Why do very few people know or want to know the orthodox faith I myself am a baptist but are slowing finding that the orthodox church is the true church, and I look on youtube and see loads of Protestant and catholic videos but not as much orthodox content? I mean it's there but not nearly as many videos and with much smaller views when it comes to orthodox content as opposed to the others? Why is that? I think this viewpoint is what the world needs more of right now! God bless you all!!!
Glory to God you have found the true Faith! A simple reason for there being less Orthodox content is there are fewer Orthodox Christians in English speaking countries. But more and more are seeking and finding the truth. I pray your journey to Christ and His Body, the Orthodox Church, bears fruit in your life and in those around you.
@@OrthodoxWisdom thank you sir God bless you and thank you for making such good learned content and thank you sir I'm seeking truth in Christ and looking for the uncorrupted church and orthodox is the only church that stands firm and unwavering from what I've seen and my baptist church claims that they do not come out of the reformation and catholicism which is the same claim made by the assembly of God and looking into history thats just not true all of them stem from catholic and orthodox and an eye opening thing I found out is the word eucharist is the Greek word st paul uses when writing his epistles and that blew me away because our bibles translate it as giving thanks which is scandalous and robs me of it's true meaning! I weep because my girlfriends family and all except my stepmoms side of my family are very anti catholic and I assume orthodox too but idk what to do I've been praying about it and I want to go to an orthodox service. But the closest church is 30 miles away. I just want to give correct praise to the Lord because I love him so. And your videos on the holy fathers are so so smoothing for my spirit right now thank you again for doing the work of the lord jesus christ who by all wisdom and love brings the learner toward and into himself God bless you sir and thank you again brother!
You are not alone in your struggle. Many have had similar concerns and questions when desiring to worship God in spirit and in truth. Trust God who loves you and your family more than any of us can know. And visit that parish, even for vespers. You could even contact the priest and try to meet with him and get his advice. A big part of being Orthodox is just being at the services, being present with Christ and offering your heart to Him.
@@OrthodoxWisdom also what is the best orthodox bible that has modern english and is accurate? I have youversion app and can use any bible I download I'd like to read the other books not in my bible I've heard an audiobook of 2 esdras and wow! Just speechless! I could tell it was inspired before I knew the orthodox has this book in their ot.
@@OrthodoxWisdom thank you brother I have only seen a catholic mass (which didn't feel inspired at all and quite frankly it felt rushed kindof) and never vespers what exactly is a vespers service?
I was an evangelical Christian, but seeking to know more about Eastern Orthodoxy. (04-20-23). This is my update (04-2-24) I became an Orthodox Christian, it is amazing
I really love this video! I have listened to it several times. Sometimes I get confused when I hear some people talk about Orthodox Theology and completely disregard the Justice of God in the atonement. I think the Justice of the Lord being fulfilled in Christ's sacrifice is Biblical. Videos like this, and reading the writings of Saint Philoret of Moscow, Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, and many others have strengthened my faith and helped me understand that the redemption of Christ is multi-layered. Thank you, and God bless you!
It is without a doubt clearly stated in scripture in abundance. A question I have asked Orthodox believers that I have never received an answer to is this - If the whole purpose of Christ's death was simply to conquer death with death, why could he have not simply died in his sleep? Why did he have to die the shameful and excruciatingly tortuous death of a despicable criminal on a cross? Why did he beg God the Father to spare him of the cross the night before when he prayed with such anguish that he sweat blood? I have never gotten an answer to that from the sin atonement deniers, and it is because there simply is no reason. Clearly he endured OUR JUSTLY DUE punishment for OUR SINS. It WAS NOT just to die to conquer death through death as so many of them profess. It included that, but it was also FAR MORE THAN THAT. He took upon himself the sin debt of all mankind to satisfy the justice of God that declared the wages of sin is death.
Words cannot express how deep my gratitude is for this post. I'm a Protestant, I've been enquiring church history for nearly 3 years, and like the tumbleweed, I've been blown to & fro by every wind of doctrine. About a month ago (I believe now) after begging the Lord to show me 'the narrow way' I started feeling a strong attraction to Orthodoxy unlike previous infatuations which pitter out. I listened to a Hank Hanagraff pcast with Nathan Jacobs which explained how I (the west) think differently (so I had an 'ah ha' moment), that coupled with my Aspergers also showed my why Systematic/Reformed had my faith fortified to Calvinism. Another thing that weakend TULIP's spiritcuffs is I couldn't adhere to the L, Christ died for the 'komos'(lit. The world). Faith alone is not faith alone because faith is vindicated by works. Saved by grace through faith for preordained good works (ref. Eph2v8-10). Over the past 2 weeks I have flooded my understanding with all sorts but not totally random, teachings. I read On The Incarnation by St. Athanasius of Alexandria. I have the Orthodox Study Bible 2008 ed. By Thomas Nelson and a portable NRSV with the Deuterocanonical list. Watching (Rnd2) of Fr. Barnabas Powell's Orthodox 101 bootcamp, I have 2 books from Bishop Kallistos Ware. But... To be honest, I am petrified. My whole life is Protestant, my brain, my wife, my family, my in laws, my friends, my Saviour, and for that matter my/the Mighty Yahweh. I don't know if this/them/even myself is legitimate, the way, truth & life. Well anyhow, back to this post and my inexpressible gratitude..... this is where my faith lies, in this fact, this post, in the God & Saviour of the One true living God. The post is the icing on my cake of doubt. I don't know how, what, why, but truth is truth, thank you. Lord have mercy on us, Amen.
Glory to God! Please email me if you need help getting connected to a priest and a parish near you. I know people on many different places and they can help even if I don’t know off the top of my head. May God help you and guide you into spiritual haven of His Church!
@@OrthodoxWisdom thank you for reaching out to me to help. I'm still constructing the email I was supposed to write you but I was just alerted to this comment so now I'm under compulsion. So what's happened since? The Lord led me to St. Spyridon GOC under the Pat. of Constantinople. I rocked up and there's now an established connection. This week Liturgy is in English, it is so very hard to contain my zeal, I know in my heart I'm exactly where the Lord wants me. This channel is awesome, many seeds planted, lights for the pathway. God bless & keep you, your work colleagues, and this channel, for the feeding of Christ's sheep. Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Thank you (soon to be) brother.
Listening to the audio from the books and exurbs of the fathers and their writings have helped me and I’m very grateful to you please keep up the good works
The legal aspect is true, and important, unfortunately many of us are tempted to throw it out, because quite often in the west it is viewed as the only significance of the life and death of Christ. Thank you for this video. Very wise.
No one will escape the Boundless Grace of God and the Unyielding Love of Christ which indeed transcends all boundaries. It’s a beautiful realization that salvation is not an offer but a declaration-an irrevocable truth that echoes through the eons.
Restoration of the mankind giving us possibility to re-unite with God, relationship that is above the pre-lapse state of Adam.! Imagine us, created out of NOTHING, are called to become gods by Grace.! From nothing to god. That is ultimate Love.
@@timothy4557 Right. Reason why I used term "possibility" is the fact that everyone is left with the choice to accept offered or not by one's free will.
@@timothy4557 Hm... Note the conditional clause "...should confess..." that is leaving option not to opened. Another point that preconditions the confession is in the words "...He humbled Himself and became obedient...". Bunch of people that belong to the Latin/Protestant group are very far from humbling and becoming obedient to the Lord's Bride - EOC, remaining in defiance and even spitting blasphemies against it.
@@johnnyd2383 Philippians 2:10,11 is a quote from Isa.45:23; please read it. Also read Rom.14:11 in context. The word 'confess' is always ' willful acclimation' STRONGS [1843]. It is to confess fully. Same word as 'thank' Matt. 11:25. All will be fully reconciled to Christ; Col.1:20. Amen & Amen.
I find it interesting that some Protestants, of which I am one, frequently accuse Orthodoxy of not having a juridical theology of justification. It's been my experience, as this reading shows, that they do, but it's not the only or primary understanding. Orthodoxy seems to look at salvation through a kaleidoscopic lense revealing many facets, like that of a diamond, in which the colors of redemption are seen in all their glorious array. Honestly, this means much more to me than Protestantism's truncated view of Christ's death.
It’s a relief to listen to such a lecture after hearing so many Orthodox priests say that Christ’s death has nothing to do with taking upon himself our sins and transgressions.
@@Sole_Soul_Purpose from my understanding, St Athanasius says that Christ took on our humanity to uplift us, as the famous saying "God became man so that man might become God". He could have died in any way, he still would have descended into Hades and liberated it's inhabitants. According to St Athanasius, Christ died by crucifixion to teach us. To show us his love and humility. To show us what true self sacrifice and love are. That is what Chrsit's death is. The purpose is the Resurrection. As St Paul says, without the Resurrection, the Faith is worthless. If God punished a man in place of us all, if he punished a man or other being for the transgressions of all, then why resurrect? If that is all that was needed then why not put that scapegoat to suffer in Hell for everything? Christ did NOT become damned. To be damned is to be separate from God. You CANNOT split the Trinity.
