Hi Mark. I was not really aware of the differences betw catholicism and eastern orthodoxy. So i did some brief research and found this blurb online as a reference to eastern orthodoxy and im really curious about your thoughts:
"By these acts of salvation, Christ provided fallen mankind with the path to escape its fallen nature. The Eastern Orthodox Church teaches that through baptism into Christ’s death, and our death unto sin in repentance, with God’s help we can also rise with Christ into heaven, healed of the breach of our fallen nature and restored to God’s grace. To Orthodox Christians, this process is what is meant by “salvation,” which consists of the Christian life.
Is this true of Eastern Orthodoxy and what you subscribe to? The part that says, “With God’s help, we can also rise…” This has me puzzled.
I personally believe that the Scriptures support the idea that those not in Christ are spiritually dead and it is Christ alone who gives them new life, they are new creatures in Christ, and the Holy Spirit is deposited into their soul as a GUARANTEE of salvation. All of that love given to us by a good God is the lifeblood of one desiring to love Him in return in obedience.
Is this different than your Eastern Orthodox views? Would you be willing to help me understand?