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relspace, One comment only: The metaphors used in Scripture to describe spiritual realities are drawn from the experiences of we have in the natural realm. To be sure, one must always ask how accurately do these metaphors depict spiritual realites. My own faith is based on the assumption...

The means and methods have everything to do with the objective. One example only: as God's intent is that we be conformed to the image of His Son, so we are baptized by the Spirit into one body. Union with Christ is protrayed under a variety of images, but all point to a vital union with Christ...

However, there is much in 1 - 4 that touches on the very essence of the topic in question. This is perhaps one point worth exploring. I tend to see Man/Woman as the unique creation of God combining both the physical and the spiritual realms. We are not complete without the body; the body is...

relspace: Thank you for the background. As for Calvary Chapel, I knew that was where you attended months ago with our first exchange. I have been acquainted with Chuck Smith since he moved from the more traditional church to "harvesting" the so-called "Jesus-Freak" movement. That was a while...

I find these references of great interest: 1. Christ is the image of God: "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation" [Col. 1:15]; "Christ, who is the image of God" [II Cor. 4:4]; "[His Son] being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person"...

Precisely, but I think what some of us may not have been exposed to is this very concept that God's intent for us is to "become partakers of the divine nature." This is not esoteric teaching. In fact, it is both an ancient and wide-spread understanding of salvation. My initial post here...

Greetings! Glad you joined the discussion. I wanted to make certain the LDS understanding of this concept was excluded, and I appreciate your demonstrating why this is necessary.` AS for the concept of "deification": Other Scriptural references seem to cast some light on how this might be...

icxn: Thank you for the quote from St. Diadochos. I personally found #89 relevant to this entire discussion. I wanted to ask if St. Diadochos was combining the two sacraments of baptism and chrismation in this discussion? It seems that ideally the EO see both as "one sacrament" in two...

Thank you for explaining this canon. I was going to ask what word "justice" translated from the Latin, and if it was a different concept from "justification." I would be interested in more information in how this canon is understood within the RCC. Thanks, again.

Thank you for this clarification.

Perhaps I am misunderstanding, but is it not a teaching of the EO that one enters into life or newness of life through Baptism [regeneration; born again; united with Christ] and receives the Holy Spirit with the annointing of oil [christmation]? Does this not have an actual impact on our human...

I must admit I am completely unaware of this perspective - I refer to your last statement. My own understanding was that the EO believed: 1. through his mercy we are justified by faith 2. and empowered by God for good works Could you elaborate? Thanks for repsonding.

Stumpjumper, Thanks. For those of you from other traditions - how does this understanding agree with your own? Or, differ?

Teke and Stumpjumper - Good points. The emphasis on God's initiative is central to both traditions, I think. Perhaps both of you, and others as well, could elaborate on how this is understood within your traditions. Stumpjumper, you have one of the more interesting "names" here! Thanks to you...

Perhaps other Orthodox could elaborate on this concept of justification by faith. I suspect for many Protestants Romans 5:1 is decisive in their understanding of the role justification plays in redemption. For example: "having been justified by faith" might be understood as a past event or...

HisKid1973, It sounds as though you have a rich experience of God in your life. I believe the living experience of God is one "tradition" that can be found in all historic expressions of the Church, one that often overcomes the differences that separate us. My prayers are with you and your...

Thank you. I wonder if other traditions might respond to your post and explain how these concepts are understood. I would think there is much here that we share in common. Thanks, again.

HisKid1973, Thanks for contributing here. I appreciate your testimony and comments. I wanted to reply to the idea of "being born again" and how it often brings about a negative reaction. I think this is a good example of how divided believers have become over terminology as well as how...

Thank you for the quotes and links. As you mention, the idea that God became flesh so that we might become like Him involves many other concepts, one that goes back to the purpose of God in creating Man in the first place. I know this is off topic a bit, or maybe not, but I have read some who...

Thank you. An excellent perspective. Your raised several points that hopefully will provide an opportunity for discussion. I wanted to comment further on two: 1. In more modern times Evangelicals and groups that began during what may be called the "Third Wave" [including Baptists] do...