I grew up being taught "once saved, always saved." As a 14 year old boy, I began studying the Bible intensely, with passion. I came to disbelieve this doctrine because I saw, in the Bible, a much bigger and more nuanced teaching about salvation that so happens to be precisely what is taught in this video. I noticed as a teenager that the Bible speaks of salvation in all three tenses. We are at once saved when we receive Christ; we are being saved through the grace of God, working out our salvation with fear and trembling; and we will be saved on the last day, those who endure to the end. I understand the "once saved, always saved" doctrine. It was a reaction against, and rightfully so, an over emphasis on personal effort for salvation; it isn't through our mere human effort, but rather through God's grace that enables us. The doctrine was a reaction against fear and uncertainty about one's own salvation. Those who preached "once saved, always saved" rightfully noted that the Christian life should not be characterized by fear; perfect love, after all, casts out fear. Christians ought to live with assurance of their salvation. It's not that we lose our salvation with the very next misdeed. But nor is it that a one time, sincere, prayer of acceptance of Christ saves you, regardless of how rebelliously you live thereafter. I grew up with many who genuinely believed that they could live however sinfully they liked because it didn't matter; they were already saved. I believe so long as one's heart is oriented toward God in a perpetual state of repentance (which goes hand it hand with continually trusting God), though we are not yet perfect (we will still, therefore, sin), God's mercy and grace are given to us to cleanse us of our sin, and enable us to heal and mature into our salvation. Protestants emphasize faith alone, so as to distinguish between faith and works. So far as that distinction is between genuine faith and merely trying to be good through one's own human effort, I completely agree. But I think they went wrong when they taught that how one lives has nothing to do with salvation. The Scripture says to confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart God raised him from the dead, and you will be saved. The first thing I want to point out is that this was written to the church at Rome, to people who were already Christians. Why would they need to be told this if salvation was only a one time initiation event into Christianity? They should have already done this if Protestants are correct. Also, Biblically, belief and action always go together. True belief is always demonstrated by a changed life. That is, a change in how one lives, the actions one takes. James makes it clear that faith is made complete by what we do.
I've been studying Orthodoxy and as a Protestant lean immensely more toward it than the Roman Church. I appreciate your post! It does seem interesting that there seems to be a synergism with Faith and Works...kind of like Grace and Truth! There are overt Scriptures that speak of Christ's Power to save the believer i.e., John 10:27-30...and yet a call by the same Christ to endure and overcome so that one's name won't be "blotted out of The Lamb's Book of Life!"-Revelation 3:5! This is recently puzzling me! But then it begs the question what does it mean to be blotted out of the Book of Life? Is it temporal or eternal? It also begs the question what does it mean for Him to confess one's name before the Father is it too temporal or eternal? What are your thoughts?
As a former Greek Orthodox, once I got saved, I attended a non-Denominational church. We believe once saved always saved, but if you are truly born again you will NOT use your salvation for a license to sin as Paul mentions. As a matter of fact, the Holy Spirit will convict you. You will no longer take pleasure in sin, and you will be bothered when you do. If there's no indication of any of this, then you need to question if you were saved at all.
@@costa328 Did you switch to non-Denominational? Or did you only go a few times in order to see the evidence of the "once saved, always saved" rhetoric?
@mingus445_gaming I attended a Non-Denominational. And yes, I believe once saved, always saved. That doesn't mean you go around sinning. As a matter of fact, you hate sin .
Blessed Father Kallistos! Anyone who has been in his presence knows the blessing. The Holy Spirit feeds the hearer mystically by the hearing of his words. Life in Christ - the only way to go!
Yes, it's really really though in this life. I can never be sure that I'll be saved. I really don't deserve to be saved, to be in the presence of Christ's glory. But at the end I can just hope to be saved. And that's for me enough. Only God's mercy can save me. But I need to struggle daily in the right belief in Christ. How can I be sure that I'll be saved “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” (1 peter 4,18).
Search your heart & desire good for all is what I believe his Grace Bishop Ware is saying. That desire will give you the evidence for the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit. For every action there is a reaction & your desires become self evident in your life. Desiring "good" is from God. Salvation is indeed through Jesus Christ & He will not force it upon you.
I've trust in my church because of their historical roots to the time of the Apostles. And many saints of our church are the perfect model how I want to be as I a human being - full of unconditional love and humility.
I said in a previous post not even the Pope(s) are infallable. That's why the Prayer is "Lord, Jesus Christ ... have mercy on me the sinner" Met Kallistos would be the first to request your prayer and forgiveness, as do I, and each and all.
0:01 A man on a train asked Kallistos Ware, "Are you Saved?" 0:40 How did Kallistos Ware answer? 1:05 What do we mean by Salvation? 1:12 There are 4 Points on Salvation 1:20 1. Great is the mystery of our religion and great is the mystery of salvation -not easily explained. 1:53 Great is the mystery of our salvation. It is not to be easily explained. 2:26 "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence, and Stand with Fear and Trembling." 2:42 2:56 2. God desires everyone to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. 3:20 Salvation is offered to every human being without exception. 3:37 3. We human beings can refuse God. We are free, because God is free. 4:10 St. Augustine said. God made you without your consent God will not save you without your consent 4:50 Will of man is an essential precondition. 5:29 4th Point: Salvation is Personal Salvation is not isolated Salvation is as members of the Body of Christ Salvation is through the sharing of the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion. 6:23 Afraid of falling away. I retain free will, the possibly of falling away. 7:04 Expect temptation until your last breathe, said Saint Anthony. *Answering The Question: Are You Saved?* 7:16 No - "then why are you going around dressed as a clergyman?" "You're denying God's Grace.?" 7:38 I don't know - that sounds rather feeble. 7:49 SO, IN FACT. (pr. Continuous form) I trust, by God's Grace, that I am Being Saved. 8:30 But up to the Gates of Death, I have to go on repenting. *Abba Sisoes* 8:41 Abba Sisoes asked Angels for more time to repent. 9:28 "Surely, I know not in myself if I have even begun to repent." *4 Points on Salvation* 1. Salvation is a Mystery 2. Salvation is Offered To All People, Without Exception 3. Salvation Can Be Rejected (Because God Freely Created, Man Can Freely Reject) 4. Salvation is Personal
Born again also through baptism: Because of "through spirit and water"! And the meaning of water here is baptism. The apostolic fathers, the students of the apostle, teached us that.
Amen! To believe in Him is a "work" required of a sinner in order to be saved and, the ONLY work required of God (John 6:29). Why is believing the ONLY work required and accepted by God? It is required of and accepted to God because faith is coming from God (Rom. 10:17). AFTER becoming His children, and because we ARE His children yes, we are called to do a lot of works but, again, works "which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them", not ours (Eph. 2:10).
"Faith in Christ and good works are integrated, not contrasted" IF and ONLY when they are "the good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10b).
This video is one of my favorites. It's worth listening to as much as you can then turn to something else and come back to it later and learn something new. I have this old habit from my younger days of feeling the necessity to respond point by point to criticisms such as that of James Rockford below. Bottom line is skip him. He's coming from a particular theological stance without mentioning it directly. If you should want to investigate, the key words to remember are "heresy and schism".
roman8,13."For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. 14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God." Oh,how many Christians are still fighting with their flesh and often living according to the flesh, me included. Don't thing that when you feel grace in your heart that you're automatically this sort of God's children who are led by the Spirit.
I was approached on the street one day years ago by an earnest young woman who asked me the same question, "Are you saved, sir?" I drew myself up to my full height and said to her, "I most certainly am not. I am a Roman Catholic." The deer in the headlights.
Yes, from God's perspective all can be born again. But because we have free will we must show our will to be made new. Only IN Christ we are a new creation (2 Corint. 5:17). Only those that "heareth my (Jesus) word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life (John 5:24). We are created in God's likeness with free will of choice. He done His job, now it is up to us to stretch the hand and accept it.