@@delgande Indeed, it's difficult to know what the real deal here is. It's all just a matter of interpretation/speculation. And everyone is convinced that their interpretation is the right one. As for me, I'm confident that God loves us all and will always do whatever each of us needs to help us the most. The rest is up to us. Cheers.
@@Sole_Soul_Purpose after listening to the video in full, the two understandings fit What the "deniers" say is that the Father did not damn the Son The Son took on sin and it's penalty, death. But since she was innocent it destroyed the barrier, the penalty was undone, made void as it could not be applied on Christ, who had our humanity. This way he does take on our sins, but doesn't do so to appease the Father, but to defeat sin and death
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” - Matthew 28:19-20
I listened to this because I thought that the Orthodix Church has a pretty unified teaching on most dogma and especially something as crucial as an understanding if the meaning of the cross. Though your presentation was very clear and well supported, I am confused, because only yesterday a podcast speaker on Ancient Faith Radio made the absolute opposite point, claiming the Church Fathers' support as well. She said that the Orthodox Church never sees the sacrifice of Christ primarily in judicial terms. I can't make her points here, but I must say, it disappoints and confuses me that in the so called orthodox teachings, there is such disagreement on such important points.
I share much of your sentiment about it being disappointing that there is such difference of views on these critical matters. The best approach is to patiently and diligently follow the Saints. What the woman on AFR, or even what Fr. Damascene says, is of little importance unless it is faithful to the consensus of the Saints and the Holy Councils and Scriptures. There you will find oneness of mind and clarity. It's worth noting that there are vast differences amongst the various Protestants and Papists, often falling into extremes one way or another. The Orthodox Church has had many faithful and unfaithful members in Her history, but Christ, being the Head of the His Body, has not left us without faithful guides, both in the past and in the present age. Some dogmas, and the Cross is in many respects one of these, are multi-layered and require a great deal of purification of the nous to comprehend. Of course, a child can understand the basics and most fundamental meaning of Christ's death on the cross, but the deep layers of meaning and how they relate can be difficult. I suggest reading more in depth from the Saints that Fr. Damascene quotes and paying close attention to what they say. I hope this helps.
If you're referring to Dr Constantinou, "primarily" is the operative word. She does acknowledge penal substitution has validity but she points out it was formalised as we hear it now later in medieval times and culture and in the West it began to supercede the other reasons. Now in stressing that point I have heard her give the impression it isn't valid but in full context she usually does clarify that.
Hey @GE D I feel you. pls hear me out. I'm shocked that these theories of this channel "Orthodox wisdom", are being labeled "Orthodox". The legalistic or forensic model of cross has no ground in Orthodoxy. Mixing with western atonement views in eastern theology to make it sound appealing to new converts just won't get anywhere. Christ as the healer. In incarnation, he took on or assumed our fallen and broken and hopeless human nature to heal it, to make it hopeful and give potential to theosis again. Yes all orthodox agree with you. But if you say that he died on the cross as in taking the penalty of our guilt or receive the punishment so that we don't get punnished by The Father is simply not orthodox. It's NOT merely his death that save us. This forensic model only requires his death. He could have dropped from a high building and died or by food poison or by just simply by old age I mean why did he have to die in such terrible way if "son of God's death" is the only thing that matters to balance the so called divine justice. It's not merely his death of any kind but "A faithful life that is extremely obedient to his Father even if it will cost him death on the cross". In this sacrifice which is a love offering to the father which IS THE WHOLE PURPOSE of all old testament sacrifices pointing, he fulfills them all and inaugurate a new way of sacrifice for all mankind. As Christians, we don't any more offer sacrifice but we LIVE sacrifice. We offer our own faithful lives by taking up our own crosses and follow him. This is our salvation when we actualize that God had come to dwell in us and showed THE WAY to be linked back with the giver of life. His faithful life and death he offered as a gift to father in our behalf by pledging the new relationship with God. His blood can wash away our sin because blood points the life of flesh and the blood and flesh we partake in communion points to the faithful life of Christ and it empowers us and saves us from spiritual sickness and all evil forces. Son of man was lifted just like the bronze serpent was lifted. Understand christ's own symbolism here. His love offering on the cross and our participation in his sacrifice will heal us just as the bronze serpent on the pole healed the snake bites. No body thought that bronze serpent was being bitten our place so we won't get bitten. We had already been bitten! And we received healing. The penalty receiving or imputing sin or satisfying an angry God and his arbitrary justice demands just don't fit to any thing in the bible. And his "LIFE" is also a ransom in which we are ransomed from sin and death. But not from God's arbitrary wrath or justice as in western theologies. It's just like saying a soldier gave his life to free his country. It's an expression of seriouness not a literal payment or satisfaction. Soldier's life isn't paid to or satisfy the country or the enimies in literal sense. But because he died being the giver of all, going down to the realm of hades, a symbolic place of death, hades is exploded or destroyed just as a window opens and light comes into a dark room. Death swallowed him by only seeing his humanity but he was truely and fully Giver of Life as well. He resurrected! Hades is defeated for all and those who abide in christ when they die they don't remain in hades but will be in paradise. "In him is Life. And life is the light of man, and light shines in the darkness(regions of death), and darkness couldn't overcome it (defeated once for all). John 1:2-4
If you research the participants of Ancient Faith radio, you will discover that their "church" is not part of the Eastern Orthodox Church. It is simply named "Orthodox Church", a "ministry" based in Louisiana. One of the participants has a personal UA-cam channel with explicitly Gnostic videos, including the Emerald Tablets, and the Hermeticum. This deception is how neo-gnostics operate. They will mislead into occultist heresies. Don't listen to them. Platforming a "psychologist" as an "expert" raised my suspicions, and that's why I did a deeper dive to find out who they are. Many Orthodox are listening to them. Warn your priest, so he can warn his flock.
Hello. I don't wish to be preachy or say something that would make things worse, but here are a few quotes from the Saints that have helped me. Maybe they can help you as well! "There is more mercy in God than there are sins in us. Confess your sins at once whatever they may be" Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk. "Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again for forgiveness has risen from the grave" Saint John Chrysostom. "No sin, no matter how many times repeated, is greater than God's mercy" Saint Nikolai Velimirovich. Again, I do not want to be preachy with these but I hope they help. God bless you and your family!
@@miropecovic3876 thank you very much I'm taking the advice of one of the monks I saw on the UA-cam video and he talked about it when we feel like we're in death to cry out for Christ to resurrect us I feel overwhelmed that I'm in these battles tonight when I when I see the beauty but I'm I'm appreciative of you responding to me so much and would even ask for prayers but the quote of course Austin was very beautiful
@@miropecovic3876 no offense but I thought the Orthodox to churches near me we're quite to blandon very far from helping I must visit again but I am in the depths of depression and 30 years of battling tormenting thoughts and caught up in a calvinistic Bible Church which made it worse making it hard for me to feel connected to God at all
I have a question regarding death before the fall. Hieromonk Damascene states that it was not present but St Athanasius the Great acknowledges that it was in "On The Incarnation". Perhaps this will be explained as I continue to listen, in which case I will edit my comment.
