Faith Issues - Tasbeha.org Community

Faith Issues - Tasbeha.org Community https://tasbeha.org/community/categories/faith-issues/p31/feed.rss Mon, 22 Jun 2026 09:04:09 +0000 Faith Issues - Tasbeha.org Community en-CA Why did the Christians chose the Torah and added it to the New Testament? https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/11694/why-did-the-christians-chose-the-torah-and-added-it-to-the-new-testament Thu, 23 Jun 2011 02:29:59 +0000 ebnyasoo3 11694@/community/discussions
I was talking to a friend of mine at work and we were talking and he told me that what he does not understand is why did Christians chose the Torah of the Jewish and added it to the new testament to make up the Bible.

I understand the answer but I can't formulate it in words.

Thanks
God bless
Ebnyasoo3]]> Worry about big sins first? https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/11692/worry-about-big-sins-first Wed, 22 Jun 2011 19:01:14 +0000 the_least 11692@/community/discussions
I have a general question about my spiritual struggle. Should one worry about all sins and to change all bad habits all at once, or should he worry about the "big" sins first and when he has done that, then worry about seemingly "small" sins?

Thanks and pray for me]]> Can sin exist in the presence of God? https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/11660/can-sin-exist-in-the-presence-of-god Sat, 18 Jun 2011 16:17:49 +0000 Hezekiel 11660@/community/discussions
I need some clarification on this:

The Bible teaches just as darkness cannot exist in the presence of light, sin cannot exist in the presence of a holy God.

Satan is the essence of sin, the epitome of sin itself. If sin can not exist in the presence of God, How could Satan (in the book of Job) walk multiple times into the councils of heaven?? Thanks ]]> Patron Saints https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/11672/patron-saints Mon, 20 Jun 2011 13:09:22 +0000 joeg 11672@/community/discussions
I thought it would be beneficial to get a discussion going on patron saints:

Would you consider it necessary or of a particular importance for an Orthodox Christian to have a patron saint or "intercessor?"

For those of you who have a patron saint(s), who is it and why did you choose that particular saint to be a special intercessor for you?

Has this intercessor always been so for your family, or did you have a particular experience that you wish to share that lead you to make this decision?

I have previously considered trying to "choose" or "find" (not the best choice of words) a patron saint, but have no real idea of how to go about it, nor do I fully understand the potential dynamics of such a relationship.

I'm very interested in hearing your opinions and experiences on the matter :D]]> why and who delete my Question or topic on "finding the right wife from God"? https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/11667/why-and-who-delete-my-question-or-topic-on-finding-the-right-wife-from-god Mon, 20 Jun 2011 02:38:12 +0000 binC 11667@/community/discussions Let us be Transparent when we do things! ]]> why does Christ curse the fig tree? https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/11643/why-does-christ-curse-the-fig-tree Thu, 16 Jun 2011 20:03:39 +0000 ForeverYours 11643@/community/discussions
in the begining of Passion week, i think around Monday, we read the passage of how Christ cursed the fig tree. why did he do that?

and directly after that, he goes and cleanses the temple from the thieves. in the begining of the monday of passion week, we read from genesis: the story of the creation, but not the fall yet. then from the wisdom of solomon and how the fear of the Lord is the beginign of wisdom. then the homily of St. shenouti about sitting with yourself and seeing what you offered to your guardian angel to the Lord that day,

how are these passages all related? ]]> Rejoice Always https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/11638/rejoice-always Wed, 15 Jun 2011 17:17:20 +0000 Sudani 11638@/community/discussions Putting on the mind of Christ. https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/11608/putting-on-the-mind-of-christ Mon, 13 Jun 2011 22:02:44 +0000 Finote 11608@/community/discussions ]]> Young/child Jesus https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/11562/young-child-jesus Tue, 07 Jun 2011 17:32:16 +0000 jfarag92 11562@/community/discussions -How did he become conscious that he was God?
-How did he attain all the wisdom/knowledge that he taught?
-It seems that for Him to have all this - and not be taught it - he would have to be conscious and knowing immediately because all the wisdom and knowledge he had and shared would have had to been implanted in him as his physical body developed.

I'll keep it general for now, please share any thoughts or references.
]]> GOD THE MOTHER?!?!?!? https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/11516/god-the-mother Mon, 30 May 2011 20:24:10 +0000 mankind 11516@/community/discussions
May God bestow His grace and mercy upon my weakness.