Please forgive. Things usually become complicated the more involved and closer we are to a situation. Remember all is still being renewed. Father K will answer for any involvement in what happened. We should always recall the prayer of St Ephraim the Syrian. And not harbour thoughts. Pray for him.
Salvation is by grace only through faith only in Christ only. "And to the one who does not work but xbelieves in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness," (Romans 4:5.)
@Ernest Herman: Hearing his words is connected with keeping his words.-->"Truly, truly I say unto you, whoever keeps my words will never see death" (John 8:5 1). We who don't love Jesus (John 14:24 He who does not love me will not obey my commandments ...), our salvation is quite especially a mystery and a great mercy of God. Children Of God are those, who're led by the spirit of God, but how many christians live still so often according to the flesh!! (roman 8,13).
'Saved from what'? the answer to this is simple, saved from ourselves! We have free will and are able to make choices, and as such we must be wary that we do not make the wrong choice, by rejecting our Salvation through the Anointed One our Saviour.
Amen and Amen! God Himself is bringing us near to Him by the instructions in the Bible inspired by Him (2 Tim. 3:16). He appointed a day on which He will judge the world by the Man whom He has ordained, Jesus (Acts 17:31). The Holy Spirit takes of Jesus, reveals it to us (John 16:15) and empowers us to do His will (Zechariah 4:6, Acts 1:8). We need to be saved through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5), trusting Jesus (John 5:24).
Perhaps a better translation of the word "saved" could be expressed as the following: "I am saved", "I am being saved" and "I will be saved." At least that is what the people who actually speak Greek tell us. Your problem is that you are working with a translation into English rather than the original. That is probably one of the main reasons that Orthodoxy is only now growing in the English-speaking world.
Thus, Paul's contrast between faith and works fundamentally concerns faith in Christ and specifically what he calls "works of the Law," namely the ritual law of the Old Testament, not the moral commandments of the Old Testament which remain valid and are fulfilled by Christ. Still, salvation is indeed "by grace…through faith" in Christ and it is a "gift of God". Faith in Christ and good works are integrated, not contrasted.
@Kevin41581 That's why I underlined that besides the Coptic Church, the Greek Church also baptizes people in Africa - the Greek Patriarchate of Alexandria more specifically. Omogenia is a term used to describe people of Greek descent living outside Greece, it's not a term that has to do with religion. I have never heard the Ecumenical Patriarch saying that someone has to be a part of the Omogenia in order to be an Orthodox Christian and can't find any similar information.
We have the full freedom to interpret stuff from our hearts. But those that want to be with Jesus will use this freedom to live according to the Word of Jesus and to interpret the stuff according to the Word of Jesus because this very Word of Jesus will qualify us to be with Jesus or without - see John 12:48.
"He came to His own ... But as many as received Him, to them HE GAVE THE RIGHT to become children of God, to those that believe in His name: who were born... of God" (John 1:11-13). God gave the right, the authority to become HIS children born of HIM. He made us His own children, born of Him through Christ. "NOW we are children of God" 1 John 3:2, Romans 8:16. NOW, not in the future. GOD SAID IT.
"Born of him". Well, I'm not a born again Christian, just in the way of baptism. I often still live according to the flesh, not like the most 1th. century children who were led by the Spirit. But by the mercy of the Lord I still feel his grace,but this doesn't mean that I'm now a Child of God. The Children God are those who don't live according to the flesh, who are only led by the spirit.(romans 8,16). And the friends of Jesus are those you love him, who keep ALL his commandments.
Wel, nobody is perfect, only Jesus Christ was, every christian try to be a great person but it is really tough in this life. How you will be saved, what is your belief?
confess jesus as lord and believe in your heart that god raise him from the dead you shall be saved roman 10:9 that what the3 bible say doesnt matter what anybody else say let god be true let everyman be aliar
Thanks. The RCC used to not have much competition here in the English-speaking world. So, they could tell whatever tale and people just believed it. In those days most Orthodox were immigrants or their children and had little skills in debating the RCC. So, now the RCC just has Latin America. Oh, wait! There has been an explosion of Orthodoxy in Guatemala. Between us, the Protestants and those still pagan, the RCC lost it's majority in Guatemala.
This question "Are you save?" and the answer "Yes, I am saved!" are SO arrogant. They pushed me out of the Evangelical church (well, onr of the 30 000 confessions... :-O).
That's because the first Christians were from the One Holy Apostolic Catholic church with patriarchs in Rome, Jerusalem, Antioch, Alexandria, and Constantinople. Sounds like you are Protestant.
Some were, certainly. But not all. Some of our saints are ancient popes. When they defended the Orthodox faith, we affirmed them as first among equals. We are all immoral and need repentance, that much I know from experience ;-)
I agree with you for the most part there but it is fair to mention Hitler was nominally a Catholic although he was quite capable of using the history of Christianity in Germany and Austria to simply play on nationalist feeling and never seems as an adult to have had much time for Christianity. Stalin in his youth was a seminary student although it is noteworthy that he was expelled - those in charge of the seminary were obviously perceptive!
Your last guess is accurate. Wayne has only recently attacked those Christians who belong to the Orthodox Church, in part you can blame me for that as I come from a mixed Catholic/Orthodox family background and first encountered Wayne slagging of Catholics.However he also (in a jaw droppingly hilarious moment) informed us of how Stalin was Catholic and went to a Catholic seminary,I corrected him on that which led to further commentary on the Orthodox and him starting to bother you as well.
The faith that takes man to God is God's faith (Romans 10:17). And God's faith is by default in God's Word. And God's Word is illuminated and empowered by God's Holy Spirit. Everything is from God. Nothing can go to God unless is coming from God. Even our consent to believe in God is from Him. All that we do is to accept it or deny it. But denying God one belongs by default to the prince of this world.
I wouldn't go that far because they are christians also, when the rapture will happened those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ will be saved whatever their religion is.
@Kevin41581 That bishop just expressed a shallow personal opinion. Orthodoxy is a matter of faith and beliefs, not race. The majority of the Orthodox people worldwide don't have Greek DNA. There are even Orthodox people who are from South America or the Far East. In recent years there are a lot of baptisms in sub-Saharan Africa as well, performed by both Coptic and Greek Churches.
@Armadistic Indeed! Not even The Roman Bishop, The Pope, is infallable, even though Rome promulgated their "truth" that they are, but it is very recent - 1870. Orthodoxy has not diverted from The Faith revealed, Correct Glory, Ortho-Doxa. I have freedom to choose, but cannot call myself a Christian if I choose to create my own faith instead of becoming a disciple of Christ and sharing in what He gave. Himself, and what He gave to the 12, 72, 144 etc.... I trust, By God's Grace... Amen.
Born again is NOT by baptism but by accepting Jesus (John 1:12). My children are mine by being born in my family, not by what they do. They did NOT do anything to become my children, I and my wife did. God's children do NOTHING to be born of God, just accept Jesus. God sent Him and "As many as RECEIVED Him, HE GAVE THE RIGHT TO BECOME CHILDREN OF GOD". "Being confident of this very thing, He who has begun a good work in you WILL COMPLETE IT till the day of Jesus" (Philip. 1:6). He WILL!!
Not so! St. Cyril of Jerusalem says “the grace of God is given through Christ at the new birth of Baptism: new birth I mean not of bodies, but the spiritual new birth of the soul. For our bodies are begotten by parents who are seen, but our souls are begotten anew through faith” (First Catec. Lect. 2). And faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Rom. 10:17). Can an infant here the Word to be "begotten anew through faith” like St. Cyril teaches us? Can earthly water give birth to Heavenly being?
