The best place to look for what a Church teaches is not in the varied opinions of its ministers but in its dogmatically defined statements. For the Eastern Orthodox Church the definition of faith is to be found in the Confession of Dositheus.
We believe no one to be saved without faith. And by faith we mean the right notion that is in us concerning God and divine things, which, working by love, that is to say, by [observing] the Divine commandments, justifieth us with Christ; and without this [faith] it is impossible to please God.
According to this officially accepted confession of faith the Eastern Orthodox define faith as "the right notion that is in us concerning God and divine things." Thus faith for the Eastern Orthodox is not trusting in Jesus Christ but correct intellectual opinions of God.
Further on this confession teaches:
We believe a man to be not simply justified through faith alone, but through faith which worketh through love, that is to say, through faith and works. But [the notion] that faith fulfilling the function of a hand layeth hold on the righteousness which is in Christ, and applieth it unto us for salvation, we know to be far from all Orthodoxy.
This means the Eastern Orthodox Church does not teach that faith acts as a trust or confidence laying "hold on the righteousness which is in Christ, and applieth it unto us for salvation." That notion is "far from all Orthodoxy." Rather salvation comes from "faith and works" or right intellectual assent of God and divine things and good works.
Quite frankly that is not the Gospel and is actually a repudiation of the work of Christ. In place of trusting in the righteousness of Jesus Christ for salvation and justification we are to place our trust in our right notions and good works. Being that the Confession of Dositheus is a rebuttal to Calvinism let us see how the Heidelberg Cathecism defines faith.
Q. What is true faith?
A. True faith is not only a sure knowledge by which I hold as true all that God has revealed to us in Scripture; it is also a wholehearted trust, which the Holy Spirit creates in me by the gospel, that God has freely granted, not only to others but to me also, forgiveness of sins, eternal righteousness, and salvation. These are gifts of sheer grace, granted solely by Christ’s merit.
https://www.crcna.org/welcome/beliefs/confessions/heidelberg-catechism
There are scripture references given in the Heidelberg Cathecism for this answer, something that is missing in the Confession of Dositheus. A notable reference is Romans 5:1.
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace withGod through our Lord Jesus Christ:
The Greek word translated faith is defined thusly:
 |
| https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4102/kjv/tr/0-2/#lexResults |
conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it
relating to God
the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ
relating to Christ
a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God
the religious beliefs of Christians
belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence) whether in God or in Christ, springing from faith in the same
fidelity, faithfulness
the character of one who can be relied on
This word, pistis, does not mean bare intellectual assent but such assent joined to it with "trust and holy fervour."
As regards Christ it means "a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through whom we obtain eternal salvation."
Yet as seen in the Confession of Dositheus this notion is "far from all Orthodoxy." Thus Eastern Orthodoxy rejects the biblical definition of faith for a bare "right notion that is in us concerning God and divine things." No matter how you slice it the Eastern Orthodoxy Church officially, confessionally, and canonically rejects the Gospel which tells us we are saved by faith in Christ meaning not only right belief but also "trust and holy fervor" in the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
No comments:
Post a Comment