to do the same??? Did Jesus say I love you “one time” and do nothing else??? Nope, Jesus Christ showed us what LOVE IS by being selfless sacrificial, and emptying Himself out on the cross for us!!!
Luke 8:21 “My mother and MY BRETHREN ARE THOSE WHO HEAR THE WORD OF GOD AND DO IT”. Wait a minute, now I have to “DO” what I am told in the WORD of GOD to be considered a “part” of GOD’s family???
1 John 3:18-19 “Children, let us love not in word and speech, BUT IN DEED AND IN TRUTH. BY THIS WE SHALL KNOW ARE WE OF THE TRUTH”. What does this clearly say about a one-time verbal profession of faith???
Matthew 7:19 "EVERY TREE THAT DOES NOT BEAR GOOD FRUIT IS CUT DOWN AND THROWN INTO THE FIRE" Now, I have to bear good fruit otherwise I risk damnation???
John 15:8 “By this my Father is glorified, that YOU BEAR MUCH FRUIT, AND SO PROVE TO BE MY DISCIPLES”. Once again, I have to “bear fruit” and now “prove to be” Jesus Christ’s disciple.
Colossians 1:10 “LEAD A LIFE WORTHY OF THE LORD, FULLY PLEASING TO HIM, BEARING FRUIT IN EVERY GOOD WORK and increasing knowledge of GOD” There’s that “FRUIT” thing again that one must “do” to be “FULLY PLEASING” to GOD.
John 5:29 “THOSE WHO HAVE DONE GOOD, TO THE RESURRECTION OF LIFE, AND THOSE WHO HAVE DONE EVIL, TO THE RESURRECTION OF JUDGMENT”. Now, I have to do “GOOD” and avoid “EVIL” or sin to avoid “JUDGMENT”???
John 3:5”TRULY, TRULY I SAY TO YOU, UNLESS ONE IS BORN OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT, HE CANNOT ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD". Now, I have to be REBORN of "Water (Baptism) and SPIRIT (Laying of Hands)" to even enter the ONE “Kingdom of GOD”???
John 6:54 "HE WHO EATS MY FLESH AND DRINKS MY BLOOD HAS ETERNAL LIFE". Now, I have to eat the “Lamb of GOD” (John 1:29, 1 Corinthians 5:7, 1 Peter 1:19) to be saved???
1 Corinthians 11:27-29 “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the LORD in an UNWORTHY MANNER will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the LORD. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks WITHOUT DISCERNING THE BODY EATS AND DRINKS JUDGMENT UPON HIMSELF”. Now, I have to be “worthy” to partake of the “Lamb of GOD” otherwise I risk JUDGMENT???
James 1:22, 25 “BE DOERS OF THE WORD, AND NOT HEARERS ONLY, DECEIVING YOURSELVES”…”BUT HE WHO LOOKS IN THE PERFECT LAW (referring to John 13:34), THE LAW OF LIBERTY, AND PERSEVERES, BEING NO HEARER THAT FORGETS BUT A DOER THAT ACTS, HE SHALL BE BLESSED IN HIS DOING”. James who was one of the three most beloved disciples in Jesus’s “inner circle” what does he clearly teach here???
Romans 15:18 “For I will not dare to speak of anything except what Jesus Christ has accomplished through me TO LEAD THE GENTILES TO OBEDIENCE BY WORD AND DEED”. St. Paul now emphasizing I need to be OBEDIENT BY WORD AND DEED???
Philippians 2:12 "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING". Wait a minute, I thought you said St. Paul said all I need to do is "believe" and I am saved??? The Bible and St. Paul here is telling me I have to continue in "Good Works" to "WORK OUT YOUR SALVATION"???
Acts 26:20 “Declared…..that they should repent and turn to GOD and PERFORM DEEDS WORTHY OF THEIR REPENTANCE” St. Paul stating now I have to ‘perform deeds worthy of my repentance???
2 Thessalonians 1:8 “INFLICTING VENGENCE upon those who do not know GOD and those WHO DO NOT OBEY THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS”. Now, I have to OBEY THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST”???
2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, SO THAT EACH MAY RECEIVE GOOD OR EVIL, ACCORDING TO WHAT HE HAS DONE IN THE BODY”. So, now I HAVE TO DO GOOD???
James 2:24 "SEE HOW A PERSON IS JUSTIFIED BY WORKS AND NOT BY FAITH ALONE" Now, I have to be justified by "works" of charity as Jesus Christ commands per John 13:34???
**John ******3:36****** “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, BUT WHOEVER DISOBEYS THE SON WILL NOT SEE LIFE, BUT THE WRATH OF GOD REMAINS UPON HIM”.***
**John ******5:29****** “THOSE WHO HAVE DONE GOOD, TO THE RESURRECTION OF LIFE, AND THOSE WHO HAVE DONE EVIL, TO THE RESURRECTION OF DEATH”***
John 8:51 “Truly, Truly, I say to you, IF ANY ONE KEEPS MY WORD, he will never see death”
Hebrews 5:9 “He became the source of eternal salvation TO ALL WHO OBEY HIM”.
Acts 5:32 “And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN TO THOSE WHO OBEY HIM”
I could go on and on, but I think you get the point. "Believe" is a loaded word full of expectations for the sons and daughters of GOD. "BELIEVE" really means to "OBEY". Faith is only the first step towards Heaven, and LOVE is the second step which is an ACTION out of OBEDIENCE. FAITH AND WORKS just as the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church teaches.
Thank you for your detailed response.