That is a problem. Have you been to an Orthodox Church yet? That might be a good start. Keep reading that Bible. The Bible is what brings so many new people to the Orthodox Church. You might want to check out Ancient Faith Radio ancientfaith . com. Good luck. BTW, in the Orthodox Church we never rush anyone. God will give you time to find us if you are truly seeking the Truth.
@Shindler39 Your question is: "How you will be saved?" I give you the answer from the Bible: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house" (Acts 16:31). And if you prefer Jesus' direct answer here it is: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life" (John 5:24).
Earnest, of course the Scripture you quote is accurate and I thank you for offering it up. Let us remember to keep it in context of theology lest we fall into the heresy of solo-fide and/or ‘once saved always saved’. Forgive me a sinner as I offer a few of many verses that must be combined with the verses you offer for when Christ our Lord God was asked; ‘how to inherit the kingdom (salvation) He answered: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. (Matthew 16:24) Mat 10:38 (NIV) ... anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Gal 5:24 (Jer) You cannot belong to Christ Jesus unless you crucify all self-indulgent passions and desires. Gal 5:24 (TEB) And those who belong to Christ Jesus have put to death their human nature, with all its passions and desires. Jn 12:24 (NIV) "I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life." Rom 12:1-2 (Phi) With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him. Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God remake you so that your whole attitude of mind is changed. As the lecture we just watched clearly describes ‘salvation’ is a process that begins by God’s grace with faith and repentance. Grace & Peace
Personnal salvation is neither a gift, nor a simple work, but rather a process and undertaking that matures or develops gradually and is realized in the co-operation of 2 persons: God and man. On the part of God, Divine Grace is offered to us , while for man s part, faith and righteous deeds are necessary. Our objective salvation is realized only in the sacrifice of Jesus-Christ, whereas our personal salvation, which in the New Testament is called righteousness, holiness or salvation(in the narrow sense), is realized as a continuance of this objective salvation, with our personnal energy or activity acting in co-operation with divine Grace. Demons also believe and tremble. Holy scripture is filled with passages which refer to good deeds as a necessayr prerequisite of our salvation(2Cor5;10...Mat 25:34 Rev 20:12 etc) Man has free will...Christ has brought salvation to everyone(objective)...yet not everyone actualises this only those who seek and pursue it! IF Grace were to work on its own indifferent to us it would mean that we would walk to our salvation without our will. In this case if some were lost to perdition they would not be to blame, but rather grace would be responsible since it did not compel them to be saved. This teaching, is not a teaching of Christs church but of the Calvinists. Small note about the Philippians quote; ...Be working out( in Greek..katergazesthai and not ..working out ..ergazesthai) that is with much eagerness and much diligence..(present mid/pas.dep.imperative)...For verse 13... both the eagerness and the working at it are a gift;for if we have the will, then He energizes the willing, He increases our willing...He does not deprive us of our free will...but He shows that being rightly purposed we receive more eagerness in the will...For His good pleasure, for the sakeof love, for the sake of pleasing Him, in accordance with His will...For it is His will that we live as He desires we should;And if He desires it , He Himself both energizes in us to this end, and will certainly accomplish it! Moins
Siko Vasiliko Quoting Jesus we find out that “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Salvation in itself is, therefore, a born again process. By being born again, according to Jesus’ statement, the sinner can enter the Kingdom of God. After being born again, yes, certainly so, it follows the process of maturing called sanctification. But, again, only a born again Christian, a new being in Christ can grow, can mature, can work his/her sanctification through the Holy Spirit.
Ernest Herman Here is a quote from our Holy Father Gregory Nazianz: “Do you have an infant child? Allow sin no opportunity; rather, let the infant be sanctified from childhood. From his most tender age let him be consecrated by the Spirit. Do you fear the seal [of baptism] because of the weakness of nature? Oh, what a pusillanimous mother and of how little faith!” Being born again comes from Spirit and water(baptism)
Siko Vasiliko Thank you for the reply.To begin with, I respect Father Gregory Nazianz, as well as your opinion too.However, when it comes to choose between Father Gregory Nazianz, you or anybody else, even an angel from Heaven (Galatians 1:9), and God, I'll take Peter's position quoted in Acts 4:19 "Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye." Why do I say that? Because God's baptism comes AFTER believing, as quoted in Mark 16:16 as "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved". More than this Bible verse, checking ALL the baptisms that took place in the book of Acts it will be noticed that they have been performed unquestionably to adults - never to infants.
These people are laughing but I wonder how many of them have actually taken ANY time to tell unbelievers about Christ. Notice also that he did NOT exhort any of the congregation to do as that young man did and go out and tell others about Christ. The Orthodox remind me of the "Frozen Chosen" of Calvinism. I've never Heard of any Orthodox person being evangelistic in their life as an Orthodox. I wonder if they have any concern about those who are perishing?
Interpreting stuff from our hearts? "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked"(Jeremiah 17:9). "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man" (Mark 7:21-23). Is this the heart that can guide one to the Holly God?
read romans8:16 the holy spirit testifies that you are save you can know know not wait till you die just read the word tradition are good sometime ntil that get in the way of the word of god
I suspect we wil start hearing about the trail of blood if this goes on much further. I commend the Orthodox poster for showing extreme patience in dealing with your insults and grevious and ill educated misrepresentations of his Church. Try to learn about his Church and you can deal with what he believes. Obviously as a Catholic he and I would also disagree but I would hope we could do each other the courtesty of more amicable converse than you are offering him.
See which one is closer to what the earliest writers of the church wrote. Look at how the 5th Ecumenical Council spanks a sitting pope. They did not think he has full, immediate, absolute and universal authority as Rome says.
You said "how about if we say... My reply is: how about what the Bible says: John 6:29: "This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent" Romans 10:17: "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" Believing in itself must be the result of hearing God's word empowered by God's Spirit in God's Son. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" 2 Cor. 5:17). NOTHING of us EVERYTHING of God. Makes sens?
If the NT is good enough for you, let me thank you for the compliant on behalf of the Orthodox Church. Technically, we do NOT have Orthodox "priests" only Presbyters since NT times. Only in English, do we corrupt that word in the word "priest." And if you would check your NT again, you would see that neither Presbyters nor Bishops are required to be Levites. The Orthodox Church is a strong supporter of the Bible, so if that is all you need, all I can say is, God bless you, brother.
You said "how about we say...". Here is my reply: since we are going to be judged according to what Jesus says (John 12:48, Acts 17:31), how about what Jesus says in John 1:11-13: "He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God"?
According to Jesus' standard "good works" are ONLY those issuing from God (John 5:19 and 30). Jesus did NOT dare to do ANYTHING of Himself but EVERYTHING from God. Who else can dare do that? Jesus worked the works of Him Who sent Him (John 9:4). Can we venture to work our own works issuing from us and command God to accept them?
They're not idols if they're representations of Christ and His life, nor if the images themselves are worshiped...which they're not. Only Satan and his protestant followers would be offended at images of Christ.
If the God of Abraham is real, then He can certainly withstand you looking at Him. It is YOU that are afraid to see what you already fear is true; we are all one and all religion are equal failing attempts to explain the yet unexplainable. Religion only serves to divide, delude and control people.
Jesus' incarnation yes, is a mystery. Salvation might be mystery only for "the wise" but revealed to babes" (Luke 10:21). Jesus assures us "he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me H A S (as of right now i.e) everlasting life, and shall NOT come into judgment" John 5:24. "Beloved N O W we are children of God" (1 John 3:2).
Paul didn't talk about the "costumes" because Moses covered vestments pretty well in the OT and Orthodox doesn't like to change things. So, vestments haven't change much in 2,000 years. By "fish hats", I assume you mean the type of miter that ONLY the Roman Catholic bishops wear? What are you, a rocket scientist? Jesus Christ ONLY founded one Church through his Apostles and that is the Orthodox Church. If you don't like Jesus' Church, it is your problem NOT mine.
