THE PASSIONS

NOTE: The Passions Are The Sinful Predispositions of Our Fallen Human Nature > The Passions Are The "Lusts/Desires Of The Flesh" - Galatians 5:19-21 > The Flesh Is Not Our Physical Bodies But The Fallen Nature, The Adamic Nature We Inherited At Birth From Our Progenitors > "Now The Works Of The Flesh Are These; Adultery, Fornication, Uncleanness, Lasciviousness (Lewdness), Idolatry, Witchcraft (Greek = Pharmakeia), Hatred, Variance (Contentions), Emulations (Jealousies), Outbursts Of Wrath, Strife (Selfish Ambitions), Seditions (Disensions), Heresies, Envy, Murders, Drunkenness, Revelries, And The Like" > This List From Galatians 5 Is A Good Start, If You Can Call It A "Good" Start? > There Are More "Lists" Of Passions Elsewhere In Scripture Which Name, Greed, Love Of Money, Gluttony Vainglory, Laziness/Sloth, etc, etc > The Passions Are Qualities We Inherit From Our Animal Nature - We, In Our Sinful State, Reflect More Of An Animal Instinct Than A Human Instinct - It's As If The Instincts/Qualities Of Self-Preservation In Animals Has Been Transferred Into Human Life And Become Our Passions > There Is A Zoo Within Us - Like Many Animals Running Through Us Just Under The Ribcage - We Have A New Nature Through The New Birth Baptism (John 3:1-7) But The Old Nature Still Lurks Within And Must Be Brought Into Subjection To The Law Of Christ (Romans 6) - Our Fleshly Actions Are Frequently Classified As Animals Living On Mere Instincts Rather Than The Good And Holy Feelings Of Human Nature, ie Love - For Example, We Say, "He Eats Like A Pig" - "He's Stubborn As A Mule" - "He's Proud As A Peacock" - A Womanizer Is Called "A Wolf" - A Treacherous Person Is A "Snake In The Grass" - A Grouchy Person Is "A Bear" - A Coward Is Called "Chicken" - A Dull Person Is Called An "Ox". > Another Way Of Dealing With The Passions Is To Cover The Windows Of Your Soul/Your Senses With Fine Nets/Screens Which Will Keep Out Impure Insects, This Is Done By Meditating On The Sober Realities Of Eternal Judgment > And Let Us Not Forget The Powerful "Name Of Jesus" - Always Call Upon The Name Of Jesus, All That You Do, Do In The Name Of Jesus (Colossians 3:17) - Recite "The Jesus Prayer" Whenever A Weak Moment Arises, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son Of God, Have Mercy On Me, A Sinner" - St John Of The Ladder Said, "Flog The Foes With The Name Of Our Lord Jesus". Transfiguring The Passions Should Be Our Goal, Not Destroying Them - Of Course Their Evil Bent Is Destroyed Once The Passion Is Deified By God's Holy Spirit ( 2 Peter 1:2-12 ) - But Our Passions Are Given To Us By God, But Have Been Hi-jacked, Re-directed, By Sin - We Must Direct The Passions Toward God - Physical Eros/Erotic Love Must Be Concentrated On God - St Maximos The Confessor Said, "Every Passion Is Curable Through Abstinence And Love" - "Uncontrolled Anger Is To Be Re-directed Into Righteous Indignation - Sexual Lust Transformed Into Into An Eros Love For God, Whom We Are To Love With An Agape Love And Eros Love. Thus The Passions Are To Be Purified, Not Eradicated; Transfigured, Not Eliminated" (Philokalia, Anthony Conairis, p. 162) 