I was approached by 2 people from South Korea who claim to be "JUST CHRISTIAN." They say they are of no denomination?????????

Their claim was that in genesis, it uses elohim which is the plural 'gods' whereas elohoum is the singular god. it also says in the bible "let US create man in OUR image..." but goes on to use only the singular form as in "He created them...."

The question is, "does the US mean that there is a God the father and God the mother?"

What are our church teachings?

Your brother in Christ,
Peter Morcos

Pray for my weakness.
I have sinned, forgive me.]]> When did the thief enter Paradise? https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/11552/when-did-the-thief-enter-paradise Mon, 06 Jun 2011 12:27:35 +0000 Hezekiel 11552@/community/discussions
In the Gospel of Luke,I came across this verse:

"And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:42-43).

I am not sure if this verse is saying that the thief went to Paradise with Jesus on that same day, when the fact is that Jesus did not rise up from the grave until early Sunday. In Psalms,David says "His soul was not left in hell, neither His flesh did see corruption.This verse seems to suggest that Christ descended to Hell after his crucification until the resurrection.

And to Mary Magdelene, Jesus says:

" Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God" (I understand that Heaven and Paradise are two different realms)

How do we understand the above verse, since we believe that His divinity parted not from His humanity for a single moment nor a twinkling of an eye?? Thanks]]> Why did God curse the snake? https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/11536/why-did-god-curse-the-snake Thu, 02 Jun 2011 16:36:56 +0000 Hezekiel 11536@/community/discussions
In the Gospel of Mark chapter 5, it says"

And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3 who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, 4 because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. 5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.
6 When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. 7 And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.”
8 For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” 9 Then He asked him, “What is your name?”
And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” 10 Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.

In this passage, Christ forgives,heals and frees the man from the demons.It also says,that no man could tame the demon-possessed man, which clearly shows that the man was not in control of his body and mind.

Going back to Genesis, the snake that tempted Eve did not do so out of its own, but due to Satanic control .Both the man that Jesus healed and the snake were the tools of Satan.

Why did God curse the snake (the created animal) for something that Satan did? Thanks

]]> Looking for a good commentary on revelation https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/11531/looking-for-a-good-commentary-on-revelation Wed, 01 Jun 2011 21:13:15 +0000 Sudani 11531@/community/discussions
Also, pray for me, since my life sucks.]]> On the existence of Christ https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/11507/on-the-existence-of-christ Fri, 27 May 2011 14:19:48 +0000 Ioannes 11507@/community/discussions EZ Pass to Eternal Life? https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/11522/ez-pass-to-eternal-life Tue, 31 May 2011 10:01:37 +0000 TITL 11522@/community/discussions
Our Lord says "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,' says the Lord of Hosts. 'If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it" (Malachi 3:10).

and He says, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven" (Matthew 5:10)

and He says, " But as for you my beloved Karas, every human that knows your life story and remembers your name by heart, my peace will be with him. I will count him with the martyrs and the saints. And every human that presents wine, orban (offerings), incense, oil, or candles in your memory, I will reward him two folds in the kingdom of heaven. Any one who feeds the hungry or gives drink to those that thirst or clothes the naked or welcomes a stranger in your name’s sake, I will reward him double in my kingdom. And who writes your holy story, I will write his name in the Book of life. And anyone who shows mercy in your memory day, I will give him that that eyes have never seen and ears have never heard and heart have never felt.”
He says the same with other saints too.

So my question is, what if we JUST give tithes and we don't follow any of the other commandments? God promised that we'll go to Heaven. What if we're persecuted by Muslims everyday, but don't follow any of the commandments? What if we remember Anba Karas and ask for his prayers, and not follow the commandments?

I just find it hard to understand how God can promise eternal life just for giving tithes or just for showing mercy on a saint's memorial day. Eternal life, I thought, was a life-long strive. It's supposed to be hard work. It's supposed to be a place for saints, for people who dedicate their lives for Christ. For people who defeated the devil. For people who were strong in faith. For people who struggled day and night to abstain from sin. Heaven is not a place for sinners, so how can a simple act of charity give someone that great reward? "Anyone who writes your story, I will write his name in the Book of life"... that's it? I just write Anba Karas' story, and that's it? It doesn't make sense.