@@OrthodoxWisdom Yes, well I understand this to be what he means but perhaps you will correct me. The word "impermanent" is the first operant in question. Then he seems to suggest that death is part of natural law but we fall even further into death than this natural state experienced by impermanent creatures. I'll try to embolden all these parts found in Chapter 1 after heading *(3)*. (3) Such are the notions which men put forward. But the impiety of their foolish talk is plainly declared by the divine teaching of the Christian faith. From it we know that, because there is Mind behind the universe, it did not originate itself; because God is infinite, not finite, it was not made from pre-existent matter, but out of nothing and out of nonexistence absolute and utter God brought it into being through the Word. He says as much in Genesis: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth; and again through that most helpful book The Shepherd, "Believe thou first and foremost that there is One God Who created and arranged all things and brought them out of non-existence into being." Paul also indicates the same thing when he says, "By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that the things which we see now did not come into being out of things which had previously appeared." For God is good--or rather, of all goodness He is Fountainhead, and it is impossible for one who is good to be mean or grudging about anything. Grudging existence to none therefore, He made all things out of nothing through His own Word, our Lord Jesus Christ -*-and of all these His earthly creatures He reserved especial mercy for the race of men. Upon them, therefore, upon men who, as animals, were essentially impermanent*, He bestowed a grace which other creatures lacked--namely the impress of His own Image, a share in the reasonable being of the very Word Himself, so that, reflecting Him and themselves becoming reasonable and expressing the Mind of God even as He does, though in limited degree they might continue for ever in the blessed and only true life of the saints in paradise. But since the will of man could turn either way, God secured this grace that He had given by making it conditional from the first upon two things--namely, a law and a place. He set them in His own paradise, and laid upon them a single prohibition. If they guarded the grace and retained the loveliness of their original innocence, then the life of paradise should be theirs, without sorrow, pain or care, *and after it the assurance of immortality in heaven*. But if they went astray and became vile, throwing away their birthright of beauty, then they would come under *the natural law of death and live no longer in paradise, but, dying outside of it, continue in death and in corruption.-*- This is what Holy Scripture tells us, proclaiming the command of God, "Of every tree that is in the garden thou shalt surely eat, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil ye shall not eat, but in the day that ye do eat, ye shall surely die." "Ye shall surely die"--*not just die only, but remain in the state of death and of corruption.* (4) You may be wondering why we are discussing the origin of men when we set out to talk about the Word's becoming Man. The former subject is relevant to the latter for this reason: it was our sorry case that caused the Word to come down, our transgression that called out His love for us, so that He made haste to help us and to appear among us. It is we who were the cause of His taking human form, and for our salvation that in His great love He was both born and manifested in a human body. *For God had made man thus (that is, as an embodied spirit), and had willed that he should remain in incorruption. But men, having turned from the contemplation of God to evil of their own devising, had come inevitably under the law of death. Instead of remaining in the state in which God had created them, they were in process of becoming corrupted entirely, and death had them completely under its dominion.* For the transgression of the commandment was making them turn back again *according to their nature; and as they had at the beginning come into being out of non-existence, so were they now on the way to returning, through corruption, to non-existence again.* The presence and love of the Word had called them into being; inevitably, therefore when they lost the knowledge of God, they lost existence with it; for it is God alone Who exists, evil is non-being, the negation and antithesis of good. *By nature, of course, man is mortal, since he was made from nothing; but he bears also the Likeness of Him Who is, and if he preserves that Likeness through constant contemplation, then his nature is deprived of its power and he remains incorrupt. So is it affirmed in Wisdom: "The keeping of His laws is the assurance of incorruption." * And being incorrupt, he would be henceforth as God, as Holy Scripture says, "I have said, Ye are gods and sons of the Highest all of you: but ye die as men and fall as one of the princes." 9 (5) This, then, was the plight of men. God had not only made them out of nothing, but had also graciously bestowed on them His own life by the grace of the Word. Then, *turning from eternal things to things corruptible, by counsel of the devil, they had become the cause of their own corruption in death;* for, as I said before, though *they were by nature subject to corruption, the grace of their union with the Word made them capable of escaping from the natural law, provided that they retained the beauty of innocence with which they were created*. That is to say, *the presence of the Word with them shielded them even from natural corruption*, as also Wisdom says: *"God created man for incorruption and as an image of His own eternity; but by envy of the devil death entered into the world." When this happened, men began to die, and corruption ran riot among them and held sway over them to an even more than natural degree,* because it was the penalty of which God had forewarned them for transgressing the commandment. Indeed, they had in their sinning surpassed all limits; for, having invented wickedness in the beginning and so involved themselves in death and corruption, they had gone on gradually from bad to worse, not stopping at any one kind of evil, but continually, as with insatiable appetite, devising new kinds of sins. Adulteries and thefts were everywhere, murder and rapine filled the earth, law was disregarded in corruption and injustice, all kinds of iniquities were perpetrated by all, both singly and in common. Cities were warring with cities, nations were rising against nations, and the whole earth was rent with factions and battles, while each strove to outdo the other in wickedness. Even crimes contrary to nature were not unknown, but as the martyr-apostle of Christ says: "Their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature; and the men also, leaving the natural use of the woman, flamed out in lust towards each other, perpetrating shameless acts with their own sex, and receiving in their own persons the due recompense of their pervertedness." 11
Sorry not sure why the first emboldened bit is badly formatted. Here it is... For God is good--or rather, of all goodness He is Fountainhead, and it is impossible for one who is good to be mean or grudging about anything. Grudging existence to none therefore, He made all things out of nothing through His own Word, our Lord Jesus Christ and *of all these His earthly creatures He reserved especial mercy for the race of men. Upon them, therefore, upon men who, as animals, were essentially impermanent,* He bestowed a grace which other creatures lacked--namely the impress of His own Image, a share in the reasonable being of the very Word Himself, so that, reflecting Him and themselves becoming reasonable and expressing the Mind of God even as He does, though in limited degree they might continue for ever in the blessed and only true life of the saints in paradise. But since the will of man could turn either way, God secured this grace that He had given by making it conditional from the first upon two things--namely, a law and a place. He set them in His own paradise, and laid upon them a single prohibition. If they guarded the grace and retained the loveliness of their original innocence, then the life of paradise should be theirs, without sorrow, pain or care,* and after it the assurance of immortality in heaven. But if they went astray and became vile, throwing away their birthright of beauty, then they would come under the natural law of death and live no longer in paradise, but, dying outside of it, continue in death and in corruption.* This is what Holy Scripture tells us, proclaiming the command of God, "Of every tree that is in the garden thou shalt surely eat, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil ye shall not eat, but in the day that ye do eat, ye shall surely die." "Ye shall surely die"--*not just die only, but remain in the state of death and of corruption.*
Christ is risen my brother! I will try tell you what I understood from St. Athanasius on the Incarnation. What St. Athanasius is saying about death before the fall is that man was corruptible but not mortal, or as father Ioannis Romanides says Adam was neither incorruptible neither subjected to death. What does that mean? It means that Adam had no reason to die of old age because he didn’t age. And he didn’t get any diseases to die of illnesse. But, being corruptible meaning made out of matter which is malleable, he could have died if his body were to be killed by someone else. There is a difference between unavoidable death like we all experience now because of the fall, and avoidable death which is a lack of danger. Adam in heaven was in no danger of death because no one could kill him. There was no one in heaven who could have attacked Adam, no sword, no guns, nothing. This was the grace of God. Adam was made in a state called posse non mori,not in a state non posse mori. Adam was like a perfect machine with no flaws so he could have continued to live if he kept the commandment. But when he fell Adam, this perfectly made machine got broken, not destroyed, just like something which no longer functions the way it was intended. Therefore Adam got polluted and received a defect in his being, his life was defected, thus becoming necessarily mortal, which means that he will eventually die for sure. From then on there was no man who could avoid death, and no one even now can avoid death. But it was necessary that Adam to be remade, and since he could not do it himself, The Word and The Life Himself became flesh. Being God ,Jesus Christ could not remain in death because death has no power over Life( God) thus man flesh and soul was delivered from death by resurrection. If you read in St. Athanasius On the Incarnation you will find an interesting saying which in my opinion is the whole key for the whole book. He is asked by the heretic: But did Christ not hunger? Or was he not hungry? And the Saint replies; yes, He did, BUT HE DID NOT DIE OF HUNGER. Christ died not because he would have eventually die due to old age, or famine, or exhaustion, but wilfully. We cannot die like that, it is beyond us. Only this kind of death could have saved human nature from it’s limits. When St. Athanasius says that creatures are impermanent it means that because they came to being through change, from non existence to existence, they have their being dependent on God. Only God exists of Himself uncaused and independent. If creatures want to continue to exist they must be in communion with their cause of being, namely God. If they don’t, they fall to their natural powers, powers which are limited because they came into being from nonexistence. Away from God beings are draged by their nature towards non existence because anything created is incapable of sustaining itself without God, because creature is not God. Away from God creatures die, some faster some slower according to the body they possess. Basically when Adam died human nature died, and death entered as a law for all humanity and so al humans from then on die. I hope it helps and clears things up a bit. God’s speed!
For God, there is no ‘before saving’ or ‘after saving’ because God is beyond time and space. So, if God saves the world through His incarnation, death, and resurrection, He did not ‘only’ save the people who were born after this event, but all people who ever existed because time can’t restrict God’s actions.
Or the Christ power was incarnated into different people before Jesus of Nazareth. There have always been incarnated beings that had divine mission from God.
@@brandonterzic None of those people had a divine nature besides human nature like Christ has. None of those were conceived by the Holy Spirit and lived lives w/o blemish. None of those people could have saved even themselves let alone entire humanity. To compare prophets of the OT with the incarnation of the Son of God is outright blasphemy.
@@johnnyd2383 That is one way to look at it. It is a little too fatalistic and dramatic for my tastes. The spirit of Christ to me, transcends the vessel of the body, Time and space. Why wouldn't pure spirit have embodied other human beings? It seems absurd to me that only one man found the truth within himself and transcended. And what difference would it make anyways? The main thing is that we practice the teaching; charity, forgiveness, compassion and at the same time cultivate stillness and commune with god through prayer and meditation. I think the Christ is universal, and could give a rat's behind if a person pays allegiance to him. A man is known by his works, his character, not what he professes with his tongue. I think Christianity was hijacked big time by the Europeans. Even the Bible is a compilation of different texts, and some of the best texts were left out! Anyways, God bless and thanks for your civil response.
@@brandonterzic It appears that you are endorsing what is otherwise called Syncretism. Such concept has been condemned by the Lord Jesus Christ as well as the numerous Christian theologians in the centuries after His first coming. May God lead you from your current delusions to the narrow path of salvation.