IS THE QUESTION: "ARE YOU SAVED???!!!!" TO BE LAUGHED AT AND MOCKED - I THINK NOT, RATHER IT GIVES US A GREAT OPEN DOOR TO TESTIFY OF THE GREAT HOPE THAT LIES WITHIN US???!!!! BUT THE SAD THING IS THAT THIS GUY (WHO PRESUMES TO BE SOMETHING) DID NOT KNOW THE SCRIPTURES, FOR DOES NOT PETER TELL US PLAINLY; *But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.* I PETER 3.15, 16 [KJV] IS IT NOT SAD TO SEE THE PRESUMED SPIRITUAL LEADER ABOVE MOCK AT A QUESTION ABOUT HIS FAITH, AND EVEN TWICE AS BAD IS THE LAUGHTER FROM THE INFIDELS WHO SUPPORT HIM!!!!!!!
@@jnorm888 I SURE DID, TWICE AS A MATTER OF FACT - AND NOT ONCE DID HE ADMONISH THE FLOCK TO ABIDE BY PETER'S COMMAND IN I PETER 3.15, 16!!!!!!! ALL I SAW WAS HIS BEING CUTE AND ALL I HEARD WERE INFIDELS CLAPPING AND PADDING HIS EGO - ME THINKS, NO, I KNOW, HE IS MAN PLEASER TO THE Nth DEGREE!!! PERHAPS YOU WOULD LIKE TO DEFEND HIM, AND HIS WALLOWING IN SIN???!!!! BUT BEFORE YOU DO, YOU NEED TO PRAY ABOUT IT, AND PRAY FOR HIS SALVATION (I DID!!!).
No offense, but I think you lack spiritual discernment. This clip is an edited version of the original. Go watch the original version first before slandering.
@@jnorm888 ACTUALLY YOU CARED VERY LITTLE, IF ANY, IF I WERE OFFENDED - ALSO YOU LIED LIKE A DOG ABOUT MYSELF "SLANDERING" ANYBODY, I SLANDERED NO ONE, I JUST TOLD THE TRUTH, BECAUSE I TOLD THE TRUTH HAVE I NOW BECOME YOUR ENEMY - YOU POSTED THIS VERSION OF SAID SERMON, SO ONE MUST ASK, SINCE YOU SAY THE ORIGINAL WAS SO GOOD, WHY DID YOU EDIT IT ANY AT ALL???!!!! NOW I ASK YOU; *ARE YOU SAVED???!!!!* PS - BE CAREFUL HOW YOU ANSWER, MY SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT WORKS REALLY WELL!!! PS#2 - WHY DID YOU TAKE THIS THREAD OFF PUBLIC VIEW???!!!!
If salvation relied apron your freewill the all man would perish in hell, like wise if your process of sanctification relied apon your ability to commit continually then we would all fail..... Salvation is given by the God, and kept by God, all men are haters of God and spiritually dead... 1 John tells you to examine and take the test of genuine salvation not to suppose your not saved til death.... What hope is that... The evidence of salavation is the fruit produced in your life..... Not the m
@Kevin41581 When has he ever tried to hide being English? this is genuine orthodoxy which is not only relegated to greece but the entire church as a whole.
@@jnorm888 am not posting like many . Now on the media its all same worse regarding apologetics debunking each other. So obviously anyone who reads the Bible can read jesus statement that l posted.
I wouldn't use the word "Christianity" - it's toooo general. The true church is good and true, because the head of the church is Christ himself. But sure, there'll always evil people in the church but that's not the fault of the church, but of the people who don't use rightly the different 'medicines' which the church offers us.
Prots spend way too much time bashing Catholics and telling us we're from hell and going to hell. Not bad for people who threw God out of their churches, God's mother out of their churches, reject baptism and communion, and insist on 'worshiping' from corrupted Bibles w/corrupted scripture. 4 bare walls & a pulpit mean the only thing they want in there is a pastor--a man. God gets the 'no room at the inn' all over again. Sorry, but a lot of us are tired of being attacked by ten-percenters.
@Kevin41581 uh huh I would expect a source for that and certaintly that would not be the majority position when it comes to Orthodoxy and I would dare to say this archBishop should be reprimanded (if he indeed did say that) for not following Christ at his word as the church has done for 2000 years. I am attending a greek orthodox church, and in it there are not only greeks, but asians, non greek New zealanders and even some maori. But to focus back on Met Kalistos what you said was just insultin
Well - I'll take that as a NO then ......! (and so did the fundamentalist on the train - that's for sure !!) But someone below asked the key question: 'Saved from What?' Of course for the fundamentalist - that's easy - 'it's the Lake of Fire'. And presumably for Orthodoxy - it's some variation on that theme. But please enlighten me - you greeks and non-Greeks?
The Orthodox faith is older than the NT. We wrote the NT. If you try to interpret the NT without the Orthodox Church you will get it wrong. The vestments harken back OT times. Not liking the vestments ONLY shows that you are not familiar with the 1st 5 books of the Bible. Christianity started in the Middle East where people kiss things even to this day. We do NOT change things. If you limit your knowledge of Christianity to "scriptures" you will miss a lot and NEVER understand the faith.
Forgive me, but you've first to read the history of the orthodox church and to compare it with the history of the roman-catholic church. And you'll see a hugh difference in their humanity... You shouldn't lump all the different christians churches together.
But that makes no sense. The RC is constantly changing it faith through "doctrine development." They may have started out Orthodox, but they sure are not now. So, your RC friends are plainly wrong. Walk into an Orthodox Church today and you are right back in the 1st Century practicing the faith of the Apostles. All the trappings are still in concordance with archeological discovers and they are still teaching the original faith.
This is not what the Catholic Church teaches regarding our separated brethren. If you are Orthodox of course you may have a different view but even then I cannot Bishop Ware who is the speaker in this video so easily dismissing fellow followers of Christ. For Catholics the Catechism contains a number of sections instructing us how to view non-Catholic Christians.
Wayne if you think I am going to answer this question so you can get a modicum of perverse entertainment whilst causing discord between fellow Christians you are gravely mistaken. You have no sincere intent in raising such questions.
"But he that endureth until the end shall be saved." (Matt 24.13)
His Eminence speaks like Treebeard from Lord of the Rings and that is so awesome.
I grew up being taught "once saved, always saved." As a 14 year old boy, I began studying the Bible intensely, with passion. I came to disbelieve this doctrine because I saw, in the Bible, a much bigger and more nuanced teaching about salvation that so happens to be precisely what is taught in this video. I noticed as a teenager that the Bible speaks of salvation in all three tenses. We are at once saved when we receive Christ; we are being saved through the grace of God, working out our salvation with fear and trembling; and we will be saved on the last day, those who endure to the end. I understand the "once saved, always saved" doctrine. It was a reaction against, and rightfully so, an over emphasis on personal effort for salvation; it isn't through our mere human effort, but rather through God's grace that enables us. The doctrine was a reaction against fear and uncertainty about one's own salvation. Those who preached "once saved, always saved" rightfully noted that the Christian life should not be characterized by fear; perfect love, after all, casts out fear. Christians ought to live with assurance of their salvation. It's not that we lose our salvation with the very next misdeed. But nor is it that a one time, sincere, prayer of acceptance of Christ saves you, regardless of how rebelliously you live thereafter. I grew up with many who genuinely believed that they could live however sinfully they liked because it didn't matter; they were already saved. I believe so long as one's heart is oriented toward God in a perpetual state of repentance (which goes hand it hand with continually trusting God), though we are not yet perfect (we will still, therefore, sin), God's mercy and grace are given to us to cleanse us of our sin, and enable us to heal and mature into our salvation.
