Posted on 12/30/2001 7:44:36 PM PST by Sparkvark
Ive noticed alot of threads on FR that mention Christianity. I was wondering, how do you define yourself as a Christian? Does merely professing oneself a Christian make you one? Im curious, how do you perceive the Christian faith?
He is an Orthodox Christian Archbishop.
Care to get a little specific with your disagreement? What exactly does he say that is wrong?
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SAINTS CANNOT WORK AT THE KGB
by Aleksei Makarkin
Segodnia, 11 May 1999
The Orthodox church carefully examines candidates for canonization.
Two important events in the life of the Russian Orthodox church have happened. Yesterday at the monastery of the Presentation in Moscow occurred the canonization of Archbishop Ilarion Troitsky. A week earlier at the convent of the Protection in the capital the woman elder Matrona Nikonova was canonized. Both ceremonies were conducted by Patriarch Alexis II of Moscow and all-Rus.
Snip
… contrast to Matrona, Archbishop Ilarion received a splendid education. He graduated from the Moscow Ecclesiastical Academy and at age 27 became a professor there, receiving renown for his criticism of western influence on Russian theology. In 1917 he was one of the initiators of the restoration of the patriarchate and then he was one of the closed counsellors of Patriarch Tikhon. In 1923 he was arrested and spent six years in the Solovky prison camp. The all-powerful GPU of the time considered that the bishop, who was an opponent of the politicization of church life, could be permitted to cooperate with the "organs," but it miscalculated. Bishop Ilarion not only rejected the suggestion to become an informer, although he was offered "help" in becoming a metropolitan, but he reported this suggestion to his friends, for which he received a new sentence. In 1929 the archbishop died from typhus in the hospital of the Kresty prison in Leningrad, but his relatives could not find out when his body was turned over for burial. His casket contained an emaciated old man, although the bishop was only 43.
(posted 1 June 1999)
May be it is time for you to read the teachings of the Christ, Messiah Yeshua. For Jesus does indeed teach that He is, not only the Son of God, but one with Him.
You need a bible, and you need to read it.
Alas
1 John 2:3-4 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
Heb. 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
:) Becky
But you don't obey His word. You sin all the time. Jesus died for your lack of obedience. You are disobedient. If you don't realize this, you are a Pharisee. You are forgiven all your disobedience through Christ's life, death and resurrection.
A "Christian" will try to find out what is in God's Word and do is best always knowing he will faill on his own. The problem with christianity today is people profess to beleive in the saving power of Jesus Christ but never make an effort to find out from God's Word what comes after that profession of faith. They just go on their merry way with no Repentance and never trusting in the power of the Holy Spirit to guide them in living a true "Christian" Life.
Becky
Salvation and sanctification are two seperated things. Salvation is dependent on believeing that the ONLY thing that will save you is trusting Jesus Christ to save you. AFTER salvation you will obey the word of God by the power of the Holy Spirit to live a Christian life which is sanctification.
If you believe that your salvation is dependent on your obeying the word of God you have negated what Jesus did on the cross for you.
We obey the word of God because WE ARE saved, not TO GET saved.
Becky
Becky
We have investigated the man-made traditions of the West. We aren't impressed.
Now, are you willing to investigate the teachings of the Church that have remained unchanged from the beginning? If so, try following some of don-o's links.
We shouldn't leave don-o to do all of the posting! Plus, he's put up some very good stuff, most of which is already familiar to us, right? ;-)
I would need to see some evidence of how the person lives their life and conducts themselves towards God. Even then, I couldn't be 100% sure since only God can truly judge someone's heart, but I could be reasonably certain, which is probably the best that one can do.
Being an Orthodox Christian, I would have to set much higher requirements for someone claiming to be a fellow Orthodox, of course.
Remember John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
It does not say that whoever was baptized by submersion. It says whoever believes in him.
I made no argument, only quoted the Bible, so I assume you are telling me why those verses are incorrect.
This is not an argument either, but what you believe determines what you do. Those who say they believe the Gospel and trust in Jesus Christ, then disobey him are just liars. They don't believe Him or in Him at all. (They are probably not all liars, most are just self-decieved into thinking they believe.)
Just one question, (not mine, but Paul's).
1 Cor. 4:7 ...what hast thou that thou didst not receive?...
And what is it you have recieved, if you are a believer?
2 Cor 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
If you have any ability at all, you recieved it from God. God's gifts are not limited. What exactly does God not supply that you need to do all He demands. If you say anything, you are calling God liar. He said, "my grace is sufficient for thee." Now it is or it isn't, but I believe God.
How can any good work you do be tainted. It is not you,
Phil. 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Are you saying His work in you is tainted. Blasphemy, and akin to calling the work of the Holy Spirit tainted.
There is no excuse for sin, which is whatever you are doing when not doing God's will.
1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Please don't tell me you are unable when God says you are able.
So have it your way, which you didn't learn from the Bible, but from a bunch of theologians following the teachings of Augustine (by way of Luther, Calvin, Wesley, etc.). But know, God demands obedience, and Salvation restores one to the state of an obedient child. Obedience does not save, it is the result of salvation. Where obedience is not the result, whatever you got, it was not salvation.
2 Thess. 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Notice, those that "obey not the Gospel" are those that, "know not God." Knowing God is life eternal.
John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. But those who say they know Him, and do not obey Him, are liars, according to the Bible, (not some theologian). 1 John 2:3&4 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
That's what the Bible says. Now, what do you say.
I'm really interested, by the way. The view I have presented is very unpopular, and I very little expect others to hold it, and I really am not trying to convince you. There are others who believe as I do, but most are unwilling or unable to state the case clearly. If you disagree, which I suspect you will, this will give you some good insights into am opposing view.
Happy New Year, by the way.
Hank
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