My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE. Ο ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΕΝ ΤΩ ΜΕΣΩ ΗΜΩΝ! ΚΑΙ ΗΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΣΤΙ ΚΑΙ ΕΣΤΑΙ.
ARE SINS COMMITTED AFTER BAPTISM FORGIVEN? (Part II)
By Saint John Damscene
"Thus therefore it is, and thus we believe. But after receiving the knowledge of the Truth and winning regeneration and adoption as sons, and tasting of the Divine mysteries, we must strive hard to keep our feet for fear we fall. For to fall becomes not the athlete, since many have fallen and been unable to rise. Some, opening a door to sinful lusts, and clinging obstinately to them, have no more strength to hasten back to repentance; and others, being untimely snatched by death, and having not made speed enough to wash them from the pollution of their sin, have been damned. And for this cause, it is hazardous to fall into any kind of sinful affection whatsoever. But if any man fall, he must at once leap up and stand again to fight the good fight: and, as often as there comes a fall, so often must there at once ensue this rising and standing, to the end. For, "turn you to Me and I will turn to you" (Zech. 1:3).
The land to which the prodigal son went is called "The land of Iniquity." It is a land that has various and countless ways to sin at any moment of time. Remember, dear reader, the vision of our father among the Saints, Saint Anthony, in which the whole world was filled with traps to catch and destroy man. And who was saved? The one who was very humble; this was the answer that was given to the Saint. And it is true! Without this virtue the devil triumphed over proud souls.
The expiatory sacrifice of Christ is the source of remission of sins, "The Blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (I John 1:7). This is one of the fundamental truths of the Christian faith. Without the Blood of Christ, 20, 30, 50, even a thousand years of strict ascetic living will not erase the least spot of sin. The author of this ascetic work feels this very deeply, that is why be repeatedly speaks about the remission of sin by the Blood of the Lord. But emphasis on this truth by the Orthodox preacher does not mean acceptance of the Protestant belief that good works are unnecessary because besides the above truth Orthodox teaching does not stop emphasizing that other spiritual truth that he who has faith and is honestly repentant is obligated to prove his faith by producing fruit worthy of his repentance in his everyday life in the world. Faith and good works (works of mercy or charity) are joined together unbreakable as the root and the fruit of a bountiful tree. (Source: Orthodox Heritage)
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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!"--by Saint John Chrysostom
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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+Father George