THE TRUTH OF THE CHURCH

 The "Truth" taught by Jesus, and the preaching of the Apostles, was handed down to the churches of God and is known as "Holy Tradition". "Holy Tradition" is defined as "the life of the Holy Spirit in the Church". (Eph. 2:20-22; 1 Thes. 2:13,14; 2 Thes. 2: 15; 3:6; 1 Cor.11:2). From these verses we know that the "truth" was passed down both orally and in written form(Epistles). The Church became the repository of the "truth of Christ", aka "the Faith". 1 Timothy 3:15 reveals that "the Church" is "the pillar and ground of the truth". The foundation of Christian Faith is the Church, the Scriptures tell us this. (Interesting note here is that the very next verse(v. 16), St Paul quotes an ancient Christian creed or hymn. This shows us that the "Truth of the Church" was embodied in liturgical hymns as well as the oral teachings of the Apostles and the written Epistles of the Apostles. In 1 Thessalonians 2:13,14 we can see that the believers in Thessalonica "became followers of the churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus". The believers at the beginning did not have copies of the New Testament as we do now. The churches were teaching from both, the Old Testament, and from what the Apostles were teaching about Jesus, both orally and in epistles. The church communities were Spirit-filled worshipping communities, praying the Psalms, singing hymns about Jesus, and spiritual songs that conveyed creedal truth, and celebrating the Lord's Supper, sharing and having all things in common(Acts 2:42-47; 4:32).

OBTAINING MERCY AND FINDING GRACE

We must obtain mercy and acquire grace to help us every time we are tempted.  Our text is teaching us that with every temptation we are in need of help. And help is available to us through the high priestly ministry of Jesus. If we will take God at His word (Matthew 11:28-30), and come to Him boldly, to the throne of grace, in our moment of need, we will receive two blessed realities. First we will obtain mercy. Mercy is the critical thing, and mercy is the most urgent need of the disciple of Christ. Because we are sinners, who are wounded in our souls, diseased, and brokenhearted, we must continuously be repenting, and crying out like the Publican, “God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13). Especially at the moment of temptation, when we are likely in a weakened state, we are need of mercy. Mercy is not understood in a judicial sense, that is, that you are not receiving judgment as you deserve. Mercy is to be understood in a medicinal sense, that is, you are on the receiving end of God’s steadfast love. Mercy (eleos in Greek which has the same root as the old Greek word for olive oil) is the healing oil poured into the diseased wounds of our souls (Luke 10:25-37). By obtaining mercy, that is, by receiving the healing balm (Jeremiah 8:22) for our souls, we can overcome the temptations that our weaknesses make us susceptible too (James 1:12-15). This is why we should pray “Lord have mercy” with such frequency. And why we are encouraged to often repeat the Jesus Prayer, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner”. Secondly, we can acquire grace, that is, the divine energies of God Himself. This uncreated grace, will cause us to be supernaturally strengthened in the inner man (Ephesians 3:16). God imparts that part of Himself, that is, not His essence (nature), but His energies, to the child of God who calls upon Him in his time of need. God has elected to communicate his divine energies with His creatures that are in Christ Jesus (2 Peter 1:2-4)

THE GREAT DAY OF GOD

2 Peter 3:1-18 and Mark 13:24-31, point us to the Great Day of God, that is, the second coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: a)when the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ (Revelation 11:15); b)when all that are in the graves will hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation (John 5:24-29); c)when the creation itself will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God (Romans 8:21); d)when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who will be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power; when he will come to be glorified in His saints (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10); e)when, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, for the trumpet will sound, and the dead (in Christ) will be raised incorruptible, and we (who are alive) will be changed (1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) f) when the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up…nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:10,13; Revelation 21:1). Peter, in his epistle, reminds us of those things we must remind ourselves of.  And he warns us to beware of the scoffers who will twist the Holy Scriptures to lead us into the error of the wicked causing us to fall away. Christ had warned that, in the time of the end, even the very elect could be deceived (Matthew 24:24). And St Paul warned that there would be a great falling away before the second coming of Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:3). May these sobering realities lead us to a life of repentance and perpetual conversion. I have zeroed in on four truths that will help us to live this life in the light of the Great Day of God Almighty, which is the glorious revelation of Jesus Christ from heaven, to judge the living and the dead (2 Timothy 4:1) and create the new heavens and the new earth.

SIMPLE PRAYER #1 - THE JESUS PRAYER

"O Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner". This short prayer is the most famous prayer in the history of the Christian Church - It is known as "The Jesus Prayer". Within it is the whole of the Gospel Truth. This little prayer is a summary of the Gospels. Addressing Jesus as Lord expresses your faith in His Divinity, and His equality with the Father. Naming Jesus, the Christ, expresses that you have faith that He is the Messiah, the Anointed One. And saying/praying the Name of Jesus expresses your faith in Him as your Savior, for that is the very meaning of His Name (Matthew 1:21), and "Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). Addressing Jesus as the "Son of God" expresses your faith in the Holy Trinity, "For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" (Colossians 2:9). Asking mercy expresses your faith in His steadfast love, and His healing compassion. You are requesting that He would pour into your soul the Anointing Oil of the Holy Spirit (Luke 10:34). And finally, by acknowledging that you are a sinner you are clothing yourself with humility, and expressing a heart of repentance and faith in Jesus as your God, your Lord, your Messiah, your Savior, and your Healer. Let this simple prayer open up for you the infinite riches of God.