How was Christ’s payment made to the father? God paying back God? God appeasing God? I’ve heard from MANY orthodox that this is not correct, because it puts a division in the trinity. And is basically PSA. Thank you for any feedback Or maybe the question is did God the son appease the wrath of the Father? That’s what PSA says, and I’m really trying to understand the difference based on this video. Both of those are a division in the trinity. Seems like a big issue.
Please look the video again and you will notice 2 approaches Orthodox have - first one Theosis and 2nd one juridical way that we really do not like and almost always prefer to talk about Theosis.
The only issue I have with this is that we inherited a inclination to sin. Did Adam and Eve have an inclination to sin? They were in perfection and yet sinned. It’s seems more of a free choice of deception, influence, and just direct rebellion that Adam and Eve experienced just as we also experience. I see death, and suffering of the inherent aspect. So what death a punishment for sin or a consequence?
We inherit the inclination after the fall of Adam and Eve. Before the fall they truly were called to perfection and had nothing sinful within them but they had the free will to choose sin. After they have chosen sin they became inclined to it. Death is a inevitable consequence of sin, because only in God there is life.
@@IHIuddy No, He did not. He was tempted but He never even thought of sinning. This is because He is the True God. Inclination towards sin has to do with the personality (who we are) not with the nature of the being imo.
@@lazywarriortv3096 if that the case then Jesus would have the advantage over us and would delegitimize the sacrifice. He had to be made like us in all things. Kinda why I say we don’t have the inclination to sin but we are born into a world of sin that is all around us we ourselves are either influenced, deceived, or just rebel. Hebrews speaks of this in chapter 2 and is kinda the point it is driving home. Also some in chapter 4 of hebrews as well.
@@IHIuddy maybe the inclination to sin isn't something that is within us but rather something that we choose. But even if this is not the case, St Paul says that Christ became like us in everything except sin. So there must be something in His divine persohood which we were missing before he became flesh. We were called to become like Him and this is what Adam and Eve failed to do
Simply Jesus regained access to eternal life for those who do not sin lost by Adam, and gain access to sinners by repentance and forgiveness of those sins committed. Jesus purchased the church at the Cross, and was raised as high priest and promoted to judge, and those sanctified can be perfected when Jesus forgives those sins as he judges those in the church when they die. I have a Ytube video series called 'Myths in so-called Christianity' for NT truth.
I enjoyed the sermon until you added to the scripture with the deification of Mary,it’s not in the word of God and clergy are not qualified to add to the scripture, Jesus himself said who are my mother or brother but those who do the will of the Father,no where does the Word say that Mary should be worshipped, the Apostle John fell at the angels feet twice and the angel said do not worship me I am as you are a servant of God, Mary was a humble servant of God she had other children besides Jesus Christ.
Where does it say we worship Mary? We honor her and worship the God that manifests Himself through her but to say we worship her is an elementary misunderstanding.
It may be beneficial to explore the Orthodox doctrine of Harrowing the Hell which was one of the accomplishments of the Lord. Why is that important.? It enabled the formation of the Church Triumphant where all of our Saints are destined after departure from this world. For some reason, Protestants missed it altogether from the Scriptures, and are thus unable to grasp Orthodox devotion to the Saints.
Forget about theories of the Atonement. Here is truth. Jesus died to be the ransom for our sins. But who did he pay the ransom? Some say God, but that makes no sense. If God needed there to be a penalty for sin, he then becoming that sacrifice to appease himself is an absurd theory. Jesus paid Satan. Romans 6:16 states "unto whom you yield yourself a servant to obey, his servant you are." If you do the deeds of Satan, you fall under his rule and jurisdiction. Jesus died to pay Satan to release us from his jurisdiction if we would convert unto Christ and live a holy life thereafter. "He whom the Son sets free, he is completely free." John 8:31-36 Acts 2:38 Romans 6:1-23 Matthew 18:1-10 1 John 5:16-17 Numbers 15:28-31 Hebrews 10:26-27 Mark 16:16 John 3:3-5
If one had to look at the fossils of the 1st man then facts would point out that we evolved rather than created. We cannot mix up actual happenings of evolution with the story portrayed in the Old Testament. I know science is right but I don’t believe this makes me an atheist. To the contrary science indicates that life is a miracle even more so than the Bible. I am a Christian but I am also a realist. I do believe that we are eternal in Jesus Christ and I chose to allow salvation by choosing to believe in the Holy Trinity and all the Holy Sacraments. Unfortunately I do prefer the version of Jesus Christ’s creation and not the Old Testament. The “our Father” spell out what we need to know. We have one almighty Father who lives in a heavenly state of being ,we shall only worship God the father any God in his entirety is to be worshipped alone. We will ask for both the spiritual wisdom of God and nourishment from God. Something very interesting as if to take on a strange twist away from God , the prayer gives us a command to LOVE and FORGIVE our fellow man as we expect God to forgive us. We then ask God to protect us from evil.Jesus Christ came to fulfil the Old Testament by by allowing salvation and therefore the Holy Spirit to entire our being which can be viewed as God’s Holy Spirit within us. Believe 1st in the actual words of Jesus Christ before the story of Adam and Eve. There is One God which consist of 3 beings namely the Son and Holy Spirit. When you want to know someone then look beyond words and see the works of that person. Jesus Christ died for us so that we may have eternal life so he forgave, healed, but most of all said your faith has made you well. At the core of salvation is our choice of being reborn. Their is no salvation unless we choose God and choose to forgive. The path to God is Jesus Christ and the word was made flesh . Jesus Christ is the WORD ,THE TRUTH and THE LIFE. Glory be To THE FATHER,SON and HOLY SPIRIT. God is Truth,Jesus is the Word and the Holy Spirit within us is God within us because we chose to be born again. I don’t understand the fall of man but I full understand the salvation of man. Perhaps the fall of man can be ascribed to the 2 thieves crucified with Jesus . The one thief said “if you are the Son of God save yourself “ and the other simply saw his evil was and realised that Jesus is truly the son of God.
I see what you are saying but I encourage you take a step back and seek out the wisdom of the Holy Fathers on these matters. I have a video here called “Creation, Early Man, and Evolution according to Modern Holy Fathers”: ua-cam.com/video/Y0sdPLJO3cE/v-deo.html Along with the earlier Holy Fathers, they perceived the truth of these matters. One cannot understand the incorrupt world (i.e. the world before the Fall) by studying the corrupted world that we live in today. The truth of our beginnings can only truly and fully be understood by Divine Revelation. This is a fundamental presupposition when attempting to understand these matters. One other point that I will make is that “by man came death” (1 Cor 15:21). This leaves no room for evolution since in evolution “by death came man.” Pray and read and submit your mind to the Mind of Christ as manifested in the Saints of the Church, the Body of Christ.
Did you know that Charles Darwins grandfather was a 33rd degree freemason who helped influence the scientific theory of evolution? Erasmus Darwin was his name. Erasmus was a physician, something of a poet, an instrument of the Industrial Revolution, and author of a massive two-volume work Zoönomia (1794-96); this work contained within it the essence of the theory that his grandson would announce to the world half a century later.
@@OrthodoxWisdomif it's all divine revelation, then why does everyone have a differing opinion on different subjects in the Bible? Some say the earth is young and some don't as an example. Wouldn't divine revelation reveal absolute TRUTH? This is another thing that doesn't make sense to me and leads me to believe it's all opinions.
The Church is the pillar and ground of truth as the scriptures say. We know truth as is revealed to the saints and as reflected in the consensus of the saints and when they gather in council and have the mind of Christ. “The must be schism among you” and St. Paul says. The face that people in the Church disagree should be not scandal at all.
@SauerkrautX that's a really good question, you're right about the opinions part! But there can only be 1 truth not 1,000 different truths. There may be some truth in some religions or theory's but ultimately there can only be 1 truth. My advice would be to just seek God, humbly ask him to guide you into all his truth! May God be with you!
Why do very few people know or want to know the orthodox faith I myself am a baptist but are slowing finding that the orthodox church is the true church, and I look on youtube and see loads of Protestant and catholic videos but not as much orthodox content? I mean it's there but not nearly as many videos and with much smaller views when it comes to orthodox content as opposed to the others? Why is that? I think this viewpoint is what the world needs more of right now! God bless you all!!!
Glory to God you have found the true Faith! A simple reason for there being less Orthodox content is there are fewer Orthodox Christians in English speaking countries. But more and more are seeking and finding the truth. I pray your journey to Christ and His Body, the Orthodox Church, bears fruit in your life and in those around you.
@@OrthodoxWisdom thank you sir God bless you and thank you for making such good learned content and thank you sir I'm seeking truth in Christ and looking for the uncorrupted church and orthodox is the only church that stands firm and unwavering from what I've seen and my baptist church claims that they do not come out of the reformation and catholicism which is the same claim made by the assembly of God and looking into history thats just not true all of them stem from catholic and orthodox and an eye opening thing I found out is the word eucharist is the Greek word st paul uses when writing his epistles and that blew me away because our bibles translate it as giving thanks which is scandalous and robs me of it's true meaning! I weep because my girlfriends family and all except my stepmoms side of my family are very anti catholic and I assume orthodox too but idk what to do I've been praying about it and I want to go to an orthodox service. But the closest church is 30 miles away. I just want to give correct praise to the Lord because I love him so. And your videos on the holy fathers are so so smoothing for my spirit right now thank you again for doing the work of the lord jesus christ who by all wisdom and love brings the learner toward and into himself God bless you sir and thank you again brother!
