Illumine our hearts, O Master Who lovest mankind, with the pure light of Thy divine knowledge. Open the eyes of our mind to the understanding of Thy gospel teachings. Implant also in us the fear of Thy blessed commandments, that trampling down all carnal desires, we may enter upon a spiritual manner of living, both thinking and doing such things as are well-pleasing unto Thee. For Thou art the illumination of our souls and bodies, O Christ our God, and unto Thee we ascribe glory, together with Thy Father, Who is from everlasting, and Thine all-holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
— Prayer before reading the Holy Scriptures
Romans 2
1 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. 2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”:[a] 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.
We all know that Christians aren’t perfect. Once I was told that Christians are all hypocrites. I don’t think that’s true. If a person confesses to be a Christian but denies God constantly by thought, word, and deed without repentance, that is when a person would accurately be called a hypocrite. That being said, I’m tempted to believe that not many Christians know what it is to live a life of repentance. Recognizing and admitting to sin is probably the main problem that a lot of people have. There aren’t a whole lot of people who have committed what they call grievous sins: no murder, no stealing, no adultery, etc. But they don’t realize that even a little white lie, gossiping, having an attitude not conducive to Godliness are all sins. Really it would be accurate to say that anything that God wouldn’t do and doesn’t possess in himself the capacity for is sin. The other problem is for those who have conquered those little bitty sins, etc. is that people don’t know who God is. How are you supposed to imitate someone you don’t talk to? Someone you don’t understand how they relate to you? This is the reason why knowing what you believe is so important, especially what you believe about the core issues of faith, basically everything addressed in the Nicene Creed.
12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law 13 (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; 14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) 16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
There is a huge misunderstanding of the works vs. faith dialectic in Scripture. I was raised to believe that works don’t matter. I don’t believe that now. As in Romans, chapter 1, faith is obedient and faith is always working. There is no faith without works. When Scripture says we’ll be judged according to our works, it gets a little confusing for some. “God’s judgment will be: according to our deeds: The “doing good” referred to in v. 7 is not trying to gain merit with God. Rather, it is the unity of intentions with actions, faith with works. Even unbelievers are rewarded for good works, apart from spiritual understanding. But note the following: (a) “Doing good” means seeking God’s glory, not one’s own glory; God’s honor, not one’s own honor; the eternal reward of immortality, not reward here and now. “Doing good” is seeking first the Kingdom of God. (b) Good intentions alone, or faith without works, will not save. Simply to hear and not do is religion without reality. Those with true faith, “the doers” of the truth, practice virtue from pure and repentant hearts. (c) “By nature” people are inspired by and cooperate with God’s grace. Therefore, good deeds are natural to us, whereas evil deeds are contrary to nature. Because we all fail, we need God’s mercy. The presence of God’s law in our conscience condemns anything we do which is contrary to true human nature. Therefore, even Gentiles – people not under the Law of Moses, those who do not know Christ – have an internal law from God, the natural law written in their hearts, according to which God will judge them…. (d) Those who are condemned choose to reject God. There is no automatic, fated condemnation: God’s judgment of us is based on our exercise of free will. Although sin impairs our powers, it does not destroy God’s image in us or our free will.” – from the Orthodox Study Bible
17 Indeed[b] you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast in God, 18 and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, 19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law. 21 You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? 22 You who say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? 24 For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,”[c] as it is written.
Again, this is a warning against hypocrisy. Christians are a reflection of God, no matter what they do or say. From this, spiritual fathers have a huge role to play. They must be leaders in living a life of repentance and shirking the sins of this world and the ones they have particular weaknesses for. Don’t give anyone cause to say bad things about God or the Church, if you do, apologize, and repent. That is the true test of every Christian.
25 For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? 27 And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law? 28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.
The Apostle Paul is urging the Christians at Rome to make their outward expression of faith work in their inner being. In the past a lot of people have used these verses to support the view that outward expressions are superfluous and that Christians don’t need them. I completely disagree with that, that circumstance does not make the outward expression of faith wrong. Their inward reality may not match, but I think it’s better to use outward expressions even when the inside faith is not there. Eventually, it might happen that the outward expressions will work themselves down into the body, but not using them at all leaves very little chance that they will ever come back to faith. We strive to make the things we do real in our spiritual lives. We don’t need to separate the physical from the spiritual in this sense because… well, gnosticism is a heresy.