SIMPLE PRAYER #2 - HELP US, SAVE US!

"Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and keep us, O Lord, by your grace". This is an ancient prayer that is repeated often in the worship of the liturgical churches that have their roots in Eastern Christianity, but most importantly has its roots in the biblical text and therefore is inspired by the Holy Spirit. This is a prayer arrow that should be in your quiver, and ready to be used against the enemy of our souls at the very first sign of temptation. Against depression, and apathy; against bitterness, and lethargy; against vainglory, and pride; let this arrow fly at the thoughts spawned by any of these evil passions that enter our minds from within or without. Firstly, "Help us" is our admitting that we need God, that we are helpless without Him. As Jesus said, "Without me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). But thankfully we are never without Him if we keep His commandments (John 14:21). And because He said, "I will never leave you, nor forsake you...you may boldly say, The Lord is my HELPER, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me" (Hebrews 13:5,6). This is what we mean when we simply pray, "Help us". Next we pray "Save us", which is so rich in meaning. The Greek word for save is "sozo", and means to save or to deliver, to heal or preserve, to make whole. Salvation in Jesus is an all encompassing salvation that is multifaceted, and includes being saved from sin and its power; being delivered from the power of death; being healed of our spiritual infirmities and being made whole, that is, the image of God being restored in us (Ephesians 4:23,24; Colossians 3:9,10). Thirdly, we pray, "Have mercy on us", which is to trust that God will pour into our lives His steadfast love and compassion. Mercy is not to be understood in a strict juridical sense where God is a judge and you are a sinful criminal who needs God to let you off the hook. Mercy is from the Greek "eleos" which comes from the same root word that "olive oil" comes from. Asking for mercy is asking for God to pour in the healing oil of His Spirit into the wounds of our souls. Next we ask for the Lord to "keep us" which refers to His promise to perfect that which concerns us (Psalm 138:8), that we "Being confident of this very thing, that He which has begun a good work in us will complete it until the Day of Jesus Christ (His Second Coming) (Philippians 1:6).God will preserve us blameless (1 Thessalonians 5:23). We are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation (1 Peter 1:5). And in Jude 24, "Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy". Then our prayer addresses the Lord, we acknowledge who it is that we are petitioning for these grand requests, none other than the Lord Himself, Jesus the true God and eternal Life (1 John 5:20). And finally, we reveal our inadequacy, our need to decrease, our complete dependency upon His grace to cause any and all of these petitions to be realized (Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 Corinthians 15:10; 2 Corinthians 12:9). Grace is not simply the concept of unmerited favor, but it is the very energies of the Divine Nature that is communicated to the believer who places their trust in Him (2 Peter 1:2-4). So, let us pray often, "Help us, Save us, Have Mercy on us, and Keep us, O Lord, by Your Grace".

THE WAY OF ESCAPE

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it (1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV). 

Many a sermon has been based on this verse of Scripture found in Saint Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. And mostly it is lifted out of its context and used to teach something other than its intended purpose. I must admit, that even though, sermons about overcoming temptation are extremely important and welcome, we must be careful that we do not miss the very point that the Apostle Paul is making. We must see that Saint Paul is showing 'the way' for us to "flee from idolatry" (verse 14). And that, "way to escape", the various forms of idolatry that tempt God's people to stray, is Holy Communion, the Eucharist, which he expounds upon in verses 16 and 17.

Saint Paul starts his thoughts on this topic (verse 1), sharing his fatherly care that we not be ignorant of the Old Testament stories that reveal God at work delivering His people. And too, we are not to be ignorant of the fact that "these things happened unto them for (our) examples: and they are written for our admonition (verse 11). 