Protestants emphasize faith alone, so as to distinguish between faith and works. So far as that distinction is between genuine faith and merely trying to be good through one's own human effort, I completely agree. But I think they went wrong when they taught that how one lives has nothing to do with salvation. The Scripture says to confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart God raised him from the dead, and you will be saved. The first thing I want to point out is that this was written to the church at Rome, to people who were already Christians. Why would they need to be told this if salvation was only a one time initiation event into Christianity? They should have already done this if Protestants are correct. Also, Biblically, belief and action always go together. True belief is always demonstrated by a changed life. That is, a change in how one lives, the actions one takes. James makes it clear that faith is made complete by what we do.
I've been studying Orthodoxy and as a Protestant lean immensely more toward it than the Roman Church. I appreciate your post! It does seem interesting that there seems to be a synergism with Faith and Works...kind of like Grace and Truth! There are overt Scriptures that speak of Christ's Power to save the believer i.e., John 10:27-30...and yet a call by the same Christ to endure and overcome so that one's name won't be "blotted out of The Lamb's Book of Life!"-Revelation 3:5!
This is recently puzzling me! But then it begs the question what does it mean to be blotted out of the Book of Life? Is it temporal or eternal? It also begs the question what does it mean for Him to confess one's name before the Father is it too temporal or eternal? What are your thoughts?
As a former Greek Orthodox, once I got saved, I attended a non-Denominational church. We believe once saved always saved, but if you are truly born again you will NOT use your salvation for a license to sin as Paul mentions. As a matter of fact, the Holy Spirit will convict you. You will no longer take pleasure in sin, and you will be bothered when you do. If there's no indication of any of this, then you need to question if you were saved at all.
@@costa328 Did you switch to non-Denominational? Or did you only go a few times in order to see the evidence of the "once saved, always saved" rhetoric?
@mingus445_gaming I attended a Non-Denominational. And yes, I believe once saved, always saved. That doesn't mean you go around sinning. As a matter of fact, you hate sin .
So you can be unborn when you are Born Again? Philippians 1:6
Blessed Father Kallistos!
Anyone who has been in his presence knows the blessing. The Holy Spirit feeds the hearer mystically by the hearing of his words.
Life in Christ - the only way to go!
Thank you for posting.
Grace and Peace to you....
.... faith is a verb.
Christ is Risen!
Bright Monday, 2023 AD
Yes, it's really really though in this life.
I can never be sure that I'll be saved. I really don't deserve to be saved, to be in the presence of Christ's glory. But at the end I can just hope to be saved. And that's for me enough. Only God's mercy can save me. But I need to struggle daily in the right belief in Christ. How can I be sure that I'll be saved “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” (1 peter 4,18).
Search your heart & desire good for all is what I believe his Grace Bishop Ware is saying. That desire will give you the evidence for the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit. For every action there is a reaction & your desires become self evident in your life. Desiring "good" is from God. Salvation is indeed through Jesus Christ & He will not force it upon you.
I've trust in my church because of their historical roots to the time of the Apostles. And many saints of our church are the perfect model how I want to be as I a human being - full of unconditional love and humility.
God gave you free will, so use it as He commands you to.
Memory Eternal!
Faith in Christ and good works are integrated, not contrasted. Therefore "to receive him" and "to believe him" is integrated in good works.
salvation needs our conscious participation
Many thanks to God for Metropolitan Kallistos Ware's Biblical lecture!
A true Saint of Jesus!
you have opened your mind to God and want God's will,that is all you can do
I said in a previous post not even the Pope(s) are infallable.
That's why the Prayer is "Lord, Jesus Christ ... have mercy on me the sinner"
Met Kallistos would be the first to request your prayer and forgiveness,
as do I, and each and all.
0:01 A man on a train asked Kallistos Ware, "Are you Saved?"
0:40 How did Kallistos Ware answer?
1:05 What do we mean by Salvation?
1:12 There are 4 Points on Salvation
1:20 1. Great is the mystery of our religion and great is the mystery of salvation -not easily explained.
1:53 Great is the mystery of our salvation. It is not to be easily explained.
2:26 "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence, and Stand with Fear and Trembling."
2:42
2:56 2. God desires everyone to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.
3:20 Salvation is offered to every human being without exception.
3:37 3. We human beings can refuse God. We are free, because God is free.
4:10 St. Augustine said.
God made you without your consent
God will not save you without your consent
4:50 Will of man is an essential precondition.
5:29 4th Point:
Salvation is Personal
Salvation is not isolated
Salvation is as members of the Body of Christ
Salvation is through the sharing of the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion.
6:23 Afraid of falling away. I retain free will, the possibly of falling away.
7:04 Expect temptation until your last breathe, said Saint Anthony.
*Answering The Question: Are You Saved?*
7:16
No - "then why are you going around dressed as a clergyman?" "You're denying God's Grace.?"
7:38
I don't know - that sounds rather feeble.
7:49 SO, IN FACT. (pr. Continuous form)
I trust, by God's Grace, that I am Being Saved.
8:30 But up to the Gates of Death, I have to go on repenting.
*Abba Sisoes*
8:41 Abba Sisoes asked Angels for more time to repent.
9:28 "Surely, I know not in myself if I have even begun to repent."
*4 Points on Salvation*
1. Salvation is a Mystery
2. Salvation is Offered To All People, Without Exception
3. Salvation Can Be Rejected (Because God Freely Created, Man Can Freely Reject)
4. Salvation is Personal
Born again also through baptism: Because of "through spirit and water"! And the meaning of water here is baptism. The apostolic fathers, the students of the apostle, teached us that.
And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"
This is just so so good. Thank you so much!
Amen! To believe in Him is a "work" required of a sinner in order to be saved and, the ONLY work required of God (John 6:29). Why is believing the ONLY work required and accepted by God? It is required of and accepted to God because faith is coming from God (Rom. 10:17).
AFTER becoming His children, and because we ARE His children yes, we are called to do a lot of works but, again, works "which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them", not ours (Eph. 2:10).
"Faith in Christ and good works are integrated, not contrasted" IF and ONLY when they are "the good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10b).
Salvation is knowing God through Jesus. John 17:3 and John 10:27
This video is one of my favorites. It's worth listening to as much as you can then turn to something else and come back to it later and learn something new.
I have this old habit from my younger days of feeling the necessity to respond point by point to criticisms such as that of James Rockford below. Bottom line is skip him. He's coming from a particular theological stance without mentioning it directly. If you should want to investigate, the key words to remember are "heresy and schism".
roman8,13."For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. 14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God."
Oh,how many Christians are still fighting with their flesh and often living according to the flesh, me included. Don't thing that when you feel grace in your heart that you're automatically this sort of God's children who are led by the Spirit.
I was approached on the street one day years ago by an earnest young woman who asked me the same question, "Are you saved, sir?" I drew myself up to my full height and said to her, "I most certainly am not. I am a Roman Catholic." The deer in the headlights.
Yes, from God's perspective all can be born again. But because we have free will we must show our will to be made new. Only IN Christ we are a new creation (2 Corint. 5:17). Only those that "heareth my (Jesus) word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life (John 5:24). We are created in God's likeness with free will of choice. He done His job, now it is up to us to stretch the hand and accept it.
Please forgive. Things usually become complicated the more involved and closer we are to a situation. Remember all is still being renewed. Father K will answer for any involvement in what happened. We should always recall the prayer of St Ephraim the Syrian. And not harbour thoughts. Pray for him.
THANK YOU FOR UPLOADING!!!
Salvation is by grace only through faith only in Christ only. "And to the one who does not work but xbelieves in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness," (Romans 4:5.)
"And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off" (1 Kings 20:11).
thank you for sharing
I am interested in the assurance of salvation.
@Ernest Herman:
Hearing his words is connected with keeping his words.-->"Truly, truly I say unto you, whoever keeps my words will never see death" (John 8:5 1).
