XVII. Христианская обязанность

“Respect everyone, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king. Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh” (1 Pet. 2:17–18). “Prove to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control patience, to patience godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, to brotherly kindness love” (2 Pet. 1:5-7). “According to the grace given to us, since we have different gifts, if you have prophecy, prophesy according to the measure of faith; If you have a ministry, remain in the service; whether a teacher, - in teaching; whether you are an exhorter, exhort; if you distribute, distribute in simplicity; Whether you are a boss, lead with zeal; Whether you are a benefactor, do charity with cordiality. Let love be unfeigned; turn away from evil, cling to goodness; be kind to one another with brotherly love; warn one another in respect; do not slacken in zeal; be on fire in spirit; Serve the Lord; be comforted by hope; be patient in sorrow, constant in prayer; take part in the needs of the saints; be zealous for hospitality. Bless your persecutors; bless, not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind among yourselves; do not be arrogant, but follow the humble; don't dream about yourself; Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but strive for good in the sight of all people. If possible on your part, be at peace with all people. Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but give room to the wrath of God. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord” (Rom. 12:6–19). “Give everyone their due” (Rom. 13:7). “Glorify God both in your body and in your soul, which are God’s” (1 Cor. 6:20). “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31). “Be vigilant, stand firm in the faith, be of good courage, be strong. Let everything with you be done with love” (1 Cor. 16:13–14). “Christ died for all, so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for him who died for them and rose again” (2 Cor. 5:15). “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17). “Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2). “Let us not become weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up” (Gal. 6:9). “Put off your former way of life, the old man, which is being corrupted by the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new man, created according to God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:22–24). “Be imitators of God, as beloved children” (Eph. 5:1). “Take heed that you walk carefully, not as fools, but as wise, value your time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of God is” (Eph. 5:15–17). “Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord and in the might of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph. 6:10–12). “Only live worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Phil. 1:27). “As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, bearing with one another and forgiving each other if anyone has a complaint against anyone” (Col. 3:12–13). “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Col. 3:17). “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the first” (1 Tim. 1:15). “All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12). “Pursue to have peace with everyone and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14). “We do not have a permanent city here, but we are looking for the future” (Heb. 13:14). "God! who will dwell in Your habitation? or who will dwell on Your holy mountain? He who walks uprightly and does righteousness...speaks the truth from his heart; who did not flatter his tongue, and did not do evil to his neighbor, and did not accept reproach against his neighbors; he in whose eyes the evil one is despised, who glorifies those who fear the Lord; swears to his neighbor and does not break the oath; who did not lend his silver at interest and did not accept gifts against the innocent. He who does this will never be shaken” (Ps. 14:1–5). The Christian task is to always stand against carnal desires, to always have the law of our Lord given to us before us (Conversation 9 on the Book of Genesis, Chapter 1.). If we maintain the right dogmas, but neglect our life, nothing will help us (Conversation 13 on the Book of Genesis, Chapter 1). Christians regard everything as a shadow and a sleepy dream and do not cleave to any of the visible things (Discourse 7 on the Book of Genesis, Chapter 1). God does not want us to benefit only ourselves, but also to all our neighbors (Conversation 18 on the Book of Genesis, Chapter 5). A Christian should have only two righteous reasons for sadness, that is, when either he or his neighbor angers God (Homily 3 to Stagirius). The only problem for a Christian is to anger God (Word 2 to Theodore the Fallen). Christians especially prosper when they are more persecuted (Homily 2 against the persecutors of monastic life). A Christian, for the sake of the hope of eternal blessings, must courageously bear all the evil that happens to him (Conversation 5 to the people of Antioch). If you are a Christian, believe in Christ; if you believe in Christ, show your faith by works (Conversation 2 to the people of Antioch). A Christian must take care not only about his own, but also about the salvation of his neighbor (Conversation 3 on the Book of Genesis, Chapter 1). Neither right dogmas without a good life, nor a (good) life without right dogmas brings any benefit to a Christian (Conversation 13 on the Book of Genesis, Chapter 2). Faith alone is not enough to lead to heaven, but it can condemn those who have a bad life even more: “But that servant who knew the will of his master... and did not do according to his will, will be beaten many times” (Luke 12:47) (Conversation 85 on the Evangelist John). Discourse on Christian Duty Christianity is all about faith, hope and love. Faith understands all the revealed mysteries in God’s holy word, and regards them as not false, as declared by God to be true and true in words, and so firmly and indestructibly contains them. Love seeks and tries to do what pleases God's holy will. The hope of the faithful contains, comprehending the future eternal glory acquired by Christ, and expects nothing else, only the glory of the future age. Christian duty requires: 1) Believe without doubt everything written in God’s Holy Word. 2) God, as the Creator, the Provider, the generous, merciful and man-loving Father, is the one to love most of all, and to honor, and to place all hope in Him, and to seek help from Him in cases of need, to remember His name with all respect in necessary cases, and to thank from the heart for His benefits rendered and being rendered, and to glorify Him. 3) Love your neighbor as yourself. (See about the love of God and neighbor in your place). 4) Only seek and expect the future century of life and glory. You might be interested in: