My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
ON OUR ADOPTION BY GOD
By Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk
"Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God" [1 John 3:1], and so we are. O blessedness! O God’s love for man! O how much God’s love has accomplished! O how profusely has God’s grace abounded! Poor and rejected sinners are made the children of God! The Apostle of Christ wonders at this and says, "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God," and so we are. For what is more astonishing than that a sinner should become a child of God? God’s love toward man has wrought this. What is more glorious than to be called and to really be a child of God? God’s grace has bestowed this on man. It is glorious to be the child of an earthly king; it is incomparably more glorious to be the child of God the Heavenly King. This honor, glory, merit, nobility, and name is more excellent than all titles of this world. For this, glory to God Who loves mankind!
If Christians are children of God, they are also heirs, "heirs," then, "of God, and joint-heirs with Christ" [Romans 8:17]. If they are children of God, what then, and whom should they fear? Why fear traitors, enemies, the devil, demons, death and hell? God shall stand up for them. "If God be for us, who can be against us?" [Romans 8:31}. We receive this most exalted gift of God in Baptism, for then we men are born of God and receive this most glorious title.
Beloved Christians! Let us remember our holy Baptism, and this most exalted mercy which God then showed us; we then became children of God. Glory for this! But it is required of children that they should be like their parents, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" [John 3:6]. Therefore Christians must be like God as they are born of God. God is Holy, let us also be holy. God is Righteous, let us also be righteous. God is Good, "for He maketh the sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust" (Matthew 5:45}; let us also be good and do good both to our friends and to our enemies, to those that love us and to those that hate us. God is compassionate, let us also be compassionate and show mercy to our unfortunate brethren. God hates sin, let us also hate every sin and turn away from it. God loves us, let us also love one another. God forgives us our transgressions when we repent, let us also forgive men their transgressions
The Apostle of Christ admonishes us to do this: "Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children" (Ephesians 5:1). When we show such character in ourselves, then we shall be true children of God and we shall receive both the inheritance and all good things promised to the children of God in Jesus Christ the Lord.
ON THE HONOR AND NOBILITY OF TRUE CHRISTIANS
Beloved Christians, I cannot wonder enough the goodness of God and His compassionate love for us men; and contemplating this, I cannot but exclaim with the Prophet, "O Lord, what is man, that Thou art made known unto him? Or the son of man, that Thou takest account of him?" [Psalm 143:3], when I consider what honor the Lord has granted man! The honor and nobility which God bestows on men who are true Christians is so great and so high that it is impossible not only to describe it or to explain it in words, but even to comprehend it with the mind. "Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people" [1 Peter 2:9], says the true Apostle of Christ.
From what can we see the incomprehensible goodness and compassionate love of God toward man? Let us but look and set the honor and nobility of a Christian before our inward eyes, that we may be zealous for it and seek it out with eagerness. Open then, the hearing of your souls, and you shall hear a word told about true Christians.
1. They are called and truly are the children of God. What is more glorious to man than this name? The Apostle of Christ rightly wonders at this and with wonder says to Christians, "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God?" [1 John 3:1-2), and so we are…
2. True Christians have a close union and fellowship with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. The Apostle of Christ assures us of this saying, "our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ." How great this is you can see for yourself…
3. In true Christians as in spiritual temples, God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, abides with love. The Lord says of this, "If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode in him" [John 14:23]…
4. True Christians are spiritual members of the Most Heavenly Head, Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords. The Apostle says concerning this, "We are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones" [Ephesians 5:30]…
5. The souls of true Christians are betrothed to the Immortal Bridegroom, Jesus Christ… As the Bridegroom is glorious, so also does His bride partake of His glory. What is more honorable and noble than Jesus Christ the Son of God? What is more noble and honorable than a Chrstian soul betrothed to Him?
6. True Christians are "HEIRS OF GOD, AND JOINED-HEIRS WITH CHRIST" [Romans 8:17). Theirs are the eternal and heavenly Kingdom and all good things. "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him" (1 Corinthians 2:9). These and others are the names and titles that the Holy Spirit attributes to true Christians… The glory of true Christians is not now manifest, but can only be attained and known by faith. "Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness" [1 John 3:2-4]. "Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" [Matthew 13:43].
[Resources: Journey to Heaven]
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"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George
The Eastern Orthodox Christian Ethos 