God is a merciful and just God. What confuses me is why He "promised" eternal life, and not just "it will help you on judgement day. You get bonus gold stars"

Usually when someone promises me something, they gain 100% of my trust, even if I was skeptical before. I do trust God, but I just find it hard to believe that nothing else matters if we JUST give tithes or JUST remember a saint. There is a misunderstanding on my part.
]]> I have a Great website defending Christianity plz check it out https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/11493/i-have-a-great-website-defending-christianity-plz-check-it-out Mon, 23 May 2011 18:53:02 +0000 pharoahogc 11493@/community/discussions
christisright.webs.com
]]> Questions from an atheist https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/11396/questions-from-an-atheist Sat, 07 May 2011 19:18:21 +0000 zolo2006 11396@/community/discussions
Just to start I would like to say that I'm an atheist, it's not like I've thought about my choice, growing up in Sweden, where my dad is an atheist and my mom is more like an agnostic (not sure of the english word), it was just natural for me to become atheist. Usually i dont really think at all about religion, but if someone would ask me what religion i belong to, i would say "I don't believe in that".

How I look on religion: I believe the groundings of it is noble, you give all the people a way to explain bad things that happen in their life, things they cant understand and so on. This is just great, but when you go out and say that if you don't believe in god, you will burn in hell, that is just outrageous. I mean let the people decide for them self. God cant control the free will, so I don't think he should try doing that either, the free will is the one thing that shouldnt be interfered with. And when the pope says that "Condoms are the reason to AIDS", then I actually get really mad. I haven't really heard lots of oppinions from people that believe and would like to hear what you have to say. I got to this site by searching for "There Probably Is No God. Now Stop Worrying And Enjoy Life" for comments on it. Found this site, and read some of the topics. Lots of people saying that atheists can't answer the simple question: "Why are we here?" I guess you're reffering to why we humans live and why we are here on earth? The thing is with atheism, we dont have a meaning here, we are here because of a serie of random happenings over billions of years. I can feel that this is sometimes hard to accept, that we actually dont have a purpose.

There are also some whom say that the word probably makes the sentence There Probably Is No God no meaning. I dont agree, I'll just link this

Video is about a person who is going to prove that atheism is true and accurate. He starts of with saying that he has a invincible, untouchable, dinosaur next to him. You can doubt it if you'd like be he says it's there. I can't be sure of that it isnt there, but i can say that it probably isnt there since, well, it's kinda ridicoulus really that it would be an invincible untouchable dinousar there.

I get that there are people who believe in god and i dont have anything against it. But when some people strictly belive in their religous texts, like that moses split the red sea, that the earth is 4000-6000 years old, that moses became around 300 years old and so on, it makes me a bit dissapointed. Scientist have worked step by step to create a picture of the world, with proof only of what's in the world. And then to simply deny all their work because what's written in a book by other people, people that had no proof for their thoughts. They only had to say that they we're driven by their god.

This is my opinion, I would just like to get answer and want you to tell me where you think I'm wrong. A calm intelictuall discussion :) I'm 17 years old, and just want other opinions than those that I've been jammed into through my entire life

If you are to comment please refer to me as "Ceder" more used to it :P]]> Why don't/didn't Jews accept Christ? https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/11081/why-don-t-didn-t-jews-accept-christ Thu, 24 Mar 2011 15:40:55 +0000 copticuser20 11081@/community/discussions God's voice vs. our own https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/11467/god-s-voice-vs-our-own Thu, 19 May 2011 01:38:16 +0000 Shepherds_lamb 11467@/community/discussions
How can we recognize God’s voice versus our own?

I was in liturgy a few weeks ago and a thought entered my head that was as if someone was saying it to me, rather than it being my own thought. It was related to things that are going on in my life that I’m praying about, but it wasn’t something I had thought before myself. It was almost like an instruction, and I believe what it was telling me to do very well could be God’s will. It makes me uncomfortable though, which is another reason I feel it might not be my own thought, because no one likes to take themselves out of their comfort zone (at least I don’t).

I’ve never experienced anything like this before – it really was like someone else telling me something. But I am worried that maybe it was just my own thoughts and I’m making too much out of them. How can I know?