Paul, the teacher of truth, reveals that the saving events that the people of God experienced while being delivered from bondage were in actuality a truly spiritual reality. The cloud and the sea baptized them unto Moses (Exodus 13:21); they "did all eat the same spiritual meat" (Exodus 16:15); "And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ" (Exodus 17:6). The people of God were spiritually communing with God and Christ, via the sea, the Rock that gave forth water, and the manna. The sea, the Rock, and the manna were not just symbols of a spiritual reality, but literally communicated that spiritual reality to their souls and bodies.

"But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were for our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them..." (verse 5-7). Then Saint Paul lists (verses 7-10) the various forms of idolatry that overthrew the foolish people whom God had delivered, yet who still loved this present world: Gluttony, drunkenness, fornication, tempting God, and murmuring. These are the various forms of idolatry that brought destruction to those people that persisted in rebellion against the laws of God. 

With this Old Testament history now at the forefront of our minds, Saint Paul reveals that none of these temptations, these various idols, that are common to to all people, can simply overcome you; because God has provided a way of escape whereby you enter into communion with God and Christ and are divinely energized to bear the temptation, that is, gain the victory over it. Saint Paul introduces this "way to escape" in the verses that follow: "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread" (verse 16-17). Saint Paul is saying, that just as the manna was spiritual food, and the water from the Rock was spiritual drink, so too the bread and the cup of blessing (wine and water) are spiritual realities that feed the people of God and actualize a literal communion with the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Bread and the cup of blessing are not merely symbols of Jesus's body and blood, they are the very body and blood of Jesus that we partake of mystically just as the Old Testament saints ate and drank spiritual food and drink, and were made one with Moses. We participate in the body and blood of Jesus Christ, and are made one with Him.

When Saint Paul continues his teaching on "The Lord's supper" (Verse 11:20-34) we now can understand why it is he speaks of such dire consequences (many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep), for those who "eateth and drinketh unworthily" (verse 29), eat and drink judgment to themselves. You cannot be living in idolatry and eat the bread and drink the cup of the Lord. This is what is meant by "whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord" (verse 27). We cannot play games with Holy things. If we do, their can be dire consequences. But on the positive side of things, if we partake of the Lord's body worthily, then we participate literally in Christ's divine humanity, and we are provided "the way of escape" from our temptations because Christ's divine humanity is mystically communicated to our souls and bodies by the grace of the Holy Spirit. We become partakers of his divine nature (2 Peter 1:4).

I encourage you to read chapters 10 and 11 several times straight through so that you will see the whole picture that Saint Paul is painting. The "Eucharist" (1 Corinthians 11:23-25; Luke 22:19-20), aka, the "Thanksgiving", is central to Christian worship, and thereby central to the Christian life. The Eucharist is most fully experienced within the Orthodox Church which not only provides the historical context for the New Testament Passover, but also provides all the necessary spiritual disciplines that help you prepare to receive Holy Communion worthily. 

Therefore, examine yourself (11:28), and "let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" (10:12).

GOKOTTA (Zhyo - kOt - tah)

    Gokotta is a Swedish word, pronounced zyokk-koh-tah. Gokotta means the act of rising early just to go outside and hear the birds sing and appreciate nature. The Prophet David guides us with his words, "When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained...all sheep, and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field: the fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea...O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!" (Psalm 8).     
This word, Gokotta, also embodies the Biblical admonition: "Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up" (Psalm 5:1-3). And, "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is" (Psalm 63:1). And again, "My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise. Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early" (Psalm 57:7-8; 108:1-2). And yet again, "Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I put my trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee" (Psalm 143:8).
    Being a person of intention, of purposeful action, is a sign of discipleship, that is, of Spirit-led discipline. To rise early in the morning with your meditation immediately upon your King, and your God, is the rhythm of the righteous. Again the Prophet David instructs us, "As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice" (Psalm 55:17). We followers of Jesus are to have a rule of prayer that we faithfully keep that corresponds to the cycles of the natural world. As the sun sets we are to pray. As the sun arises we are to pray. As the sun bears down on us at high noon we are to pray. 
     Each morning may we put first things first. Do not reach for your smart phone, or the remote control, or the computer mouse, or the newspaper, but reach for the Bible that is hidden in your heart (Psalm 119:11). Stand in your prayer corner, or step outside for a prayer-walk, and commune with your Father in heaven, with Jesus the Son and Word of God, and with the Holy Spirit. And God will help you, save you, have mercy upon you, and keep you, by his grace!!!

