Questions for Eastern Orthodox

[Nanopants]

Greetings from ... somewhere... in Christendom! (I don't really know what I am)

So I've been wandering, as usual, and I noticed on more than one occasion that some members of your church were espousing beliefs on a couple of subjects which just happen to be very important to me. I'm hoping that someone can expound on these things so I can have a better understanding of the views of Eastern Orthodoxy.

The first is the "law of Christ".

And the second is the importance and/or meaning of the words of Paul in 2 Cr 3:18.

Thanks.

 

[Gym]

1.
Taken from a ROCOR site
Paul wrote, "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Gal. 6: 2). Indeed, Christ has a law (cf. 1 Cor. 9: 21). Moses gave the Ten Commandment law to Israel (Deut. 5). The people had to obey Moses (Deut. 18: 18, 19; Acts 3: 22, 23). The same passages point to a greater prophet, Jesus, and declare: "...Him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people." Beloved, "he shall say unto you" constitutes Jesus' law.

There can be no sin if there is not law. The presence of God's grace today has been perverted by many to mean the absence of law. However, if there is no law, there is no sin. Hear Paul, "Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression" (Rom. 4: 15). Sin is lawlessness or the breaking of law (1 John 3: 4). Since we are all declared sinners by God, there must be law in this dispensation (Rom. 3: 23).​

 

[Gym]

does that help for #1?

 

[Nanopants]

Thanks. I think so, but do the EO use that as a basis for the law given prior to Christ? Or is Christ seen as the lawgiver who gave us a different law (not that it was completely different)?

 

[Knee V]

Greetings from ... somewhere... in Christendom! (I don't really know what I am)

So I've been wandering, as usual, and I noticed on more than one occasion that some members of your church were espousing beliefs on a couple of subjects which just happen to be very important to me. I'm hoping that someone can expound on these things so I can have a better understanding of the views of Eastern Orthodoxy.

The first is the "law of Christ".

And the second is the importance and/or meaning of the words of Paul in 2 Cr 3:18.

Thanks.

I'm sorry that no one has gotten back to you yet. I think that this is a relatively obscure corner of CF, and this is the first time I've visited in a LONG time. And, just so you know, although I'll try to give the best answer that I can, don't expect miracles from me. With that said...

The "Law of Christ" is not something that I hear preached on a lot specifically. I don't think that Paul is being super technical there in Gal 6. I suppose that "the Law of Christ" could be summarized in Christ's words, "deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Me", or "love the Lord your God... and love your neighbor as yourself." Paul uses the term "law of Christ" in the context of bearing one another's burdens. Loving ourselves and loving another are mutually exclusive. In other words, our ability to love another is intrinsically tied to our ability to deny ourselves. Paul is encouraging us to deny ourselves and love our neighbor.

2Cor 3:18 (NKJV) "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."

We see this (not only this, but the entirety of the Christian faith) in the context of salvation being a restoration to a ever-growing/deepening relationship with God. As we "spend time with Him" (for lack of a better term) and behold him, we become more like Him. Christ taught us, "Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God." That's not to say that we'll never experience God unless we perfect ourselves first. But rather, the presence of God purifies us and allows us to perceive Him. Our "inwardness" is what cut us off from the life of God in the first place. It is only by living out the image of God (which is ultimately expressed on the Cross, which shows us God's true character, and thus what we are supposed to be like), by His grace, that we are able to be transformed and behold God. One could say that one feeds off the other - as we behold God we become more like Him, and as we are transformed more and more into His likeness, the more we behold Him.

I hope that that is not entirely counterproductive for you.

 

[MPaul]

The Orthodox Church puts out a book in English, written primarily for non-Orthodox Christians, and it is a great way to learn about this section of Christianity -- The Orthodox Church by Timothy Ware.

Also, to truly understand the Orthodox Church, I think one has to visit one and look at the art work on the ceiling and review the layout, and go over an explanation of the significance of these features. Even if you do not agree with the theology behind the art and the layout, it is an experience you will always remember. Try to get a guided tour. In my area, the largest Orthodox Church has tours which explain everything. You will always remember this visit -- but try to focus initially on what you agree with the Orthodox Church about, not what you think is mistaken, and remember, this art represents how Christians initially did church. Think about that history.

If you do read Ware and consider how the Orthodox Church establishes authority, remember to compare that to a detailed account of why the Protestants base authority on Sola Scriptura, which is based on how they establish the canon, which is something very different than the Orthodox Church's councils.