Please pray for me.
]]> Matthew24,17 https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/11454/matthew24-17 Tue, 17 May 2011 04:57:20 +0000 Smirser 11454@/community/discussions New Testament,Matthew,chapter24,verse17.]]> His Divinity did NOT Depart His Humanity https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/11275/his-divinity-did-not-depart-his-humanity Sun, 17 Apr 2011 15:18:10 +0000 Zoxsasi 11275@/community/discussions
I have a very serious question here.

Please be patient with me and just help me understand this.

The Coptic Orthodox Church, through statements issued by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, has stated that during the Holy Communion, we only eat the "LIFE GIVING" Holy Body of Christ. Not the "Divine Holy Body". He said, in a statement published in the ElKeraza, that we cannot eat Divinity.

Now - here's where my problem lies:

In the liturgy, at the end, here's what the priest prays:

Amen. Amen. Amen. I believe, I believe, I believe and confess to the last breath; that this is the Life-giving Body that Your Only-Begotten Son, our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ took from our lady, the lady of us all, the holy Mother of God, Saint Mary.

His made it One with his Divinity without mingling, without confusion, and without alteration.

He witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate. He gave It up for us upon the holy wood of the cross of His own will, for us all.

Truly, I believe that His divinity parted not from His humanity for a single moment nor a twinkling of an eye; given for us for salvation and for the remission of sins ...

OK.. Let's analyse this statement carefully that the priest says:

a) That the Holy Body that Im about to partake of in the Holy Communion IS the real Body of Christ in all its form (in its very essence), i.e. the SAME Body that Christ had Himself (i.e. its very same nature) that He took from Saint Mary which He UNITED IT with His Divinity.

Therefore, Point 1: His Nature is ONE nature - A united nature: Of Man and God IN THE PERSON OF CHRIST.

Question: Why then do we only take the human nature and eat it? Why do we separate His Divine Nature from His Human nature according to what the Pope is claiming??

b) If the priest says that Christ's Divinity did NOT depart from His Humanity, "for a single instance NOR for a twinkle of an eye", WHY then do we separate it when we have the Holy Communion? If the priest says "THIS IS THAT BODY, THAT HE TOOK FROM OUR QUEEN, SAINT MARY" ... if that is HIS REAL Body and I'm partaking of it in every way, then again, the question remains as to why the Pope insists we are not eating the Divine Nature ???

We are not eating the Divine Nature, nor the Human Nature - we are eating the United Miaphystic nature of Christ. To separate them in the Holy Communion SURELY leads us again to a heresy??!!!!

i.e. we are claiming that we are receiving the complete nature of Christ in the Holy Communion, yet the Pope is somehow stressing that we are only receiving the Human Element of it - not the complete essence.

Please correct me if I'm wrong????

It goes against the Church fathers that said that we cannot speak of the 2 natures AFTER the incarnation, but we recognise ONLY THE ONE NATURE of Christ - the United nature of His Divinity and Humanity IN the person of Christ.

c) Second point is this:

The Pope's argument was that we cannot possibly eat Divinity.

Fine. But then the priest clearly said (And the BIBLE CLEARLY SAYS!) that Christ was born of the Saint Mary and of the Holy Spirit. i.e. that The PERSON Jesus Christ is COMPLETE MAN and COMPLETE GOD. So, how then can the Divine nature be united with the human nature? How can the 2 substances unite?? How can the 2 essences mix? If they united in the Person of Christ, why then cannot they unite in the Holy Body that we eat in the Communion/Eucharist??

The Pope's logic/argument was that the Divine Nature cannot be consumed (eaten) - but that leads to another very compelling question:

The Divine Nature cannot be eaten, so HOW ON EARTH can it unite to the Human nature??? Surely it was OUR human nature that this Divine nature was united to? If the divine nature was united to our human nature, it means that our nature was able to receive the divine nature without it being consumed by it.

Am I making sense here?? I think its quite obvious and no one is talking about this issue, nor asking questions about it.. and im sorry for trying to understand this, but I prefer to ask and be corrected than to just not ask anything.
]]> Commentary on Revelation https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/11464/commentary-on-revelation Tue, 17 May 2011 22:32:36 +0000 Sudani 11464@/community/discussions

http://www.orthodoxchristianbooks.com/downloads/5_THE_BOOK_OF_THE_END.pdf

Oh, and I think we should add a new category to the forum specifically for bible study.]]> Shopping for a new Holy Bible: A Few Questions https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/11235/shopping-for-a-new-holy-bible-a-few-questions Sun, 10 Apr 2011 03:09:56 +0000 dzheremi 11235@/community/discussions
It is time now for me to get a new Bible. I have only the NAB that was given to me by the Roman Catholic Church (it is the version used by English-speaking Catholics in the USA) and my mother's old NIV Bible, which I have never used but keep because it was her most cherished personal possession.