You are not alone in your struggle. Many have had similar concerns and questions when desiring to worship God in spirit and in truth. Trust God who loves you and your family more than any of us can know. And visit that parish, even for vespers. You could even contact the priest and try to meet with him and get his advice. A big part of being Orthodox is just being at the services, being present with Christ and offering your heart to Him.
@@OrthodoxWisdom also what is the best orthodox bible that has modern english and is accurate? I have youversion app and can use any bible I download I'd like to read the other books not in my bible I've heard an audiobook of 2 esdras and wow! Just speechless! I could tell it was inspired before I knew the orthodox has this book in their ot.
@@OrthodoxWisdom thank you brother I have only seen a catholic mass (which didn't feel inspired at all and quite frankly it felt rushed kindof) and never vespers what exactly is a vespers service?
I was an evangelical Christian, but seeking to know more about Eastern Orthodoxy. (04-20-23). This is my update (04-2-24) I became an Orthodox Christian, it is amazing
Go to a local Orthodox Church ☦️
Did Jesus died for our sins?
@@gamingthisera6339He bore our sins defeating death.
@@ProtestantismLeftBehind so, do orthodox believe the original sin?
@@gamingthisera6339Yes. But not the West’s view of it that was a later innovation
I really love this video! I have listened to it several times. Sometimes I get confused when I hear some people talk about Orthodox Theology and completely disregard the Justice of God in the atonement. I think the Justice of the Lord being fulfilled in Christ's sacrifice is Biblical.
Videos like this, and reading the writings of Saint Philoret of Moscow, Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, and many others have strengthened my faith and helped me understand that the redemption of Christ is multi-layered. Thank you, and God bless you!
It is without a doubt clearly stated in scripture in abundance. A question I have asked Orthodox believers that I have never received an answer to is this - If the whole purpose of Christ's death was simply to conquer death with death, why could he have not simply died in his sleep? Why did he have to die the shameful and excruciatingly tortuous death of a despicable criminal on a cross? Why did he beg God the Father to spare him of the cross the night before when he prayed with such anguish that he sweat blood? I have never gotten an answer to that from the sin atonement deniers, and it is because there simply is no reason. Clearly he endured OUR JUSTLY DUE punishment for OUR SINS. It WAS NOT just to die to conquer death through death as so many of them profess. It included that, but it was also FAR MORE THAN THAT. He took upon himself the sin debt of all mankind to satisfy the justice of God that declared the wages of sin is death.
Because the means matter, He had to show us how we can achieve salvation as well through humility.
Words cannot express how deep my gratitude is for this post. I'm a Protestant, I've been enquiring church history for nearly 3 years, and like the tumbleweed, I've been blown to & fro by every wind of doctrine. About a month ago (I believe now) after begging the Lord to show me 'the narrow way' I started feeling a strong attraction to Orthodoxy unlike previous infatuations which pitter out. I listened to a Hank Hanagraff pcast with Nathan Jacobs which explained how I (the west) think differently (so I had an 'ah ha' moment), that coupled with my Aspergers also showed my why Systematic/Reformed had my faith fortified to Calvinism. Another thing that weakend TULIP's spiritcuffs is I couldn't adhere to the L, Christ died for the 'komos'(lit. The world). Faith alone is not faith alone because faith is vindicated by works. Saved by grace through faith for preordained good works (ref. Eph2v8-10). Over the past 2 weeks I have flooded my understanding with all sorts but not totally random, teachings. I read On The Incarnation by St. Athanasius of Alexandria. I have the Orthodox Study Bible 2008 ed. By Thomas Nelson and a portable NRSV with the Deuterocanonical list. Watching (Rnd2) of Fr. Barnabas Powell's Orthodox 101 bootcamp, I have 2 books from Bishop Kallistos Ware. But...
To be honest, I am petrified. My whole life is Protestant, my brain, my wife, my family, my in laws, my friends, my Saviour, and for that matter my/the Mighty Yahweh. I don't know if this/them/even myself is legitimate, the way, truth & life.
Well anyhow, back to this post and my inexpressible gratitude..... this is where my faith lies, in this fact, this post, in the God & Saviour of the One true living God. The post is the icing on my cake of doubt. I don't know how, what, why, but truth is truth, thank you. Lord have mercy on us, Amen.
Glory to God! Please email me if you need help getting connected to a priest and a parish near you. I know people on many different places and they can help even if I don’t know off the top of my head. May God help you and guide you into spiritual haven of His Church!
@@OrthodoxWisdom thank you for reaching out to me to help. I'm still constructing the email I was supposed to write you but I was just alerted to this comment so now I'm under compulsion. So what's happened since? The Lord led me to St. Spyridon GOC under the Pat. of Constantinople. I rocked up and there's now an established connection. This week Liturgy is in English, it is so very hard to contain my zeal, I know in my heart I'm exactly where the Lord wants me. This channel is awesome, many seeds planted, lights for the pathway. God bless & keep you, your work colleagues, and this channel, for the feeding of Christ's sheep. Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Thank you (soon to be) brother.
Stay strong in your course brother. Pray for us! @@d0g_0f_Christ0s
I pray, that one year later you are well my brother. GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU.
Listening to the audio from the books and exurbs of the fathers and their writings have helped me and I’m very grateful to you please keep up the good works
The legal aspect is true, and important, unfortunately many of us are tempted to throw it out, because quite often in the west it is viewed as the only significance of the life and death of Christ. Thank you for this video. Very wise.
No one will escape the Boundless Grace of God and the Unyielding Love of Christ which indeed transcends all boundaries. It’s a beautiful realization that salvation is not an offer but a declaration-an irrevocable truth that echoes through the eons.
Wow, dumbfounding! Glory to God for His amazing work for us!!! How can we possibly, ever, even begin to thank Him?!!! ..
Restoration of the mankind giving us possibility to re-unite with God, relationship that is above the pre-lapse state of Adam.! Imagine us, created out of NOTHING, are called to become gods by Grace.! From nothing to god. That is ultimate Love.
Not a "possibility" but a universal reality; Col.1:20; 1Cor.15:28; Rom.11:32,36.
@@timothy4557 Right. Reason why I used term "possibility" is the fact that everyone is left with the choice to accept offered or not by one's free will.
@johnnyd2383 I think I may know everyone's "choice;" Phil.2:8-11
@@timothy4557 Hm... Note the conditional clause "...should confess..." that is leaving option not to opened. Another point that preconditions the confession is in the words "...He humbled Himself and became obedient...". Bunch of people that belong to the Latin/Protestant group are very far from humbling and becoming obedient to the Lord's Bride - EOC, remaining in defiance and even spitting blasphemies against it.
@@johnnyd2383 Philippians 2:10,11 is a quote from Isa.45:23; please read it. Also read Rom.14:11 in context. The word 'confess' is always ' willful acclimation' STRONGS [1843]. It is to confess fully. Same word as 'thank' Matt. 11:25. All will be fully reconciled to Christ; Col.1:20. Amen & Amen.
I find it interesting that some Protestants, of which I am one, frequently accuse Orthodoxy of not having a juridical theology of justification. It's been my experience, as this reading shows, that they do, but it's not the only or primary understanding.
Orthodoxy seems to look at salvation through a kaleidoscopic lense revealing many facets, like that of a diamond, in which the colors of redemption are seen in all their glorious array.
Honestly, this means much more to me than Protestantism's truncated view of Christ's death.
Thanks for uploading this!
It’s a relief to listen to such a lecture after hearing so many Orthodox priests say that Christ’s death has nothing to do with taking upon himself our sins and transgressions.
So then what do they teach was the purpose of the crucifixion?
@@Sole_Soul_Purpose from my understanding, St Athanasius says that Christ took on our humanity to uplift us, as the famous saying "God became man so that man might become God".
He could have died in any way, he still would have descended into Hades and liberated it's inhabitants. According to St Athanasius, Christ died by crucifixion to teach us. To show us his love and humility. To show us what true self sacrifice and love are.
That is what Chrsit's death is. The purpose is the Resurrection. As St Paul says, without the Resurrection, the Faith is worthless. If God punished a man in place of us all, if he punished a man or other being for the transgressions of all, then why resurrect? If that is all that was needed then why not put that scapegoat to suffer in Hell for everything? Christ did NOT become damned. To be damned is to be separate from God. You CANNOT split the Trinity.
@@delgande Indeed, it's difficult to know what the real deal here is. It's all just a matter of interpretation/speculation. And everyone is convinced that their interpretation is the right one. As for me, I'm confident that God loves us all and will always do whatever each of us needs to help us the most. The rest is up to us. Cheers.