TRUTH

What is Truth? Truth is that which is true absolutely. Truth is reality in the ultimate sense. For Christians, truth is a person through whom we may know the truth of all things revealed(John 14:17,26); through whom we may come to a saving knowledge of truth(1 Tim. 2:4); through whom we may become "partakers of the divine nature"(2 Peter 1:4). This person is the true and living God, creator of heaven and earth, risen Lord and Savior of the world, Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah.

Jesus said. "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes to the Father but by me".(John14:6). The author of the Gospel according to St John revealed that Jesus is the Word, and that the Word(Jesus) was with God(the Father) in the beginning; that the Word(Jesus) is God; that all things were created by the Word(Jesus); In Him, the Word(Jesus) was life and the life is the light of men; that the Word became flesh, a fully human being while remaining fully God; that the Word(Jesus) is full of grace and truth; and that all who would receive the Word(Jesus) would be given the power to become the children of God.(John 1:1-18).

Jesus said, "I am the light of the world...my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but the Father that sent me...the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bears witness of myself, and the Father that sent me bears witness of me...I am from above...When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then shall you know that I am...Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am"(John 8:12-59). In the midst of this ongoing conversation that Jesus was having with the Pharisees, many believed on him(v. 30) and Jesus said to those Jews which believed on him, "If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed; And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free"(v. 31,32). Jesus was speaking of becoming free from sin and its power(v.36). This freedom from sin was found in the Son of the Father(God). The Son is revealed in the words of Jesus which corresponded with the scriptures of the Jews(Old Testament), This is "the truth" that they would know as they "continued in (Jesus) word". The "Truth" is a person, the Son of the Father. Because the scriptures of the Old Testament had no place in these Jews they could not understand Jesus's teachings. The Jews had developed a parallel religion to the religion that had been handed down to them in Moses and the Prophets. Jesus called these false teachings "your tradition...the commandments of men"(Mt 15:1-9). And Jesus reveals the source of these false teachings, and the deceptions(lies) that they produce, and that source is their father, the devil, who is a liar and a murderer from the beginning(v. 43-47). Jesus is revealing that these Jews were followers of "the liar", that is, followers of Satan himself, and that they were abiding in "the lies" of the devil.

Jesus is revealed as the true God, equal to the Father, who is also the "true God"(John 17:1-5). We, who believe, have been given an understanding(an enlightened nous/intellect/mind/an unction/an anointing) that we may "know Him who is true", "and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life"(1 John 5:20). Titus reveals that we are "looking for that blessed hope, and glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ"(Titus 2:11-14). Jesus is the "ultimate reality", He is that which is "true absolutely"(Eph. 4:21).

I would like to introduce ideas of St. Nektarios of Aegina here that Jesus is the fulfilment of what is known as "THE EXPECTATION OF THE NATIONS". The idea that from the beginning, from the time of the "fall of Adam and Eve", all nations were awaiting the arrival of a "Redeemer God" coming in human form Who would teach the whole truth in order to obliterate evil, bring peace, make brothers of all nations, and bring the kingdom of heaven to the earth. This promise was an anchor of hope throughout the centuries. Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Jews, Chinese, Indians, Persians, Arabs, even the inhabitants of the New World; all had stories, myths, prophecies foreshadowing a God-Man appearing to deliver the world from evil, from the great serpent. Confucius, Plutarch, Zoroaster, Socrates, Maurikios, Pascal, and many wise people spoke of this tradition of the nations.

The Holy Scriptures declare, "When the fulness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, "Abba, Father!" Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ"(Gal. 4:4-7). God's Son, the Light of Light, broke into the darkness of this fallen world at the very perfect moment in human history. Jesus is this very "Truth" that all the nations were expecting.

Therefore, "THE CHRISTIAN FAITH is not a "religion" (except in the conventional everyday use of the word). It is the fulfillment of all religions in their search for divine truth and human meaning as inspired by God's law written on human hearts. In this understanding, God's Gospel in Jesus is the end of all religions as human constructions, however good and inevitable they are in their desire to deal with life's mysteries and to comprehend the ways of God (or the gods) and creatures in a demon-riddled, death-bound world."(Fr Thomas Hopko).