We who don't love Jesus (John 14:24 He who does not love me will not obey my commandments ...), our salvation is quite especially a mystery and a great mercy of God.
Children Of God are those, who're led by the spirit of God, but how many christians live still so often according to the flesh!! (roman 8,13).
'Saved from what'? the answer to this is simple, saved from ourselves! We have free will and are able to make choices, and as such we must be wary that we do not make the wrong choice, by rejecting our Salvation through the Anointed One our Saviour.
How about being saved from being cast down, falling into the blackness of darkness forever... Being saved from ourselves is just a nice bonus...
@@jerroldnadler1688 Being saved from eternal darkness is being saved from ourselves, for man is inherently sinful without the grace of God
Amen and Amen! God Himself is bringing us near to Him by the instructions in the Bible inspired by Him (2 Tim. 3:16).
He appointed a day on which He will judge the world by the Man whom He has ordained, Jesus (Acts 17:31).
The Holy Spirit takes of Jesus, reveals it to us (John 16:15) and empowers us to do His will (Zechariah 4:6, Acts 1:8).
We need to be saved through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5), trusting Jesus (John 5:24).
Perhaps a better translation of the word "saved" could be expressed as the following: "I am saved", "I am being saved" and "I will be saved."
At least that is what the people who actually speak Greek tell us. Your problem is that you are working with a translation into English rather than the original. That is probably one of the main reasons that Orthodoxy is only now growing in the English-speaking world.
Thus, Paul's contrast between faith and works fundamentally concerns
faith in Christ and specifically what he calls "works of the Law," namely the
ritual law of the Old Testament, not the moral commandments of the Old
Testament which remain valid and are fulfilled by Christ. Still, salvation is
indeed "by grace…through faith" in Christ and it is a "gift of God". Faith in
Christ and good works are integrated, not contrasted.
@Kevin41581 That's why I underlined that besides the Coptic Church, the Greek Church also baptizes people in Africa - the Greek Patriarchate of Alexandria more specifically. Omogenia is a term used to describe people of Greek descent living outside Greece, it's not a term that has to do with religion. I have never heard the Ecumenical Patriarch saying that someone has to be a part of the Omogenia in order to be an Orthodox Christian and can't find any similar information.
Brilliant
We have the full freedom to interpret stuff from our hearts. But those that want to be with Jesus will use this freedom to live according to the Word of Jesus and to interpret the stuff according to the Word of Jesus because this very Word of Jesus will qualify us to be with Jesus or without - see John 12:48.
You gotta serve someone as Dylan said.
"He came to His own ... But as many as received Him, to them HE GAVE THE RIGHT to become children of God, to those that believe in His name: who were born... of God" (John 1:11-13). God gave the right, the authority to become HIS children born of HIM. He made us His own children, born of Him through Christ. "NOW we are children of God" 1 John 3:2, Romans 8:16. NOW, not in the future. GOD SAID IT.
It without looking, sounds like gandalf converted to eastern orthodoxy,lol. great video btw.
"Born of him". Well, I'm not a born again Christian, just in the way of baptism. I often still live according to the flesh, not like the most 1th. century children who were led by the Spirit. But by the mercy of the Lord I still feel his grace,but this doesn't mean that I'm now a Child of God. The Children God are those who don't live according to the flesh, who are only led by the spirit.(romans 8,16). And the friends of Jesus are those you love him, who keep ALL his commandments.
Wel, nobody is perfect, only Jesus Christ was, every christian try to be a great person but it is really tough in this life. How you will be saved, what is your belief?
confess jesus as lord and believe in your heart that god raise him from the dead you shall be saved roman 10:9 that what the3 bible say doesnt matter what anybody else say let god be true let everyman be aliar
Thanks. The RCC used to not have much competition here in the English-speaking world. So, they could tell whatever tale and people just believed it. In those days most Orthodox were immigrants or their children and had little skills in debating the RCC.
So, now the RCC just has Latin America. Oh, wait! There has been an explosion of Orthodoxy in Guatemala. Between us, the Protestants and those still pagan, the RCC lost it's majority in Guatemala.
@Armadistic
Agreed!
This question "Are you save?" and the answer "Yes, I am saved!" are SO arrogant. They pushed me out of the Evangelical church (well, onr of the 30 000 confessions... :-O).
Mee too👏😊
...now I thank them (pentecostals) for their error guide me into God's truth: ORTHODOXY 💓☦️
GLORY TO GOD FOR ALL THINGS!!👑🙏🏼
GOD BLESS!!🕊️
0:53 l can't imagine jesus and his disciples dressed and talking in such a educated manner.
So you think Jesus and His disciples dressed and talked like you?
@@jnorm888 instead of a cynical reply just answer my question,did they have same dress code as the herodian priesthood.
@frederickanderson1860 you didn't give a question you gave a clinical comment
Sounds catholic church to me. I was saved i am being saved. I will be saved.
That's because the first Christians were from the One Holy Apostolic Catholic church with patriarchs in Rome, Jerusalem, Antioch, Alexandria, and Constantinople. Sounds like you are Protestant.
Some were, certainly. But not all. Some of our saints are ancient popes. When they defended the Orthodox faith, we affirmed them as first among equals.
We are all immoral and need repentance, that much I know from experience ;-)
I agree with you for the most part there but it is fair to mention Hitler was nominally a Catholic although he was quite capable of using the history of Christianity in Germany and Austria to simply play on nationalist feeling and never seems as an adult to have had much time for Christianity. Stalin in his youth was a seminary student although it is noteworthy that he was expelled - those in charge of the seminary were obviously perceptive!
Your last guess is accurate. Wayne has only recently attacked those Christians who belong to the Orthodox Church, in part you can blame me for that as I come from a mixed Catholic/Orthodox family background and first encountered Wayne slagging of Catholics.However he also (in a jaw droppingly hilarious moment) informed us of how Stalin was Catholic and went to a Catholic seminary,I corrected him on that which led to further commentary on the Orthodox and him starting to bother you as well.
The faith that takes man to God is God's faith (Romans 10:17). And God's faith is by default in God's Word. And God's Word is illuminated and empowered by God's Holy Spirit. Everything is from God. Nothing can go to God unless is coming from God. Even our consent to believe in God is from Him. All that we do is to accept it or deny it. But denying God one belongs by default to the prince of this world.
I wouldn't go that far because they are christians also, when the rapture will happened those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ will be saved whatever their religion is.
Are you saved? read Philippians 2:12 & Philippians 3:12.
I would add 2 Peter 1:5-11
@Kevin41581 That bishop just expressed a shallow personal opinion. Orthodoxy is a matter of faith and beliefs, not race. The majority of the Orthodox people worldwide don't have Greek DNA. There are even Orthodox people who are from South America or the Far East. In recent years there are a lot of baptisms in sub-Saharan Africa as well, performed by both Coptic and Greek Churches.
@Armadistic Indeed!
Not even The Roman Bishop, The Pope, is infallable, even though Rome promulgated their "truth" that they are, but it is very recent - 1870.
Orthodoxy has not diverted from The Faith revealed, Correct Glory, Ortho-Doxa.
I have freedom to choose, but cannot call myself a Christian if I choose to create my own faith instead of becoming a disciple of Christ and sharing in what He gave. Himself, and what He gave to the 12, 72, 144 etc.... I trust, By God's Grace... Amen.
Born again is NOT by baptism but by accepting Jesus (John 1:12).
My children are mine by being born in my family, not by what they do. They did NOT do anything to become my children, I and my wife did. God's children do NOTHING to be born of God, just accept Jesus. God sent Him and "As many as RECEIVED Him, HE GAVE THE RIGHT TO BECOME CHILDREN OF GOD". "Being confident of this very thing, He who has begun a good work in you WILL COMPLETE IT till the day of Jesus" (Philip. 1:6). He WILL!!
