The Orthodox Study Bible, New Testament and Psalms, (1993) Saint Athanasius Orthodox Academy,Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee.
Purchased from my employer, the Canadian Bible Society @ Cafe Logos, Vancouver. This text review continues...
I am filling in for a missing staff member today, as I usually do not drive out to Vancouver, Tuesday, but a couple of visitors noticed this bible and were intrigued.
Based on my reading and research, reasonably, Orthodoxy, does not hold to justification by grace through faith, alone.
This causes a theological separation from
Protestantism
Reformed
Many within the Protestant Church, including many evangelicals and many fundamentalists within, therefore understand Orthodoxy as holding to works righteousness and not justification by grace through faith. In other words, it is reasoned Orthodoxy assumes that the atoning and resurrection work in Christ is not sufficient for salvation.
In my view, as a Reformed theologian and philosopher, within Orthodoxy (or any religious movement, including Protestant, Roman Catholic or other) where works righteousness exists, it will not save anyone (good works are a sign and result of salvation). As a Protestant within the Reformed tradition, again for clarity, I reason that God alone plans, creates, initiates salvation. Regenerated human beings, embrace the gospel work of salvation for salvation.
From page 801 of the Orthodox Study Bible:
But my theological reasoning, in regards to justification by faith, by adding the concept of cooperation by His grace, it denies justification by grace through faith alone.
As I noted in the previous article in review of this text...
If by works righteousness, concepts within James and Romans 4 (4: 22 Therefore it was also credited to him as righteousness) are meant, as in showing salvific faith by works and obedience, I can accept that as embracing salvation, but I would not use the term 'cooperation'.
This theology, from my Reformed perspective also places too much reliance on libertarian free will, as I view regeneration as taking place from God and embraced by the chosen person.
A significantly free response within moral responsibility in faith is not forced or coerced, but it is also not done in libertarian free will. Those whom God chooses, will freely believe (Ephesians 1-2, Romans 8-9), they will not reject salvation as God has regenerated and simultaneously converted the person (s) that believes by grace through faith.
However, I take Orthodoxy and the Orthodox Study Bible at its word here, to be clear...
