Sin is not an inherited defect, our tendency to sin and the resulting mortality are. Sin, in order to be sin, which is separation from God, must be a result of the will to sin, a conscious choice to go against virtue.
Virtue is not in our nature, FK; we are virtuous only if we follow in God's steps, imitating Christ. The more we choose to cleave to God in this manner, the more we become Christ-like. So, as we diminish in our fallen humanity, we grow in our likess of God.
What +Paul was saying is that if we choose sin, the wage for that choice will be (spiritual) death, and if we choose to follow God the reward will be our salvation (from death) by God's mercy. +Paul is reiterating Apostolic Church's teaching that we condemn ourselves, but we do not save oursleves.
The death of a soul is also not to be understood that the soul will disappear. Souls are immortal. The "death" of a soul as opposed to eternal "life" of a soul has to do with whether we will spend eternity in darkness and discomfort, or in presence of God.
The resurrection of the bodies at the Second Coming involves the righteous and the wicked. This means that both shall live, one in heaven, the other in hell.
How can you take no credit if you were the one who chose to do a good work, using your free will? You can't believe that God moves through us, as that would thwart free will. Therefore, if you cooperate, then why do you not deserve any credit?
It amazes me that after all that has been written on these 8,000-plus posts you still do not see it. I blame myself and those on "my side" for failing to do a better job of explaining.
Of course we believe that God moves through us, and of course it thwarts our fee will -- as much as getting married does! But, we choose to follow God, we plead that He guide us and work through us, that we may do His work in His name. It's a loving relationship, not something God imposed on us. It's all about love.
We also realize that nonthing is good except God, and that all goodness comes from God. So, when we do something good, it did not come from us, but from God. And we give all credit to God, thanking Him for bing His vehicle.
Taking credit would be vain, FK.
"Souls are immortal."
Kalomiras would disagree as would Fr. Stephen Fraser, a noted theologian of the Antiochian Church:
"Of the immortality of the soul, the Church teaches that man’s soul is not immortal by nature. The gift of immortality was given by God as a free expression of His love for man, so that man, if he so chooses, may be able to share in the bliss of his creator. In all of creation, only man, as far as we are able to know, was endowed with this most sublime gift."
I've read other pieces which claim that the idea that the soul is immortal is a minority view in Orthodoxy. I must admit I always have been taught, I think, that the soul is immortal, but maybe that's a Greek/Serb concept. I'm pretty sure the Latins believe it too.
I would agree that there is no virtue in us at birth, but I'm a little surprised to hear you say that. What does our free will use to choose God? Does virtue spontaneously emanate from us, or can a virtue-less person simply decide that TODAY I have virtue?
The death of a soul is also not to be understood that the soul will disappear. Souls are immortal. The "death" of a soul as opposed to eternal "life" of a soul has to do with whether we will spend eternity in darkness and discomfort, or in presence of God.
Yes, I fully agree with you here.