Orthodox Church quotes on the Fall, Free Will, Good Works, Grace

Orthodox Church Quotes on Fall, Free Will, Good works, Grace

by Matt Slick | Nov 23, 2013 | Orthodox Church, World Religions

Fall, The
1. Unbelievers can do good: ” . . . the consequences of the Fall did not devastate the human race, as taught in Western theology, and are less severe. True, our minds and will have become weakened and impaired so that we find it extremely difficult to attain to the likeness of Almighty God, yet we do not teach that God’s grace is entirely lacking, nor that mankind lacks freedom to attain to good as the Augustinian Theory of the West teaches.” (Grube, Fr. George (2012-08-19). The Orthodox Church A to Z (Kindle Locations 4006-4010). Light and Life Publishing, http://www.light-n-life.com. Kindle Edition.)
Free Will
1. Free will is choosing between good and evil: “God gave Adam free will – the power to choose between good and evil.” (Ware, Timothy (1993-04-29). The Orthodox Church (p. 222). Penguin Books Ltd. Kindle Edition.)
2. Unbelievers are capable of good actions: “But although Orthodox maintain that humans after the fall still possessed free will and were still capable of good actions, yet they certainly agree with the west in believing that human sin had set up between humanity and God a barrier which humanity by its own efforts could never break down. (Ware, Timothy (1993-04-29). The Orthodox Church (pp. 224-225). Penguin Books Ltd. Kindle Edition.)
3. People go to hell by their free will choice: “Hell is not so much a place where God imprisons humans, as a place where humans, by misusing their free will, choose to imprison themselves.” (Ware, Timothy (1993-04-29). The Orthodox Church (p. 262). Penguin Books Ltd. Kindle Edition.)
Good works
1. Good works do not save us: “Good works do not produce salvation, but salvation produces good works. We are not saved because of good works, but we are saved for good works.” (Coniaris, Anthony M. (2010-12-29). Introducing the Orthodox Church: Its Faith and Life (Kindle Locations 1882-1883). Light & Life Publishing Company: www.light-n-life.com. Kindle Edition.)
Grace
1. Grace is unlimited mercy of God: “Grace is the unlimited pouring out of God’s mercy. It is God’s unconditional forgiveness offered to the unworthy. It is God accepting us as His children in Baptism, filling us with His Holy Spirit in Chrismation, and then sending Jesus to live in our hearts through Holy Communion.” (Coniaris, Anthony M. (2010-12-29). Introducing the Orthodox Church: Its Faith and Life (Kindle Locations 1830-1832). Light & Life Publishing Company: www.light-n-life.com. Kindle Edition.)