I have been told that the only English translation that is officially sanctioned by the Coptic Orthodox Church is the NKJV. Is this true? How are the "apocryphal" books handled, then? Are they included in the NKJV somewhere? I had been told that they are not, but I don't own it, so I don't know.

If this is true, I will buy one as soon as I can. But it also confuses me, because so many Coptic Orthodox websites I have seen also sell the "Orthodox Study Bible". Is this also acceptable? Is one preferred over the other?

Also, I have been told by some EO friends that the Orthodox Study Bible has some problems, mostly in the footnotes that are in some places a little questionable. I don't know why that is, but those who don't like it have recommended to me the RSV ("Common Bible" with apocrypha, published by Collins). Do any of you have experience with the RSV? Is it acceptable? Would it be acceptable or helpful to perhaps buy a few Bibles -- the NKJV (as it is in common use), and perhaps also the RSV or OSB for comparative or other purposes?

Finally, what do I do with the old NAB that was given to me by the RCC? I don't really want to keep it, as I've never liked it to begin with (no, not even when I was RC), but I don't know what to do with it. Do I give to charity? Do I keep it anyway even though it is not reliable or helpful to me?

Thank you and God bless you for any help. Please pray for me, a sinner.
]]> What is sin? https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/11406/what-is-sin Mon, 09 May 2011 15:21:48 +0000 George_Mina_Awad 11406@/community/discussions
They say that you should go to confession at least once a month but from my experience, that's not nearly enough. My problem is that I don't even live in the same state as my foc, which is why I'm asking this.]]> erm end of the world ... https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/11389/erm-end-of-the-world Fri, 06 May 2011 15:26:45 +0000 MichaelGirgis 11389@/community/discussions

]]> St. Cyril of Alexandria's Commentary on "The Bread of Life" https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/11379/st-cyril-of-alexandria-s-commentary-on-the-bread-of-life Wed, 04 May 2011 12:06:47 +0000 childoforthodoxy 11379@/community/discussions
I hope that this message finds you all well in Christ. As the second Sunday of Pentecost is centered around the theme of Christ as the Bread of Life, I thought it would be fitting to post a commentary written by St. Cyril of Alexandria on the topic. There are a number of issues covered below, including the Eucharistic mystery, the will of Christ, and other similar topics that have recently been asked on the forums. It is a lengthy post, but I believe it is most beneficial for us to read.

I am the Bread of life

It is the custom of our Saviour Christ when explaining the more Divine and already foretold Mysteries, to make His Discourse upon them darksome and not too transparent. For He commits not His so dread word to lie unveiled before the unholy and profane indiscriminately at their pleasure, to be trodden down by them, but having veiled it in the armour of obscurity, He renders it not invisible to the prudent, but when He seeth among His hearers any foolish ones, and who understand no whit of the things spoken, He opens clearly what He wills to make known, and removing as it were all mist from His Discourse, He sets the knowledge of the Mystery before them bare and in full view, hereby rendering their |373 unbelief without defence. That it was His wont (as we have said) to use an obscure and reserved method of speaking, He will Himself teach us, saying in the Book of Psalms, I will open My Mouth in parables. And the blessed prophet Isaiah too no less will confirm our explanation hereof, and shew it in no wise mistaken, proclaiming, Behold a righteous King shall reign, and princes shall rule with judgment, and a man shall veil his words: for he says that He has reigned a righteous King over us who saith. Yet was I appointed King by Him, upon Sion His holy mountain, declaring the commandment of the Lord: and princes living together in judgment, that is, in uprightness in every thing, he calls the holy disciples who came to the Saviour Christ oftentimes veiling His words, saying, Declare unto us the parable. And He once on hearing the question, Why speakest Thou unto the multitudes in parables? is found to have declared most manifestly the cause, Because they seeing (He says) see not, and hearing they hear not, nor understand. For they were no ways worthy (it seems) seeing that God who judgeth justly, decreed this sentence upon them. The Saviour then, having devised many turns in His Discourse, when He saw that His hearers understood nothing, at length says more openly, I am the Bread, of life, and well-nigh makes an attack upon their unmeasured want of reason, saying, O ye who have the mastery over all in your incomparable uninstructedness alone, when God declares that He will give you Bread from Heaven, and has made you so great a promise in feeding you with manna, do ye limit the Divine Liberality, and are ye not ashamed of staying the grace from above at this, not knowing that it is but a little thing both for you to receive such things of God, and for God Himself to give them you? Do not then believe (saith He) that that bread is the Bread from Heaven. For I am the Bread of Life, Who of old was fore-announced to you as in promise, and shewn as in type, but now am present fulfilling My due promise. I am the Bread of Life, not bodily bread, which cutteth off the suffering from hunger only, and freeth the flesh from the destruction |374 therefrom, but remoulding wholly the whole living being to eternal life, and rendering man who was formed to be for ever, superior to death. By these words He points to the life and grace through His Holy Flesh, through which this property of the Only Begotten, i. e., life, is introduced into us.

