Very interesting. And enigmatic! Here's what seems enigmatic to me. Cyril writes "Therefore, the body of Christ gives life to those who receive it. Its presence in mortal men expels death and drives away corruption because it contains within itself in his entirety the Word who totally abolishes corruption." And then you reflect on it: "Christ's body confers ontological power, literally transforming the 'stuff we are made of' so that decay and corruption become abolished from our bodies." If that's true, why don't we see it in ourselves now? My body, at 73, certainly seems subject to decay and corruption, and the body of my half-a-year-deceased buddy Larry's ex-body even more so. Is it meant to be understood in a spiritualized way? Or is it a future promise of what will happen in our resurrections? Because it isn't evident yet. Spiritually it might be, but not physically.
These discussions can become so dense and semantical that the mind fogs over. I reduce the versions of salvation to these:
• Progressive Christianity: “Doing” (living morally) is essentially what salvation is. There isn’t a separate supernatural gift—morality and love are the pathway. If you don’t act, you don’t receive salvation. It’s concrete and measurable.
• Evangelical Christianity: “Doing” (accepting Jesus) isn’t about moral effort; it’s a response to grace. God’s forgiveness is the gift, and your “doing” is simply saying yes. Skip it, and the gift isn’t received.
• Orthodox/Patristic Christianity: “Doing” (participating in sacraments, prayer, ethical living) doesn’t create salvation. It activates your ability to experience the divine life God already gives. Without participation, immortality still exists, but it is experienced apart from God.
Very interesting. And enigmatic! Here's what seems enigmatic to me. Cyril writes "Therefore, the body of Christ gives life to those who receive it. Its presence in mortal men expels death and drives away corruption because it contains within itself in his entirety the Word who totally abolishes corruption." And then you reflect on it: "Christ's body confers ontological power, literally transforming the 'stuff we are made of' so that decay and corruption become abolished from our bodies." If that's true, why don't we see it in ourselves now? My body, at 73, certainly seems subject to decay and corruption, and the body of my half-a-year-deceased buddy Larry's ex-body even more so. Is it meant to be understood in a spiritualized way? Or is it a future promise of what will happen in our resurrections? Because it isn't evident yet. Spiritually it might be, but not physically.
These discussions can become so dense and semantical that the mind fogs over. I reduce the versions of salvation to these:
• Progressive Christianity: “Doing” (living morally) is essentially what salvation is. There isn’t a separate supernatural gift—morality and love are the pathway. If you don’t act, you don’t receive salvation. It’s concrete and measurable.
• Evangelical Christianity: “Doing” (accepting Jesus) isn’t about moral effort; it’s a response to grace. God’s forgiveness is the gift, and your “doing” is simply saying yes. Skip it, and the gift isn’t received.
• Orthodox/Patristic Christianity: “Doing” (participating in sacraments, prayer, ethical living) doesn’t create salvation. It activates your ability to experience the divine life God already gives. Without participation, immortality still exists, but it is experienced apart from God.
I was under the impression that the Holy Spirit does the ontological work and to such an extent that it is irresistibly accomplished. :)