The Truth is found in "the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God"(Mark 1:1). The "four Gospels" (aka  the"four Evangelists"), Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; and the gospel according to St Paul(Romans 16:25,26) reveal the truth of God, of all things that pertain to our salvation(Gal. 2:5; Col. 1:5,6; Eph. 1:13; 1 Tim. 2:4-7). Note the continued connection of "truth" and "gospel" made in these scriptures. Jesus said, "Search the scriptures(Old Testament)(John 5:39), for in them you will discover who Jesus is, and therefore acquire "life"(v. 40). And at the Second Coming of Jesus you will experience "the resurrection of life"(John 5:29).

The "Truth" taught by Jesus, and the preaching of the Apostles, was handed down to the churches of God and is known as "Holy Tradition". "Holy Tradition" is defined as "the life of the Holy Spirit in the Church". (Eph. 2:20-22; 1 Thes. 2:13,14; 2 Thes. 2: 15; 3:6; 1 Cor.11:2). From these verses we know that the "truth" was passed down both orally and in written form(Epistles). The Church became the repository of the "truth of Christ", aka "the Faith". 1 Timothy 3:15 reveals that "the Church" is "the pillar and ground of the truth". The foundation of Christian Faith is the Church, the Scriptures tell us this. (Interesting note here is that the very next verse(v. 16), St Paul quotes an ancient Christian creed or hymn. This shows us that the "Truth of the Church" was embodied in liturgical hymns as well as the oral teachings of the Apostles and the written Epistles of the Apostles. In 1 Thessalonians 2:13,14 we can see that the believers in Thessalonica "became followers of the churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus". The believers at the beginning did not have copies of the New Testament as we do now. The churches were teaching from both, the Old Testament, and from what the Apostles were teaching about Jesus, both orally and in epistles. The church communities were Spirit-filled worshiping communities, praying the Psalms, singing hymns about Jesus, and spiritual songs that conveyed credal truth, and celebrating the Lord's Supper, sharing and having all things in common(Acts 2:42-47; 4:32; Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:17,18).

Three things we know about Truth; 1) Truth is a person - Jesus the Messiah; 2) The Church is the "pillar and ground of the Truth" where the "life of the Holy Spirit" animates the believing community; and 3) The Holy Scriptures(OT and NT) are truly inspired by the Holy Spirit and speak the Truth about Jesus the Messiah.


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THE RULE OF DOING ALMS

***The "Sermon On The Mount"(Mountain) is the New Law of God given by Jesus and is a parallel to the Law of God given by Moses in the Old Testament. You see in Matthew 5:17-48 Jesus giving us illumination of the laws of God that Moses had articulated. The laws of God were not done away with, but given a new and deeper, spiritual meaning. This portion of the "Sermon On The Mountain" will be addressed in a future post. I would like to share with you a series of 3 posts on Matthew 6:1-18; 1)The Rule Of Doing Alms, 2) The Rule Of Prayer, and 3) The Rule of Fasting.***

Matthew 6:1-4 > "Take heed that you do not do your alms*** before men, to be seen of them: otherwise you have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore WHEN you do your alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily (truly) I say to you, they have their reward. But WHEN you do your alms, let not your left hand know what your right hand is doing: that your alms may be in secret: and your Father which sees in secret himself will reward you openly."

***Alms > Greek is eleemosune = merciful; from eleos = compassionate, tender mercy > Doing alms is doing "acts of mercy" > The NKJV translates alms as "charitable deeds" > Strongs Concordance defines alms as compassionateness, beneficence > When we say "Lord have mercy" we are saying "Lord have steadfast love" (see post on LORD HAVE MERCY) > The NIV translates alms as 1)"acts of righteousness" and 2)"when you give to the needy" > I think doing alms includes giving to the needy, but also includes many other acts of mercy; visiting the sick and the suffering; visiting those in prison, clothing and feeding the poor, providing water to the thirsty: taking in the stranger and the homeless(Hebrews 13:1,2; Matthew 25:31-46), helping the orphans, the fatherless and the true widows(James 1:27; 1 Timothy 5:3-6) > All these "acts of mercy" are "acts of righteousness" and ties in perfectly with Matthew 6:33, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness..." Living "the Life of the Kingdom" is to live "as Jesus lived", laying down your life continuously for all of mankind. >

1 John 3:16-18 > This is how we know the love of God and how we know "if" the love of God lives in us > Are we laying down our lives for the brethren? we who have this world's goods(KJV, NKJV), material possessions(NIV), do we shut up our bowels of compassion(KJV), do we shut up our hearts(NKJV), do we not have pity(NIV)?