But we must know (for I think we ought with zealous love of learning to pursue what brings us profit) that for forty whole years was the typical manna supplied to them of Israel by God, while Moses was yet with them, but when he had attained the common termination of life, and Jesus was now appointed the commander and general of the Jewish ranks: he brought them over Jordan, as it is written, and having circumcised them with knives of stone and brought them into the land of promise, he at length arranged that they should be fed with bread, the all-wise God having now stayed His gift of manna. Thus (for the type shall now be transferred to the truer) when Moses was shrouded, that is, when the types of the worship after the Law were brought to nought, and Christ appeared to us, the true Jesus (for He saved His people from their sins), then we crossed the Jordan, then received the spiritual circumcision through the teaching of the twelve stones, that is of the holy disciples, of whom if is written in the Prophets that the holy stones are rolled upon His land. For the holy stones going about and running over the whole earth, are of a surety these, through whom also we were circumcised with the circumcision made without hands in Spirit, i. e., through faith. When then we were called to the kingdom of Heaven by Christ (for this and nought else, I deem, it pointeth to, that some entered into the land of promise), then the typical manna no longer belongeth to us (for not by the letter of Moses are we any longer nourished) but the Bread from Heaven, i. e., Christ, nourishing us unto eternal life, both through the supply of the Holy Ghost, and the participation of His Own Flesh, which infuseth into us the participation of God, and effaceth the deadness that cometh from the ancient curse. |375

He that cometh to Me shall not hunger, and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst.

There is herein again something concealed which we must say. For it is the wont of the Saviour Christ, not to contend with the praises of the saints, but on the contrary to crown them with glorious honours. But when certain of the more ignorant folk, not perceiving how great His excellence over them, offer them a superior glory, then does He to their great profit bring them to a meeter idea, while they consider Who the Only-Begotten is, and that He will full surely surpass by incomparable Excellencies. But not over clear does He make His Discourse to this effect, but somewhat obscure and free from any boast, and yet by consideration of or comparison of the works it forcibly takes hold on the vote of superiority. For instance, He was discoursing one time with the woman of Samaria, to whom He promised to give living water; and the woman understanding nought of the things spoken said, Art THOU greater than our father Jacob who gave us the well? But when the Saviour wished to persuade her that He was both greater than he, and in no slight degree more worthy of belief, He proceeds to the difference between the water, and says, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again, but whosoever drinlceth of the water that I shall give him, it shall be in him a well of water syringing up into everlasting life. And what thence does He give to understand but surely this, that the Giver of more excellent gifts must needs be surely Himself more excellent than he with whom was the comparison? Some such method then of leading and instruction He uses now too. For since the Jews were behaving haughtily towards Him, and durst think big, putting forward on all occasions their Lawgiver Moses, and often asserting that they ought to follow his ordinances rather than Christ's, thinking that the supply of manna and the gushing forth of water from the rock, were most reasonable proof of his superiority over all, and over our Saviour Jesus Christ Himself, needs He did return to His wonted plan, and does not say downright, |376 that He is superior to Moses, by reason of the unbridled daring of His hearers, and their being most exceeding prone to wrath; but He comes to this very thing that is marvelled at, and by comparison of it with the greater, proves that it is small. For he that cometh to Me (He says) shall never hunger and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst. Yea (saith He) I too will agree with you that the manna was given through Moses, but they that did eat thereof hungered. I will grant that out of the womb of the rocks was given forth unto you water, but they who drank thirsted, and the aforesaid gift wrought them some little temporary enjoyment; but he that cometh to Me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst.