@@Sole_Soul_Purpose after listening to the video in full, the two understandings fit
What the "deniers" say is that the Father did not damn the Son
The Son took on sin and it's penalty, death. But since she was innocent it destroyed the barrier, the penalty was undone, made void as it could not be applied on Christ, who had our humanity.
This way he does take on our sins, but doesn't do so to appease the Father, but to defeat sin and death
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
- Matthew 28:19-20
What an extraordinary wealth of information! It's so awesome it's mind boggling! Feels like a nuclear bomb just went off in my head!!!
wow great stuff
What Christ Accomplished On The Cross: SHORT ANSWER FROM AN ORTHODOX: EVERYTHING! HE WAS, IS AND WILL BE FOR EVER PERFECT!
This video is really great. Thank you.
Thank you very deep content
amazing video thank you
I listened to this because I thought that the Orthodix Church has a pretty unified teaching on most dogma and especially something as crucial as an understanding if the meaning of the cross. Though your presentation was very clear and well supported, I am confused, because only yesterday a podcast speaker on Ancient Faith Radio made the absolute opposite point, claiming the Church Fathers' support as well. She said that the Orthodox Church never sees the sacrifice of Christ primarily in judicial terms. I can't make her points here, but I must say, it disappoints and confuses me that in the so called orthodox teachings, there is such disagreement on such important points.
I share much of your sentiment about it being disappointing that there is such difference of views on these critical matters. The best approach is to patiently and diligently follow the Saints. What the woman on AFR, or even what Fr. Damascene says, is of little importance unless it is faithful to the consensus of the Saints and the Holy Councils and Scriptures. There you will find oneness of mind and clarity. It's worth noting that there are vast differences amongst the various Protestants and Papists, often falling into extremes one way or another. The Orthodox Church has had many faithful and unfaithful members in Her history, but Christ, being the Head of the His Body, has not left us without faithful guides, both in the past and in the present age.
Some dogmas, and the Cross is in many respects one of these, are multi-layered and require a great deal of purification of the nous to comprehend. Of course, a child can understand the basics and most fundamental meaning of Christ's death on the cross, but the deep layers of meaning and how they relate can be difficult. I suggest reading more in depth from the Saints that Fr. Damascene quotes and paying close attention to what they say. I hope this helps.
The Ancient View of Atonement - David Bentley Hart
ua-cam.com/video/hFesQ9ybzAM/v-deo.html
If you're referring to Dr Constantinou, "primarily" is the operative word. She does acknowledge penal substitution has validity but she points out it was formalised as we hear it now later in medieval times and culture and in the West it began to supercede the other reasons. Now in stressing that point I have heard her give the impression it isn't valid but in full context she usually does clarify that.
Hey @GE D
I feel you. pls hear me out.
I'm shocked that these theories of this channel "Orthodox wisdom", are being labeled "Orthodox".
The legalistic or forensic model of cross has no ground in Orthodoxy.
Mixing with western atonement views in eastern theology to make it sound appealing to new converts just won't get anywhere.
Christ as the healer.
In incarnation, he took on or assumed our fallen and broken and hopeless human nature to heal it, to make it hopeful and give potential to theosis again. Yes all orthodox agree with you.
But if you say that he died on the cross as in taking the penalty of our guilt or receive the punishment so that we don't get punnished by The Father is simply not orthodox.
It's NOT merely his death that save us. This forensic model only requires his death. He could have dropped from a high building and died or by food poison or by just simply by old age I mean why did he have to die in such terrible way if "son of God's death" is the only thing that matters to balance the so called divine justice. It's not merely his death of any kind but "A faithful life that is extremely obedient to his Father even if it will cost him death on the cross". In this sacrifice which is a love offering to the father which IS THE WHOLE PURPOSE of all old testament sacrifices pointing, he fulfills them all and inaugurate a new way of sacrifice for all mankind. As Christians, we don't any more offer sacrifice but we LIVE sacrifice. We offer our own faithful lives by taking up our own crosses and follow him.
This is our salvation when we actualize that God had come to dwell in us and showed THE WAY to be linked back with the giver of life.
His faithful life and death he offered as a gift to father in our behalf by pledging the new relationship with God. His blood can wash away our sin because blood points the life of flesh and the blood and flesh we partake in communion points to the faithful life of Christ and it empowers us and saves us from spiritual sickness and all evil forces.
Son of man was lifted just like the bronze serpent was lifted. Understand christ's own symbolism here. His love offering on the cross and our participation in his sacrifice will heal us just as the bronze serpent on the pole healed the snake bites. No body thought that bronze serpent was being bitten our place so we won't get bitten. We had already been bitten! And we received healing. The penalty receiving or imputing sin or satisfying an angry God and his arbitrary justice demands just don't fit to any thing in the bible.
And his "LIFE" is also a ransom in which we are ransomed from sin and death. But not from God's arbitrary wrath or justice as in western theologies. It's just like saying a soldier gave his life to free his country. It's an expression of seriouness not a literal payment or satisfaction. Soldier's life isn't paid to or satisfy the country or the enimies in literal sense. But because he died being the giver of all, going down to the realm of hades, a symbolic place of death, hades is exploded or destroyed just as a window opens and light comes into a dark room. Death swallowed him by only seeing his humanity but he was truely and fully Giver of Life as well. He resurrected! Hades is defeated for all and those who abide in christ when they die they don't remain in hades but will be in paradise.
"In him is Life. And life is the light of man, and light shines in the darkness(regions of death), and darkness couldn't overcome it (defeated once for all).
John 1:2-4
If you research the participants of Ancient Faith radio, you will discover that their "church" is not part of the Eastern Orthodox Church. It is simply named "Orthodox Church", a "ministry" based in Louisiana. One of the participants has a personal UA-cam channel with explicitly Gnostic videos, including the Emerald Tablets, and the Hermeticum. This deception is how neo-gnostics operate. They will mislead into occultist heresies. Don't listen to them. Platforming a "psychologist" as an "expert" raised my suspicions, and that's why I did a deeper dive to find out who they are. Many Orthodox are listening to them. Warn your priest, so he can warn his flock.
Beautiful 😍
I dont really understand. But alright. What about newborn babie? Even if they arent Christian, are they saved too?
☦️❤️
Excellent exposition; so thorough, so complete, and so superior to Protestant thouhgt.
I have many sims and soul grief
Hello. I don't wish to be preachy or say something that would make things worse, but here are a few quotes from the Saints that have helped me. Maybe they can help you as well!
"There is more mercy in God than there are sins in us. Confess your sins at once whatever they may be" Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk.
"Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again for forgiveness has risen from the grave" Saint John Chrysostom.
"No sin, no matter how many times repeated, is greater than God's mercy" Saint Nikolai Velimirovich.
Again, I do not want to be preachy with these but I hope they help. God bless you and your family!
@@miropecovic3876 thank you very much I'm taking the advice of one of the monks I saw on the UA-cam video and he talked about it when we feel like we're in death to cry out for Christ to resurrect us I feel overwhelmed that I'm in these battles tonight when I when I see the beauty but I'm I'm appreciative of you responding to me so much and would even ask for prayers but the quote of course Austin was very beautiful
@@franciscafazzo3460 Thank you too! I love that quote you gave from the monk. God bless you!
@@miropecovic3876 no offense but I thought the Orthodox to churches near me we're quite to blandon very far from helping I must visit again but I am in the depths of depression and 30 years of battling tormenting thoughts and caught up in a calvinistic Bible Church which made it worse making it hard for me to feel connected to God at all
I'm still in a dark place with no consistency.No peace, I'm impressed.I'm using chemicals.I'm fell into addiction.I need to get help
🙂🙏❤
I have a question regarding death before the fall. Hieromonk Damascene states that it was not present but St Athanasius the Great acknowledges that it was in "On The Incarnation".
Perhaps this will be explained as I continue to listen, in which case I will edit my comment.
Can you point to exactly what St Athanasius says? Whether putting the quote here or pointing to where in “On the Incarnation” it is? Thank you.
@@OrthodoxWisdom Yes, well I understand this to be what he means but perhaps you will correct me. The word "impermanent" is the first operant in question. Then he seems to suggest that death is part of natural law but we fall even further into death than this natural state experienced by impermanent creatures. I'll try to embolden all these parts found in Chapter 1 after heading *(3)*.
(3) Such are the notions which men put forward. But the impiety of their foolish talk is plainly declared by the divine teaching of the Christian faith. From it we know that, because there is Mind behind the universe, it did not originate itself; because God is infinite, not finite, it was not made from pre-existent matter, but out of nothing and out of nonexistence absolute and utter God brought it into being through the Word. He says as much in Genesis: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth;
and again through that most helpful book
The Shepherd,
"Believe thou first and foremost that there is One God Who created and arranged all things and brought them out of non-existence into being."
