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.
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DEATH, THE THRESHOLD TO ETERNAL LIFE (Part II)
The strongest affirmation of an Everlasting Life is drawn from the Holy Bible and especially from the teaching and example (paradigma) of Jesus Christ. His Divine preaching throughout His earthly life was penetrated by the strong presupposition of the Living God and an Everlasting Life as well as the way whereby men can share them forever. There are many references in the Holy Bible to emphasize this, not only the Divine words of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ but also the strong belief of the Holy Apostles and the early Christian Church. The Holy Apostle Paul is especially - the herald of an everlasting life as a hope and reward of our faith in the Living God. The question of the young man, "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?" (Luke 10:25), indicates not only a strong belief in it but especially a strong desire to inherit it. The answer is to be found in St. John 10:28, when Jesus Christ, the Author of Life, said, "I give unto them eternal life". For a Christian, the beginning of eternal life is the beginning of his belief in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For him a promise has been given, a reward for eternity because, "whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die" (St. John 11:26). In John 17:3 it is stated that "That is Life-Eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent". This kind of 'knowledge' was not the cause of the exile of Adam from Paradise but it is the cause for the evaluation of the Divine Gift, the faith in the True God. The Holy Apostle Paul was bound to say to the Corinthians that, "the mortal must put on immortality" (1 Corinthians 15:53).
The faith and belief in an everlasting life is so strong in the mind of the faithful that, on one hand, it makes no difference whether he is living on earth or is departed, and, on the other, there is an unfailing connection between this life and the hereafter. The Holy Apostle Paul assures us on this point by declaring: "for to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21). There is one Church, consisting of the people on earth and the souls of the ones who have departed from the earth. The Church is one because her head is one, Jesus Christ, the second person of the Holy Trinity. A living God is not a God of the dead, but the God of the living whether on earth or in heaven. The human soul never dies, it is immortal. Once it becomes a member of the Church by believing in Jesus Christ, it will remain as such forever. By virtue of Jesus Christ, it is enlisted in the ranks of His Kingdom forever. The nature of the soul as pure spirit is to live forever and not disappear. The only question here is whether it will live eternally with Christ or eternally without Christ, that is "unto the resurrection of life" or "unto the resurrection of damnation" (St. John 5:29). This will be decided on earth and will be determined by God's judgment at the very important time of the separation of souls and body - called death.
The Role of Repentance
"Jesus began to preach: repent, He said, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand" (St. Matthew 4:17).
The theme of the divine preaching of Jesus Christ our Lord, is the interrelation of the Kingdom of God and the repentance of man. The proclamation of the emancipation from the bondage of sin, fear and superstition is uttered by Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ calling everyone throughout the centuries to, "Repent; for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand" (St. Matthew 5:17) in his earthly life, man is able to use his moral abilities to choose between good and evil, and to effect a change from bad practices to Christian ones. The Kingdom of God, or of Heaven, is the realm of everlasting life in the presence of the countenance of God - the realm to which Jesus Christ is leading the lost sheep. Repentance (metanoia) is the exercise of the free will of man, without which there is no salvation. Repentance is not merely penance and regret for bad or evil actions. Repentance is, rather, the human reaction to the appeal of Jesus Christ, and its result is joy over a new birth. It is a unique transformation (metamorphosis) from a valued belief to a firm faith in the true God and His Kingdom. By such a repentance the adherent attains a communion (koinonia) with God on earth which is destined to endure forever. His repentance is a constant working for the establishment of the Will of God among his fellow men and love of God and love of neighbor in everyday life, without discrimination and distortion, are the nourishment of repentance in relation to the kingdom of God. By fulfilling the Will of God, and with His inspiration and His help, the penitent learns the language of the future land and studies the map of that kingdom.
Faith can change the appearance of death. With this understanding of repentance in relation to the Kingdom of God and in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the faithful (Christian believers) can change the power and fear of death. It is true that death was the cause of fear in the past because people did not believe in the hope of the resurrection and salvation. But faith can change the dreadful appearance of death, to do this the individual believer must prepare himself for the glorious departure from this earth. To neglect such a preparation is either atheism for a giving up of all genuine, active faith in God. In both cases, the Christian is not worthy of his claims, and it would better for him to deny his Christian heritage entirely. Lukewarm faith is not much better than no faith at all, "so then because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of My mouth" (Revelation 3:16). [Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America]
(To be continued)
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Please note: Orthodox Christianity is the authentic Church of Christ. There is only one true Church. The Orthodox Christian Church possesses the fullness of truth. It is complete in every possible way and needs no additions or subtractions. It is a Treasure Chest which we have, by the grace of God, inherited. In this Treasure Chest, there are kinds of precious jewels, diamonds, gold, pearls, rubies, etc. that if used properly can change and enrich our lives forever. We only need to open the Treasure Chest and use these precious stones. It is not enough to claim what is in it is ours but to be willing to open it and use its content with prudence. The Treasure Chest is non-other than the Orthodox Church which is filled with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit our God. Gifts which lead to the Everlasting Life and the Kingdom of Heaven.
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"Glory Be To God For All Things!" -- Saint John Chrysostom
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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry)
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+Father George