What then doth Christ promise? Nothing corruptible, but rather that Blessing in the participation of His Holy Flesh and Blood, which restoreth man wholly to incorruption, so that he should need none of the things which drive off the death of the flesh, food (I mean) and drink. It seems that He here calls water, the Sanctification through the Spirit, or the Divine and Holy Ghost Himself, often so named by the Divine Scriptures. The Holy Body of Christ then giveth life to those in whom It is, and holdeth them together unto incorruption, being commingled with our bodies. For it is conceived of as the Body of none other, but of Him which is by Nature life, having in itself the whole virtue of the united Word, and inqualitied, yea or rather, fulfilled with His effectuating Might, through which all things are quickened and retained in being. But since these things are so, let them who have now been baptized and have tasted the Divine Grace, know, that if they go sluggishly or hardly at all into the Churches, and for a long time keep away from the Eucharistic gift through Christ, and feign a pernicious reverence, in that they will not partake of Him sacramentally, they exclude themselves from eternal life, in that they decline to be quickened; and this their refusal, albeit seeming haply to be the fruit of reverence, is turned into a snare and an offence. |377

For rather ought they urgently to gather up their implanted power and purpose, that so they may be resolute in clearing away sin, and essay to live a life most comely, and so hasten with all boldness to the participation of Life. But since Satan is manifold in his wiles, he never suffers them to think that they ought to be soberminded, but after having denied them with evils, persuades them to shrink from the very grace, whereby it were likely, that they recovering from the pleasure that leads to vice, as from wine and drunkenness, should see and consider what is for their good. Breaking off therefore his bond, and shaking off the yoke cast upon us from his tyranny, let us serve the Lord with fear, as it is written, and through temperance shew ourselves superior to the pleasures of the flesh and approach to that Divine and Heavenly Grace, and mount up unto the holy Participation of Christ; for thus, thus shall we overcome the deceit of the devil, and, having become partakers of the Divine Nature, shall mount up to life and incorruption.

36 But I said unto you that ye have both seen Me and believe not.

By many words doth He struggle with them, and in every way urge them to salvation by faith. But He was not ignorant, as God, that they would run off to unbelief, as their sister or intimate foster sister, and would regard as nought, Him who calleth them to life. In order then that they might know that Jesus was not ignorant what manner of men they would be found, or rather, to speak more fittingly, that they might learn that they were under the Divine wrath, He charges them again, But I said unto you that ye have both seen Me and believe not. I foreknew (says He) and clearly foretold, that ye would surely remain hard, and keeping fast hold of your cherished disobedience, ye would be left without share in My gifts. And when did Christ say any thing of this kind? remember Him saying to the blessed prophet Isaiah, Go and tell this people, Hear ye in hearing and understand not, and looking |378 look and see not, for the heart of this people is waxen fat. Will not the word be shewn to be true by these things also which are before us? for they saw, they saw that the Lord was by Nature God, when He fed a multitude exceeding number which came unto Him with five barley loaves, and two small fishes, which He brake up. But they have seen and believe not, by reason of the blindness which like a mist hath come upon their understandings from the Divine wrath. For they were (I suppose) without doubt worthy to undergo this, for that they, caught in innumerable stumblings, and fast holden in the indissoluble bands of their transgressions, received not when He came Him who had power to loose them. For this cause was the heart of this people made fat.

But that the multitude of the Jews saw by the greatness of the sign that Jesus was by Nature God, you will understand full well by this too. For marvelling at what was done, as the Evangelist says above, they sought to seize Him to make Him a King. No excuse then for their folly is left unto the Jews. For astonished (and with much reason) at the Divine signs, and coming from the works proportionably to the Might of Him Who worketh, they wellnigh, shudder at their readiness to believe, and spring back from good habits, readily making a summerset as it were into the very depths of perdition.