One True Faith This is legendary. Thank you for this comment.
I must admit I felt God touch me through this message. God bless you
Beautifully taught Father!
If you don't teach that salvation happens completely at the moment you REpent(that is change your mind about Christ) you are teaching a works gospel which is heresy.
"work" and repent in order to receive God's grace? Where is that in scripture, that grace is given to us because of our works? Isn't the very meaning of grace "unmerited favor"? If our works are necessary to receive God's grace then how is this anything other than salvation based upon works?
No, God's grace is fee gift, but we can turn ourselves away from it by the way we live. We are nt working to receive grace, we are working to overcome our refusal of grace. We are not starting at a neutral point, we've already turned ourselves the wrong way. Sadly few Protestants are aware that the Church existed for hundreds of years before it decided which texts would go into the New Testament. Nothing went in that is at odds with tradition - but modern man assumes the right to interpret holy scripture as he wills - pride is our enemy in this.
SALVATION MR I don't know what to call you, Sir is a gift from GOD no of ourselves it's a gift from GOD so no one should boast Paul the apostle stablish that very clear now is very much a unmerited gift from GOD and it has always been St Agustine understood that very clearly it's not by works of the law the fruit of salvation are good works no the way around GOD is free to save who ever HE wills Jacob I love Essau I hated before they were even born remember this?
Read the very first verse in James. This was written to Hebrews, the 12 tribes of Israel. Not to church age Christians. The Hebrews are going to go through the Tribulation. This can only be referring to that because in the Christian realm there is no difference between Jew and Greek. “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.” But James differentiates by specifying Israel in particular he is targeting a group. In the Tribulation it will be a works salvation, not so in the Church Age. Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the GIFT of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” This is where it is important to rightly divide Gods Word. All Scripture is for us, however all Scripture is not about us.
3:01, salvation is a free gift, but we must work and repent in order to enable ourselves to receive God's grace.
A free gift means you DON’T work for it. Otherwise it isn’t a free gift but wage you earn.
@@JakeRuzi I'm just quoting what the Orthodox priest stated!
If we have to "work and repent to receive God's grace" then salvation is by works.. "For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life." (Eph 2:9,10) God saves us completely by His own doing..Then and only then, can we be about the good works that give evidence of our salvation. Our works in NO WAY contribute to our salvation. Sola Fide - our ONLY hope..
Philippians 1:29 “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,”
To believe and to suffer is both granted to us. Soli Deo Gloria
Our way to salvation is as diverse as humanity is diverse therefore God gives us our purpose, we must therefore try to perceive it.
Ephesians 2:8-10
[8]For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
[9]not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
[10]For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
If it’s a free gift, why do u have to work for it? If u have to work for it, then it is not free. It can not be both
It is a free gift, but as St Paul said, we must keep running to the very end of the race. If you turn your back when offered something, you must turn to accept the free gift. We have rejected God's free gift so profoundly by the way we have chosen sin that even recognising the offer of the gift is difficult for many.
We mustn't confuse the free gift of salvation with what we must do to overcome our rejection of that free gift. Simply declaring it a free gift is different from accepting it. There are thousands of Protestant denominations which have pronounced the reality of the giving, but which do you think have really been able to receive it?
So you said that the Salvation is free. But we have to work hard to get it (As you quote: "we must KEEP RUNNING to the very END of the race"), or hopefully get it in the end. If this is true, by what standard God gives out the Salvation? Can any human achieve the requirements from God? If you think about it, your Salvation by--- so called "faith" is even harder than the Salvation by work. Because you not only have to work on your salvation, you also have to keep asking youself if your work is generated from the faith, or your work is just for meeting the requirement from the salvation. If it's the latter, your work is in vain.
@@ndjsj84 you are insane demon
Thank you, Father. As a brother-priest of the traditional Roman Catholic Faith, I found your explanation quite Catholic, if you take my meaning... 😌
good explanation, I am a Roman Catholic and I'm pretty sure we believe the same thing.
The Catholic Church holds precisely your position
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 It's all about God. We cannot boast . 'For by grace are ye saved through faith and not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of works lest any man should boast'. Eph. 2:8-9. You see, we obey him out of love for Him and what He has done for us.
salvation is always a free gift, But the gift must be received. it is received not just by a saying the sinners prayer, but by the movement of the heart and will to God. Jesus said if you love me, keep my commandments. the Catholic view is Faith must be accepted by living the truth. we cannot save ourselves, we can only reach out to God in love and love is always action, to do the will of God.
And this is why I will never return to the Catholic Church or any institutionalized church. You're making salvation about what you must do and NOT what has already been done.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus”
Romans 3:23-24
works don't save you, but if you are truly a follower of Christ, you will be driven to do works.
I see so many people here trying to explain the hierarchical value of works/faith. Two things can be true at once. "For by grace you have been saved through faith" and "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." -- Salvation comes by way of faith but it is keeping God's commandments that keep that faith alive; one cannot exist without the other. Salvation is not a moment in time but a process throughout our life. Only God knows the heart. Only God may judge. Our salvation is determined at the moment we stand before God in judgement. Do not be fooled into thinking that works make you a good person, as Father Spyridon said, nor be so foolish as to think that your salvation cannot be "lost"; You cannot lose what God has not yet given. We are delivered from sin and consequence only through God's judgement. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad."
Jesus said, *"Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits. “Not every one who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."* Matthew 7:19-21
Your faith must produce good fruit; or else, it is not a true one. Salvation begins with true self-surrendered faith.