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Orthodox do not say, as Calvin said, that humans after the fall were utterly depraved and incapable of good desires. They cannot agree with Augustine, when he writes that humans are under “a harsh necessity” of committing sin, and that “human nature was overcome by the fault into which it fell, and so came to lack freedom”.’
‘The image of God is distorted by sin, but never destroyed; in the words of a hymn sung by Orthodox at the Funeral Service: ‘I am the image of Your inexpressible glory, even though I bear the wounds of sin.’
‘And because we still retain the image of God, we still retain free will, although sin restricts its scope. Even after the fall, God ‘takes not away from humans the power to will – to will to obey or not to obey Him’. Faithful to the idea of synergy, Orthodoxy repudiates any interpretation of the fall which allows no room for human freedom
Would you say that it's possible for an unbaptized person to live a life free from sin?
I agree; but I was curious to hear the EO perspective on that, since we both believe in baptismal regeneration.
Also, there's a difference between actively refusing baptism and remaining unbaptized though no fault of your own - maybe you've never heard the gospel.
Scripture states none doeth Good, no not one Rom 3:12
They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
This is speaking about spiritual good in finding acceptance with God.
The bold referred to our savage ancestors which is WHY God incarnated as Jesus. No existing human at that time was even trying to achieve what was necessary, let alone the perfection Jesus brought to humanity. It was not talking about a permanent state of humanity and does not apply to us because we have Jesus with us.
I asked you a question awhile back, but I don’t think you ever answered. I’m guessing you did not see it, or perhaps I missed your response.
Which death does Paul refer to in Romans 5:12? Spiritual or physical?
No, I didn't see it. Thanks for asking again.
Adam died because he sinned. All humans die because of sin. But it's also synonymous with spiritual death. Mankind is dead, spiritually, until made alive by God.
The bold referred to our savage ancestors which is WHY God incarnated as Jesus. No existing human at that time was even trying to achieve what was necessary, let alone the perfection Jesus brought to humanity. It was not talking about a permanent state of humanity and does not apply to us because we have Jesus with us.
Not only that, Jesus acknowledged that the righteous existed when he said the righteous bring forth good things from the treasure stored in their hearts.
I agree; but I was curious to hear the EO perspective on that, since we both believe in baptismal regeneration.
Also, there's a difference between actively refusing baptism and remaining unbaptized though no fault of your own - maybe you've never heard the gospel.
Doesn't the Catholic church teach the idea of "Baptism of Desire"? Those that want to be baptized but can't. So they teach they still get the benefits.
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Not only that, Jesus acknowledged that the righteous existed when he said the righteous bring forth good things from the treasure stored in their hearts.
