Perhaps I didn't find a need to be super specific, but I will rephrase, then, that the Apostolic Church was given the fullness of God's revealed truth (obviously, that which is not revealed cannot be known). Thus, within the Church is the fullness of our faith in true God.
If you do not believe that your church knows the fullness of God's revealed truth you cannot be sure that your God is a true God or that your faith is a true faith. If you doubt the truth of your church, you doubt the truth of your faith and you doubt the truth of your God.
Otherwise, there is no more growth and sanctification ceases.
Not at all! That's why +James tells you to get on with works. Faith is life; we live our faith. Our appreciation for God never ceases!
Presumably, if the Orthodox Church knew the truth fully, it would have said so and published so in order to witness to the rest of us
It does, repeatedly, that the fullness of our faith is in the Church. Our Creed reminds us every Sunday that Christ is True God of true God. Yet, you just told me that in Orthodoxy there are only three dogmas, all of which any Christian could readily agree to
That's what makes them Christian, but not Orthodox Christian.
Do those three dogmas constitute the "truth fully"?
Absolutely, God's revealed truth, that is.
If so, then I would think that you, the Catholics, and us would all be in communion together
We agree with the Catholics on all three dogmas. We disagree on the procession of the Holy Spirit. We will never be in communion until such time when our dogmatic differences are properly understood as one and the same faith. You and us (Orthodox/Catholic) disagree with Protestants and Baptists on a variety of theological issues, not necessarily on essential dogmas, which is why all mainline Protestants and Baptists are Christians.
In order for communion to take place we must share all aspects of our faith and praxis (Communion, after all, is praxis!) as a symbol of one and the same faith, and not as a means of achieving one.
Brass tacks: If you believe that the Orthodox Church is in possession of the truth fully, and if your last council was over a thousand years ago, and if you have three dogmas, and if every holding of the consensus patrum is searchable and learnable by any Orthodoxer today, then, have you stopped growing spiritually?
Spiritual growth is an individual's journey to God. The Church is certainly not "growing" spiritually or "learning." The Church was given the fullness of God's revelation contained in the Holy Tradition (in orthodoxy, the Bible is the central part of that 'deposit of faith'; in Roman catholicism, it is parallel with it). If the Church does not know the fullness of God's revealed truth, how can the Church know what is heresy and what orthodoxy? How could the Church agree on what is inspired and what is not or have you forgotten that it was the Church that put together the Bible you believe in by discerning, based on orthodox faith, which writings were inspired and which profane?
I think that the Catholic position is that we are learning, *deepening* our understanding of the deposit of faith, for the promise is that the Spirit will "guide you into all truth" (John 16:13). Previously I think you mentioned that doctrine does not change, but it does evolve. We agree. Doctrine *develops* organically, such that we always retain the deposit of faith while our understanding of it is constantly deepening. In that way there is more, and yet there is not more. There is change, and yet there is not change. That is the nature of organic growth.
-A8
What does "fullness" mean? Complete? If so, then I don't think any man or any group of men have fullness. I certainly look to my church for guidance, but I always test everything against scripture. ...... I am certain that my God is the true God because He has revealed Himself to me, including by faith and by scripture. My trust isn't in my church, but in God directly.
FK: "Presumably, if the Orthodox Church knew the truth fully, it would have said so and published so in order to witness to the rest of us."
It does, repeatedly, that the fullness of our faith is in the Church. Our Creed reminds us every Sunday that Christ is True God of true God.
OK, then "fullness", as you are using it, is closer to "everything we need to know", rather than "everything there is to know". That is perfectly fine by me. :) Therefore, with my previous explanation, I can say that my church agrees with the Creed. So in your eyes, it should be true that my church has the fullness of the faith.
FK: "Do those three dogmas constitute the "truth fully"?"
Absolutely, God's revealed truth, that is.
OK, I should have read ahead. LOL! Now you know how I answer posts. :)
... which is why all mainline Protestants and Baptists are Christians.
Thank you. I knew you thought that, but it's always nice to hear once in a while. :)
If the Church does not know the fullness of God's revealed truth, how can the Church know what is heresy and what orthodoxy?
Yes indeed. If heresy only means disagreeing with the Dogmas or the Creed, then I'm right with you. I've just seen it thrown against me in a broader sense. :)
How could the Church agree on what is inspired and what is not or have you forgotten that it was the Church that put together the Bible you believe in by discerning, based on orthodox faith, which writings were inspired and which profane?
Well, now you are confusing me again. :) When you say "Church" do you mean to include the people? Or, do you mean the men of the Council(s) who Canonized it? If you mean the former, then I agree that the Spirit was clearly with the Church. The Spirit is always with God's Church. As to the latter, I have been often asked to thank the members of certain Councils for giving me the Bible that I disagree with them so much about! :)