Not so! St. Cyril of Jerusalem says “the grace of God is given through Christ at the new birth of Baptism: new birth I mean not of bodies, but the spiritual new birth of the soul. For our bodies are begotten by parents who are seen, but our souls are begotten anew through faith” (First Catec. Lect. 2). And faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Rom. 10:17). Can an infant here the Word to be "begotten anew through faith” like St. Cyril teaches us? Can earthly water give birth to Heavenly being?
That is a problem. Have you been to an Orthodox Church yet? That might be a good start. Keep reading that Bible. The Bible is what brings so many new people to the Orthodox Church. You might want to check out Ancient Faith Radio ancientfaith . com.
Good luck. BTW, in the Orthodox Church we never rush anyone. God will give you time to find us if you are truly seeking the Truth.
Prince Lazar happened to me at 18. Family is Methodist though but i enjoy both churches. Both are truthful.
It's looks as if I'm going to have to moderate the comments on here. Either that or comment myself.
@Shindler39
Your question is: "How you will be saved?" I give you the answer from the Bible:
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house" (Acts 16:31).
And if you prefer Jesus' direct answer here it is: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life" (John 5:24).
Earnest, of course the Scripture you quote is accurate and I thank you for offering it up. Let us remember to keep it in context of theology lest we fall into the heresy of solo-fide and/or ‘once saved always saved’. Forgive me a sinner as I offer a few of many verses that must be combined with the verses you offer for when Christ our Lord God was asked; ‘how to inherit the kingdom (salvation) He answered: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. (Matthew 16:24)
Mat 10:38 (NIV) ... anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
Gal 5:24 (Jer) You cannot belong to Christ Jesus unless you crucify all self-indulgent passions and desires.
Gal 5:24 (TEB) And those who belong to Christ Jesus have put to death their human nature, with all its passions and desires.
Jn 12:24 (NIV) "I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life."
Rom 12:1-2 (Phi) With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him. Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God remake you so that your whole attitude of mind is changed.
As the lecture we just watched clearly describes ‘salvation’ is a process that begins by God’s grace with faith and repentance.
Grace & Peace
Personnal salvation is neither a gift, nor a simple work, but rather a process and undertaking that matures or develops gradually and is realized in the co-operation of 2 persons: God and man. On the part of God, Divine Grace is offered to us , while for man s part, faith and righteous deeds are necessary. Our objective salvation is realized only in the sacrifice of Jesus-Christ, whereas our personal salvation, which in the New Testament is called righteousness, holiness or salvation(in the narrow sense), is realized as a continuance of this objective salvation, with our personnal energy or activity acting in co-operation with divine Grace. Demons also believe and tremble. Holy scripture is filled with passages which refer to good deeds as a necessayr prerequisite of our salvation(2Cor5;10...Mat 25:34 Rev 20:12 etc)
Man has free will...Christ has brought salvation to everyone(objective)...yet not everyone actualises this only those who seek and pursue it! IF Grace were to work on its own indifferent to us it would mean that we would walk to our salvation without our will. In this case if some were lost to perdition they would not be to blame, but rather grace would be responsible since it did not compel them to be saved. This teaching, is not a teaching of Christs church but of the Calvinists.
Small note about the Philippians quote; ...Be working out( in Greek..katergazesthai and not ..working out ..ergazesthai) that is with much eagerness and much diligence..(present mid/pas.dep.imperative)...For verse 13... both the eagerness and the working at it are a gift;for if we have the will, then He energizes the willing, He increases our willing...He does not deprive us of our free will...but He shows that being rightly purposed we receive more eagerness in the will...For His good pleasure, for the sakeof love, for the sake of pleasing Him, in accordance with His will...For it is His will that we live as He desires we should;And if He desires it , He Himself both energizes in us to this end, and will certainly accomplish it!
Moins
Siko Vasiliko
Quoting Jesus
we find out that “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”
(John 3:3). Salvation in itself is, therefore, a born again process. By being
born again, according to Jesus’ statement, the sinner can enter the Kingdom of
God.
After being born again, yes, certainly so, it
follows the process of maturing called sanctification. But, again, only a born
again Christian, a new being in Christ can grow, can mature, can work his/her
sanctification through the Holy Spirit.
Ernest Herman Here is a quote from our Holy Father Gregory Nazianz:
“Do you have an infant child? Allow sin no opportunity; rather, let the infant be sanctified from childhood.
From his most tender age let him be consecrated by the Spirit.
Do you fear the seal [of baptism] because of the weakness of nature? Oh, what a pusillanimous mother and of how little faith!”
Being born again comes from Spirit and water(baptism)
Siko Vasiliko Thank you for the reply.To begin with, I respect Father Gregory Nazianz, as well as your opinion too.However, when it comes to choose between Father Gregory Nazianz, you or anybody else, even an angel from Heaven (Galatians 1:9), and God, I'll take Peter's position quoted in Acts 4:19 "Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye."
Why do I say that? Because God's baptism comes AFTER believing, as quoted in Mark 16:16 as "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved". More than this Bible verse, checking ALL the baptisms that took place in the book of Acts it will be noticed that they have been performed unquestionably to adults - never to infants.
I'm going to have to start blocking people
and removing comments!
These people are laughing but I wonder how many of them have actually taken ANY time to tell unbelievers about Christ. Notice also that he did NOT exhort any of the congregation to do as that young man did and go out and tell others about Christ. The Orthodox remind me of the "Frozen Chosen" of Calvinism. I've never Heard of any Orthodox person being evangelistic in their life as an Orthodox. I wonder if they have any concern about those who are perishing?
Interpreting stuff from our hearts?
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked"(Jeremiah 17:9).
"For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
All these evil things come from within, and defile the man" (Mark 7:21-23).
Is this the heart that can guide one to the Holly God?
read romans8:16 the holy spirit testifies that you are save you can know know not wait till you die just read the word tradition are good sometime ntil that get in the way of the word of god
I suspect we wil start hearing about the trail of blood if this goes on much further. I commend the Orthodox poster for showing extreme patience in dealing with your insults and grevious and ill educated misrepresentations of his Church. Try to learn about his Church and you can deal with what he believes. Obviously as a Catholic he and I would also disagree but I would hope we could do each other the courtesty of more amicable converse than you are offering him.
See which one is closer to what the earliest writers of the church wrote. Look at how the 5th Ecumenical Council spanks a sitting pope. They did not think he has full, immediate, absolute and universal authority as Rome says.
You said "how about if we say...
My reply is: how about what the Bible says:
John 6:29: "This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent"
Romans 10:17: "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God"
Believing in itself must be the result of hearing God's word empowered by God's Spirit in God's Son. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" 2 Cor. 5:17). NOTHING of us EVERYTHING of God.
Makes sens?
Is your church providing salvation?
If the NT is good enough for you, let me thank you for the compliant on behalf of the Orthodox Church.
Technically, we do NOT have Orthodox "priests" only Presbyters since NT times. Only in English, do we corrupt that word in the word "priest."
And if you would check your NT again, you would see that neither Presbyters nor Bishops are required to be Levites.
The Orthodox Church is a strong supporter of the Bible, so if that is all you need, all I can say is, God bless you, brother.
You said "how about we say...".
Here is my reply: since we are going to be judged according to what Jesus says (John 12:48, Acts 17:31), how about what Jesus says in John 1:11-13: "He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God"?
Father ware is always good 👍 😂
According to Jesus' standard "good works" are ONLY those issuing from God (John 5:19 and 30). Jesus did NOT dare to do ANYTHING of Himself but EVERYTHING from God. Who else can dare do that?
Jesus worked the works of Him Who sent Him (John 9:4). Can we venture to work our own works issuing from us and command God to accept them?
They're not idols if they're representations of Christ and His life, nor if the images themselves are worshiped...which they're not. Only Satan and his protestant followers would be offended at images of Christ.