Paul also indicates the same thing when he says,
"By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that the things which we see now did not come into being out of things which had previously appeared." For God is good--or rather, of all goodness He is Fountainhead, and it is impossible for one who is good to be mean or grudging about anything. Grudging existence to none therefore, He made all things out of nothing through His own Word, our Lord Jesus Christ -*-and of all these His earthly creatures He reserved especial mercy for the race of men. Upon them, therefore, upon men who, as animals, were essentially impermanent*, He bestowed a grace which other creatures lacked--namely the impress of His own Image, a share in the reasonable being of the very Word Himself, so that, reflecting Him and themselves becoming reasonable and expressing the Mind of God even as He does, though in limited degree they might continue for ever in the blessed and only true life of the saints in paradise. But since the will of man could turn either way, God secured this grace that He had given by making it conditional from the first upon two things--namely, a law and a place. He set them in His own paradise, and laid upon them a single prohibition. If they guarded the grace and retained the loveliness of their original innocence, then the life of paradise should be theirs, without sorrow, pain or care, *and after it the assurance of immortality in heaven*. But if they went astray and became vile, throwing away their birthright of beauty, then they would come under *the natural law of death and live no longer in paradise, but, dying outside of it, continue in death and in corruption.-*- This is what Holy Scripture tells us, proclaiming the command of God, "Of every tree that is in the garden thou shalt surely eat, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil ye shall not eat, but in the day that ye do eat, ye shall surely die." "Ye shall surely die"--*not just die only, but remain in the state of death and of corruption.*
(4) You may be wondering why we are discussing the origin of men when we set out to talk about the Word's becoming Man. The former subject is relevant to the latter for this reason: it was our sorry case that caused the Word to come down, our transgression that called out His love for us, so that He made haste to help us and to appear among us. It is we who were the cause of His taking human form, and for our salvation that in His great love He was both born and manifested in
a human body. *For God had made man thus (that is, as an embodied spirit), and had willed that he should remain in incorruption. But men, having turned from the contemplation of God to evil of their own devising, had come inevitably under the law of death. Instead of remaining in the state in which God had created them, they were in process of becoming corrupted entirely, and death had them completely under its dominion.*
For the transgression of the commandment was making them turn back again *according to their nature; and as they had at the beginning come into being out of non-existence, so were they now on the way to returning, through corruption, to non-existence again.* The presence and love of the Word had called them into being; inevitably, therefore when they lost the knowledge of God, they lost existence with it; for it is God alone Who exists, evil is non-being, the negation and antithesis of good. *By nature, of course, man is mortal, since he was made from nothing; but he bears also the Likeness of Him Who is, and if he preserves that Likeness through constant contemplation, then his nature is deprived of its power and he remains incorrupt. So is it affirmed in Wisdom: "The keeping of His laws is the assurance of incorruption." * And being incorrupt, he would be henceforth as God, as Holy Scripture says,
"I have said, Ye are gods and sons of the Highest all of you: but ye die as men and fall as one of the princes." 9
(5) This, then, was the plight of men. God had not only made them out of nothing, but had also graciously bestowed on them His own life by the grace of the Word. Then, *turning from eternal things to things corruptible, by counsel of the devil, they had become the cause of their own corruption in death;* for, as I said before, though *they were by nature subject to corruption, the grace of their union with the Word made them capable of escaping from the natural law, provided that they retained the beauty of innocence with which they were created*. That is to say, *the presence of the Word with them shielded them even from natural corruption*, as also Wisdom says: *"God created man for incorruption and as an image of His own eternity; but by envy of the devil death entered into the world." When this happened, men began to die, and corruption ran riot among them and held sway over them to an even more than natural degree,* because it was the penalty of which God had forewarned them for transgressing the commandment. Indeed, they had in their sinning surpassed all limits; for, having invented wickedness in the beginning and so involved themselves in death and corruption, they had gone on gradually from bad to worse, not stopping at any one kind of evil, but continually, as with insatiable appetite, devising new kinds of sins. Adulteries and thefts were everywhere, murder and rapine filled the earth, law was disregarded in corruption and injustice, all kinds of iniquities were perpetrated by all, both singly and in common. Cities were warring with cities, nations were rising against nations, and the whole earth was rent with factions and battles, while each strove to outdo the other in wickedness. Even crimes contrary to nature were not unknown, but as the martyr-apostle of Christ says: "Their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature; and the men also, leaving the natural use of the woman, flamed out in lust towards each other, perpetrating shameless acts with their own sex, and receiving in their own persons the due recompense of their pervertedness." 11
Sorry not sure why the first emboldened bit is badly formatted. Here it is...
For God is good--or rather, of all goodness He is Fountainhead, and it is impossible for one who is good to be mean or grudging about anything. Grudging existence to none therefore, He made all things out of nothing through His own Word, our Lord Jesus Christ and *of all these His earthly creatures He reserved especial mercy for the race of men. Upon them, therefore, upon men who, as animals, were essentially impermanent,*
He bestowed a grace which other creatures lacked--namely the impress of His own Image, a share in the reasonable being of the very Word Himself, so that, reflecting Him and themselves becoming reasonable and expressing the Mind of God even as He does, though in limited degree they might continue for ever in the blessed and only true life of the saints in paradise. But since the will of man could turn either way, God secured this grace that He had given by making it conditional from the first upon two things--namely, a law and a place. He set them in His own paradise, and laid upon them a single prohibition. If they guarded the grace and retained the loveliness of their original innocence, then the life of paradise should be theirs, without sorrow, pain or care,* and after it the assurance of immortality in heaven. But if they went astray and became vile, throwing away their birthright of beauty, then they would come under the natural law of death and live no longer in paradise, but, dying outside of it, continue in death and in corruption.* This is what Holy Scripture tells us, proclaiming the command of God, "Of every tree that is in the garden thou shalt surely eat, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil ye shall not eat, but in the day that ye do eat, ye shall surely die." "Ye shall surely die"--*not just die only, but remain in the state of death and of corruption.*
Ok sorry you might want to read heading (3) yourself. You'll see what I mean I think. Something is getting copy/pasted badly.
Christ is risen my brother!
I will try tell you what I understood from St. Athanasius on the Incarnation.
What St. Athanasius is saying about death before the fall is that man was corruptible but not mortal, or as father Ioannis Romanides says Adam was neither incorruptible neither subjected to death. What does that mean? It means that Adam had no reason to die of old age because he didn’t age. And he didn’t get any diseases to die of illnesse. But, being corruptible meaning made out of matter which is malleable, he could have died if his body were to be killed by someone else. There is a difference between unavoidable death like we all experience now because of the fall, and avoidable death which is a lack of danger. Adam in heaven was in no danger of death because no one could kill him. There was no one in heaven who could have attacked Adam, no sword, no guns, nothing. This was the grace of God.
Adam was made in a state called posse non mori,not in a state non posse mori. Adam was like a perfect machine with no flaws so he could have continued to live if he kept the commandment. But when he fell Adam, this perfectly made machine got broken, not destroyed, just like something which no longer functions the way it was intended. Therefore Adam got polluted and received a defect in his being, his life was defected, thus becoming necessarily mortal, which means that he will eventually die for sure. From then on there was no man who could avoid death, and no one even now can avoid death.
But it was necessary that Adam to be remade, and since he could not do it himself, The Word and The Life Himself became flesh. Being God ,Jesus Christ could not remain in death because death has no power over Life( God) thus man flesh and soul was delivered from death by resurrection.
If you read in St. Athanasius On the Incarnation you will find an interesting saying which in my opinion is the whole key for the whole book. He is asked by the heretic: But did Christ not hunger? Or was he not hungry? And the Saint replies; yes, He did, BUT HE DID NOT DIE OF HUNGER.
Christ died not because he would have eventually die due to old age, or famine, or exhaustion, but wilfully. We cannot die like that, it is beyond us. Only this kind of death could have saved human nature from it’s limits.
When St. Athanasius says that creatures are impermanent it means that because they came to being through change, from non existence to existence, they have their being dependent on God. Only God exists of Himself uncaused and independent. If creatures want to continue to exist they must be in communion with their cause of being, namely God. If they don’t, they fall to their natural powers, powers which are limited because they came into being from nonexistence. Away from God beings are draged by their nature towards non existence because anything created is incapable of sustaining itself without God, because creature is not God. Away from God creatures die, some faster some slower according to the body they possess.
Basically when Adam died human nature died, and death entered as a law for all humanity and so al humans from then on die.
I hope it helps and clears things up a bit. God’s speed!
time stamp and reveal this can end peacfuly
Question - How many years (centuries?) did humans live BEFORE Christ's "saving" incarnatiion?
For God, there is no ‘before saving’ or ‘after saving’ because God is beyond time and space. So, if God saves the world through His incarnation, death, and resurrection, He did not ‘only’ save the people who were born after this event, but all people who ever existed because time can’t restrict God’s actions.
Or the Christ power was incarnated into different people before Jesus of Nazareth. There have always been incarnated beings that had divine mission from God.
@@brandonterzic None of those people had a divine nature besides human nature like Christ has. None of those were conceived by the Holy Spirit and lived lives w/o blemish. None of those people could have saved even themselves let alone entire humanity. To compare prophets of the OT with the incarnation of the Son of God is outright blasphemy.
@@johnnyd2383 That is one way to look at it. It is a little too fatalistic and dramatic for my tastes. The spirit of Christ to me, transcends the vessel of the body, Time and space. Why wouldn't pure spirit have embodied other human beings? It seems absurd to me that only one man found the truth within himself and transcended. And what difference would it make anyways? The main thing is that we practice the teaching; charity, forgiveness, compassion and at the same time cultivate stillness and commune with god through prayer and meditation. I think the Christ is universal, and could give a rat's behind if a person pays allegiance to him. A man is known by his works, his character, not what he professes with his tongue. I think Christianity was hijacked big time by the Europeans. Even the Bible is a compilation of different texts, and some of the best texts were left out! Anyways, God bless and thanks for your civil response.
@@brandonterzic It appears that you are endorsing what is otherwise called Syncretism. Such concept has been condemned by the Lord Jesus Christ as well as the numerous Christian theologians in the centuries after His first coming. May God lead you from your current delusions to the narrow path of salvation.
What means crafted for diefiication?
Friendly translation?
How was Christ’s payment made to the father? God paying back God? God appeasing God?
I’ve heard from MANY orthodox that this is not correct, because it puts a division in the trinity. And is basically PSA. Thank you for any feedback
Or maybe the question is did God the son appease the wrath of the Father? That’s what PSA says, and I’m really trying to understand the difference based on this video.
Both of those are a division in the trinity. Seems like a big issue.
Please look the video again and you will notice 2 approaches Orthodox have - first one Theosis and 2nd one juridical way that we really do not like and almost always prefer to talk about Theosis.
The only issue I have with this is that we inherited a inclination to sin. Did Adam and Eve have an inclination to sin? They were in perfection and yet sinned. It’s seems more of a free choice of deception, influence, and just direct rebellion that Adam and Eve experienced just as we also experience. I see death, and suffering of the inherent aspect. So what death a punishment for sin or a consequence?
We inherit the inclination after the fall of Adam and Eve. Before the fall they truly were called to perfection and had nothing sinful within them but they had the free will to choose sin. After they have chosen sin they became inclined to it. Death is a inevitable consequence of sin, because only in God there is life.
@lazywarriortv3096 so did Jesus have that inclination towards sin?
@@IHIuddy No, He did not. He was tempted but He never even thought of sinning. This is because He is the True God. Inclination towards sin has to do with the personality (who we are) not with the nature of the being imo.
@@lazywarriortv3096 if that the case then Jesus would have the advantage over us and would delegitimize the sacrifice. He had to be made like us in all things. Kinda why I say we don’t have the inclination to sin but we are born into a world of sin that is all around us we ourselves are either influenced, deceived, or just rebel. Hebrews speaks of this in chapter 2 and is kinda the point it is driving home. Also some in chapter 4 of hebrews as well.
@@IHIuddy maybe the inclination to sin isn't something that is within us but rather something that we choose.
But even if this is not the case, St Paul says that Christ became like us in everything except sin. So there must be something in His divine persohood which we were missing before he became flesh. We were called to become like Him and this is what Adam and Eve failed to do
Simply Jesus regained access to eternal life for those who do not sin lost by Adam, and gain access to sinners by repentance and forgiveness of those sins committed.
Jesus purchased the church at the Cross, and was raised as high priest and promoted to judge, and those sanctified can be perfected when Jesus forgives those sins as he judges those in the church when they die.
I have a Ytube video series called 'Myths in so-called Christianity' for NT truth.
Did judas go to heaven?
Ask God
I enjoyed the sermon until you added to the scripture with the deification of Mary,it’s not in the word of God and clergy are not qualified to add to the scripture, Jesus himself said who are my mother or brother but those who do the will of the Father,no where does the Word say that Mary should be worshipped, the Apostle John fell at the angels feet twice and the angel said do not worship me I am as you are a servant of God, Mary was a humble servant of God she had other children besides Jesus Christ.
Where does it say we worship Mary? We honor her and worship the God that manifests Himself through her but to say we worship her is an elementary misunderstanding.
It may be beneficial to explore the Orthodox doctrine of Harrowing the Hell which was one of the accomplishments of the Lord. Why is that important.? It enabled the formation of the Church Triumphant where all of our Saints are destined after departure from this world. For some reason, Protestants missed it altogether from the Scriptures, and are thus unable to grasp Orthodox devotion to the Saints.
Forget about theories of the Atonement. Here is truth.
Jesus died to be the ransom for our sins. But who did he pay the ransom? Some say God, but that makes no sense. If God needed there to be a penalty for sin, he then becoming that sacrifice to appease himself is an absurd theory. Jesus paid Satan. Romans 6:16 states "unto whom you yield yourself a servant to obey, his servant you are." If you do the deeds of Satan, you fall under his rule and jurisdiction. Jesus died to pay Satan to release us from his jurisdiction if we would convert unto Christ and live a holy life thereafter. "He whom the Son sets free, he is completely free."
John 8:31-36
Acts 2:38
Romans 6:1-23
Matthew 18:1-10
1 John 5:16-17
Numbers 15:28-31
Hebrews 10:26-27
Mark 16:16
John 3:3-5
If one had to look at the fossils of the 1st man then facts would point out that we evolved rather than created. We cannot mix up actual happenings of evolution with the story portrayed in the Old Testament. I know science is right but I don’t believe this makes me an atheist. To the contrary science indicates that life is a miracle even more so than the Bible. I am a Christian but I am also a realist. I do believe that we are eternal in Jesus Christ and I chose to allow salvation by choosing to believe in the Holy Trinity and all the Holy Sacraments. Unfortunately I do prefer the version of Jesus Christ’s creation and not the Old Testament. The “our Father” spell out what we need to know.
We have one almighty Father who lives in a heavenly state of being ,we shall only worship God the father any God in his entirety is to be worshipped alone. We will ask for both the spiritual wisdom of God and nourishment from God. Something very interesting as if to take on a strange twist away from God , the prayer gives us a command to LOVE and FORGIVE our fellow man as we expect God to forgive us. We then ask God to protect us from evil.Jesus Christ came to fulfil the Old Testament by by allowing salvation and therefore the Holy Spirit to entire our being which can be viewed as God’s Holy Spirit within us. Believe 1st in the actual words of Jesus Christ before the story of Adam and Eve. There is One God which consist of 3 beings namely the Son and Holy Spirit. When you want to know someone then look beyond words and see the works of that person. Jesus Christ died for us so that we may have eternal life so he forgave, healed, but most of all said your faith has made you well. At the core of salvation is our choice of being reborn. Their is no salvation unless we choose God and choose to forgive. The path to God is Jesus Christ and the word was made flesh . Jesus Christ is the WORD ,THE TRUTH and THE LIFE. Glory be To THE FATHER,SON and HOLY SPIRIT. God is Truth,Jesus is the Word and the Holy Spirit within us is God within us because we chose to be born again. I don’t understand the fall of man but I full understand the salvation of man. Perhaps the fall of man can be ascribed to the 2 thieves crucified with Jesus . The one thief said “if you are the Son of God save yourself “ and the other simply saw his evil was and realised that Jesus is truly the son of God.
I see what you are saying but I encourage you take a step back and seek out the wisdom of the Holy Fathers on these matters. I have a video here called “Creation, Early Man, and Evolution according to Modern Holy Fathers”: ua-cam.com/video/Y0sdPLJO3cE/v-deo.html
Along with the earlier Holy Fathers, they perceived the truth of these matters. One cannot understand the incorrupt world (i.e. the world before the Fall) by studying the corrupted world that we live in today. The truth of our beginnings can only truly and fully be understood by Divine Revelation. This is a fundamental presupposition when attempting to understand these matters. One other point that I will make is that “by man came death” (1 Cor 15:21). This leaves no room for evolution since in evolution “by death came man.” Pray and read and submit your mind to the Mind of Christ as manifested in the Saints of the Church, the Body of Christ.
Did you know that Charles Darwins grandfather was a 33rd degree freemason who helped influence the scientific theory of evolution? Erasmus Darwin was his name. Erasmus was a physician, something of a poet, an instrument of the Industrial Revolution, and author of a massive two-volume work Zoönomia (1794-96); this work contained within it the essence of the theory that his grandson would announce to the world half a century later.
@@OrthodoxWisdomif it's all divine revelation, then why does everyone have a differing opinion on different subjects in the Bible? Some say the earth is young and some don't as an example. Wouldn't divine revelation reveal absolute TRUTH? This is another thing that doesn't make sense to me and leads me to believe it's all opinions.
The Church is the pillar and ground of truth as the scriptures say. We know truth as is revealed to the saints and as reflected in the consensus of the saints and when they gather in council and have the mind of Christ. “The must be schism among you” and St. Paul says. The face that people in the Church disagree should be not scandal at all.
@SauerkrautX that's a really good question, you're right about the opinions part! But there can only be 1 truth not 1,000 different truths. There may be some truth in some religions or theory's but ultimately there can only be 1 truth. My advice would be to just seek God, humbly ask him to guide you into all his truth! May God be with you!