37 All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me,

It did not behove the Lord simply to say, Ye have both seen Me and believe not, but it was necessary that He should bring in besides the reason of their blindness, that they might learn that they had fallen under the Divine displeasure. Therefore as a skilful physician He both shews them their weakness, and reveals the cause of it, not in order that they on learning it may remain quiet in it, but that they may by every means appease the Lord of all, Who is grieved at them, i. e., for just causes. For He would never be grieved unjustly, nor would He Who knows how to give righteous judgment have given any |379 such judgment upon them, were not reason calling Him thereto, from all sides hasting unto the duty of accusal. The Saviour hereby affirmed that everything should come to Him, which God the Father gave Him; not as though He were unable to bring believers to Himself, for this He would have accomplished very easily if He had so willed, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things to Himself, as Paul saith: but since it seemed somehow necessary and more fit, to say that they who were in ignorance were illumined by the Divine Nature, He again as Man attributes to the Father the operation, as to things more God-befitting. For so was His wont to do, as we have often said. But it is probable that when He says that all that He giveth Him shall be brought to Him by God the Father, He points to the people of the Gentiles now about full soon to believe on Him. It is the word of one skilfully threatening, that both they shall fall away from grace, and that in their stead shall come in all who of the Gentiles are brought by the goodness of God the Father, to the Son, as to Him Who is by Nature Saviour and Lifegiving, that they, partaking of the Blessing from Him, may be made partakers of the Divine Nature, and be thus brought back to incorruption and life, and be reformed unto the pristine fashion of our nature. As though one should bring a sick man to a physician, that he might drive away the sickness that has fallen upon him, so we say that God the Father brings to the Son those who are worthy salvation from Him. Bitter then and full of destruction is hardness of heart to them that have it. Therefore doth the word of prophecy chide the Jews, crying aloud, Be ye circumcised to God, and circumcise the hardness of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem. Yet not for them, but for us rather hath God the Father kept the circumcision in the heart, namely that which is through the Holy Ghost, wrought according to the rites of him who is a Jew inwardly. It is then right to flee from their disobedience, and with all zeal to renounce hardness of heart, and to reform unto a more toward |380 disposition, if we would avert the wrath that was upon them unto destruction.
]]> Don Piper prayer https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/11374/don-piper-prayer Tue, 03 May 2011 21:22:13 +0000 George_Mina_Awad 11374@/community/discussions 90 Minutes in Heaven (and yes, I understand that it is not a legitimate book) for posting this prayer on his website:

"Dear God,

I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ, died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, and is alive today. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Help me to live a meaningful and purposeful life until You call me home to be with You in Heaven someday. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen."

The author of the website explains:

"Lordship Salvation is a false gospel which requires lost sinners to surrender to Christ's will, be willing to turn from personal sins, and make Jesus Lord of their life as prerequisites to receiving God's free gift of eternal life. The very definition of the word "gift" exposes the proponents of Lordship Salvation as liars and antichrists."

Source: http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Wolves/don_piper.htm

I am not in anyway trusting this site, or others like it, for issues of faith or dogma.

My question is this: what is the church's view on the author of this website's reasoning about why that prayer is wrong? Is there something wrong in praying and saying that I want to surrender to His will? Is this jeopardizing my own free will?]]> Wavering in faith https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/11292/wavering-in-faith Tue, 19 Apr 2011 22:35:13 +0000 anba bola 11292@/community/discussions
I live very far from the nearest church and so am unable to attend Pascha (besides Good Friday) which only makes matters worse. I can't really find anyone around to help me in my spiritual life on a daily basis, and I only get to sit down with my FoC once a month. I have tried reading the Bible with my sister on a daily basis, but after 2 times she started refusing to read the Bible with me anymore. It is not quite that I don't believe in God, I still have the intellectual belief in him, but the spiritual belief in him is lacking.

Any advice would be helpful. ]]> Avoiding vainglory https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/11169/avoiding-vainglory Thu, 31 Mar 2011 21:49:11 +0000 IIAce 11169@/community/discussions
How can we prevent even the slightest, "it was because I did this...", "I achieved this...", "If it wasn't for what I did...", and all the other "I"'s from sneaking in our head when things are going well and we are successful?]]> love our enemies? https://tasbeha.org/community/discussion/11335/love-our-enemies Wed, 27 Apr 2011 23:19:42 +0000 i.love.st.demyana. 11335@/community/discussions
I have been thinking about this question for such a long time. I understand that God told us that we have to love our enemies becasue if we only love our nieghbors then what cross is on our part? NOTHING.

BUt is it really realistic to do so?

Does anyone really love their enemies and is that the same as not hating them?

???]]>