If the God of Abraham is real, then He can certainly withstand you looking at Him. It is YOU that are afraid to see what you already fear is true; we are all one and all religion are equal failing attempts to explain the yet unexplainable.
Religion only serves to divide, delude and control people.
What are you whittering about now Wayne?
Jesus' incarnation yes, is a mystery. Salvation might be mystery only for "the wise" but revealed to babes" (Luke 10:21). Jesus assures us "he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me H A S (as of right now i.e) everlasting life, and shall NOT come into judgment" John 5:24. "Beloved N O W we are children of God" (1 John 3:2).
We're not separating them. They separated themselves and are not part of the whole. Prots do not follow Christ. They hate God.
Huh?
It looks like I have to moderate these comments
Does that make Christianity true or good?
Paul didn't talk about the "costumes" because Moses covered vestments pretty well in the OT and Orthodox doesn't like to change things. So, vestments haven't change much in 2,000 years.
By "fish hats", I assume you mean the type of miter that ONLY the Roman Catholic bishops wear?
What are you, a rocket scientist?
Jesus Christ ONLY founded one Church through his Apostles and that is the Orthodox Church. If you don't like Jesus' Church, it is your problem NOT mine.
IS THE QUESTION: "ARE YOU SAVED???!!!!" TO BE LAUGHED AT AND MOCKED - I THINK NOT, RATHER IT GIVES US A GREAT OPEN DOOR TO TESTIFY OF THE GREAT HOPE THAT LIES WITHIN US???!!!!
BUT THE SAD THING IS THAT THIS GUY (WHO PRESUMES TO BE SOMETHING) DID NOT KNOW THE SCRIPTURES, FOR DOES NOT PETER TELL US PLAINLY; *But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.* I PETER 3.15, 16 [KJV]
IS IT NOT SAD TO SEE THE PRESUMED SPIRITUAL LEADER ABOVE MOCK AT A QUESTION ABOUT HIS FAITH, AND EVEN TWICE AS BAD IS THE LAUGHTER FROM THE INFIDELS WHO SUPPORT HIM!!!!!!!
Did you watch the video?
@@jnorm888
I SURE DID, TWICE AS A MATTER OF FACT - AND NOT ONCE DID HE ADMONISH THE FLOCK TO ABIDE BY PETER'S COMMAND IN I PETER 3.15, 16!!!!!!!
ALL I SAW WAS HIS BEING CUTE AND ALL I HEARD WERE INFIDELS CLAPPING AND PADDING HIS EGO - ME THINKS, NO, I KNOW, HE IS MAN PLEASER TO THE Nth DEGREE!!!
PERHAPS YOU WOULD LIKE TO DEFEND HIM, AND HIS WALLOWING IN SIN???!!!! BUT BEFORE YOU DO, YOU NEED TO PRAY ABOUT IT, AND PRAY FOR HIS SALVATION (I DID!!!).
No offense, but I think you lack spiritual discernment. This clip is an edited version of the original. Go watch the original version first before slandering.
@@jnorm888
ACTUALLY YOU CARED VERY LITTLE, IF ANY, IF I WERE OFFENDED - ALSO YOU LIED LIKE A DOG ABOUT MYSELF "SLANDERING" ANYBODY, I SLANDERED NO ONE, I JUST TOLD THE TRUTH, BECAUSE I TOLD THE TRUTH HAVE I NOW BECOME YOUR ENEMY - YOU POSTED THIS VERSION OF SAID SERMON, SO ONE MUST ASK, SINCE YOU SAY THE ORIGINAL WAS SO GOOD, WHY DID YOU EDIT IT ANY AT ALL???!!!!
NOW I ASK YOU; *ARE YOU SAVED???!!!!*
PS - BE CAREFUL HOW YOU ANSWER, MY SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT WORKS REALLY WELL!!!
PS#2 - WHY DID YOU TAKE THIS THREAD OFF PUBLIC VIEW???!!!!
@@jnorm888Where can I find the original?
If salvation relied apron your freewill the all man would perish in hell, like wise if your process of sanctification relied apon your ability to commit continually then we would all fail..... Salvation is given by the God, and kept by God, all men are haters of God and spiritually dead... 1 John tells you to examine and take the test of genuine salvation not to suppose your not saved til death.... What hope is that... The evidence of salavation is the fruit produced in your life..... Not the m
which bishop?
There is no mystery of salvation. Accept Jesus as your Lord & Savior and that he died for your sins and you will be saved.
@Kevin41581 When has he ever tried to hide being English? this is genuine orthodoxy which is not only relegated to greece but the entire church as a whole.
Are you ?
Are you what?
@@jnorm888 saved you seem to focus on theological issues . Take plank out your own eyes man.
@@frederickanderson1860 , maybe you should look in the mirror and judge yourself before judging others.
@@jnorm888 am not posting like many . Now on the media its all same worse regarding apologetics debunking each other. So obviously anyone who reads the Bible can read jesus statement that l posted.
@@frederickanderson1860, did you watch the UA-cam clip? It seems as if you haven't for my answer will be the same as his.
I wouldn't use the word "Christianity" - it's toooo general.
The true church is good and true, because the head of the church is Christ himself. But sure, there'll always evil people in the church but that's not the fault of the church, but of the people who don't use rightly the different 'medicines' which the church offers us.
Prots spend way too much time bashing Catholics and telling us we're from hell and going to hell. Not bad for people who threw God out of their churches, God's mother out of their churches, reject baptism and communion, and insist on 'worshiping' from corrupted Bibles w/corrupted scripture. 4 bare walls & a pulpit mean the only thing they want in there is a pastor--a man. God gets the 'no room at the inn' all over again. Sorry, but a lot of us are tired of being attacked by ten-percenters.
@Kevin41581 uh huh I would expect a source for that and certaintly that would not be the majority position when it comes to Orthodoxy and I would dare to say this archBishop should be reprimanded (if he indeed did say that) for not following Christ at his word as the church has done for 2000 years. I am attending a greek orthodox church, and in it there are not only greeks, but asians, non greek New zealanders and even some maori. But to focus back on Met Kalistos what you said was just insultin
Well - I'll take that as a NO then ......! (and so did the fundamentalist on the train - that's for sure !!)
But someone below asked the key question: 'Saved from What?'
Of course for the fundamentalist - that's easy - 'it's the Lake of Fire'.
And presumably for Orthodoxy - it's some variation on that theme. But please enlighten me - you greeks and non-Greeks?
The Orthodox faith is older than the NT. We wrote the NT. If you try to interpret the NT without the Orthodox Church you will get it wrong.
The vestments harken back OT times. Not liking the vestments ONLY shows that you are not familiar with the 1st 5 books of the Bible.
Christianity started in the Middle East where people kiss things even to this day. We do NOT change things.
If you limit your knowledge of Christianity to "scriptures" you will miss a lot and NEVER understand the faith.
Forgive me, but you've first to read the history of the orthodox church and to compare it with the history of the roman-catholic church. And you'll see a hugh difference in their humanity...
You shouldn't lump all the different christians churches together.
But that makes no sense. The RC is constantly changing it faith through "doctrine development." They may have started out Orthodox, but they sure are not now. So, your RC friends are plainly wrong.
Walk into an Orthodox Church today and you are right back in the 1st Century practicing the faith of the Apostles. All the trappings are still in concordance with archeological discovers and they are still teaching the original faith.
This is not what the Catholic Church teaches regarding our separated brethren. If you are Orthodox of course you may have a different view but even then I cannot Bishop Ware who is the speaker in this video so easily dismissing fellow followers of Christ. For Catholics the Catechism contains a number of sections instructing us how to view non-Catholic Christians.
Wayne if you think I am going to answer this question so you can get a modicum of perverse entertainment whilst causing discord between fellow Christians you are gravely mistaken. You have no sincere intent in raising such questions.