James 2:14-26 > Read the entire book of James realizing that James is writing to the Church about the dynamics between the rich and the poor. James is laying out the tensions and temptations that we face in our relationships as brothers and sisters in Christ > How should we relate to one another? > And, how do our actions reflect on our relationship with God? Are we phonies? Are we true disciples? Is our faith dead or alive? > James 2:17 says, "Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being alone." So verse 15 and 16 is the "litmus test". Do you turn red with the acid of parsimony, or turn blue with the alkalinity of love?

NOTE: Jesus does not say "If you do alms" but "WHEN you do alms". The three "rules" or "practices" that Jesus prescribes  as basic to the spiritual life, ie. the life of "the Kingdom of God" are
1)Doing Alms, 2)Prayer, and 3)Fasting. > On all three accounts Jesus says, "WHEN", not "if", you "do alms...pray...fast". Whether you practice these three "disciplines", ie "disciple-deeds", is not optional, but a command, they are not a devotional choice, but an "obedience". > But how are these to be understood?

2 Corinthians 8:9 > Living the "Kingdom Life" is to live the "life of Christ" (Galatians 2:20,21) > To literally "renounce the world, then detach from the world, then become exiled from the world" (Matthew 16:24-27) > Knowing that you are no longer of the world(John 15:19; John 17:5-26); you are "strangers and pilgrims abstaining from fleshly desires..."(1 Peter 2:11); arm yourself with the "mind of Christ", to spend the remainder of your life doing the will of God(1 Peter 4:1-7) > You are in this world, but you are not of this world > Jesus gave us the ultimate example in 2 Corinthians 8:9 - "though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might be rich" > If we are truly to be like Christ then we will become poor so others can be enriched. > NOTE: This verse is often twisted(by TV preachers)to teach the exact opposite of what it is actually communicating!!! We are told that this verse is saying we are to be rich, when it is really saying we are to be like Christ who sacrifices his riches and becomes poor so that others can be enriched!!! Of course God has chosen to bless everyone with a different amount of this world's goods requiring that we all work out our own salvation with fear and trembling(Philippians 2:12) > Jesus taught, "No man can serve two masters...you cannot serve God and Mammon."(Matthew 6:24) > God can be your master or Money(Mammon) can be your master, but not both at the same time!!! > Where is your heart/treasure?(6:19-21) > Is the light in you darkness, or is the light in you true light?(6:22,23) > Do you hang on to everything you can , or do you trust your heavenly Father to provide for you as you provide for those in need?(6:25-34)

1 Timothy 6:5-11 > This passage is self-evident, almost too clear to believe > You brought nothing into this world, you certainly will take nothing out > Contentment is the issue, and what can help us is focusing on the topic of this post > by making "almsgiving" a spiritual practice, that defines who we are in the Kingdom of Life, we are cured of these temptations > If you carefully read the above passage - 1 Timothy 6:1-5 - you will see that we are warned to withdraw from those who teach "that gain is godliness"(verse 5) > We are to ignore those teachers who "teach otherwise, and do not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine according to godliness"(verse3) - We are told here by St Paul that these false "teachers of gain" "are proud, knowing nothing...men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth(verse 4,5) - Prosperity teachers are to be ignored, for no matter how slick their schtick, they do error, they twist the beautiful truth into an ugly lie. And the result, if you buy into their lies? They will plant in your heart the seeds of "desire to be rich" and "you will fall into a temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful desires, which drown men in destruction and perdition(verse9) - AND WHY IS THIS SO? "Because the love of money is the root of all evil; which while some coveted after, THEY HAVE ERRED FROM THE FAITH, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows"(verse 10) > The answer, the antidote to their poisonous doctrine - "FLEE", "O man of God, FLEE these things; and FOLLOW AFTER righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness, FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH, lay hold on eternal life.(verse 11,12). Phew!!!

Saint of Interest > St John the Merciful,  aka, St John the Almsgiver, was a 7th century bishop in Alexandria Egypt who is known for his, you guessed it, his almsgiving. Read more about him at:

www.orthodoxwiki.org/John_the_Merciful

www.oca.org/saints/lives/2013/11/12/103286/-st-john-the-merciful-patriarch-of-alexandria