Search the Scriptures Live

After years of evangelization, in Romans 9 Paul expresses his deep anguish over the fact that most Jews have not accepted Jesus as the Messiah. Since the Messiah was promised to the Jewish people and God is faithful to His promises, why did most Jews reject the Lord's Messiah?

After years of evangelization, in Romans 9 Paul expresses his deep anguish over the fact that most Jews have not accepted Jesus as the Messiah. Since the Messiah was promised to the Jewish people and God is faithful to His promises, why did most Jews reject the Lord's Messiah?

What does it mean to live in the Spirit? Paul articulated the grace received through baptism and recognized that nonetheless a spiritual struggle continues within us. Paul turns his attention in Romans 8 to the work of the Spirit in the life of the Christian. How does the Spirit work within us? If baptism and Chrismation alone are not enough, what are we to do and how does the cross of Christ relate to all of this? These and other topics are discussed on Search the Scriptures LIVE!

What does it mean to live in the Spirit? Paul articulated the grace received through baptism and recognized that nonetheless a spiritual struggle continues within us. Paul turns his attention in Romans 8 to the work of the Spirit in the life of the Christian. How does the Spirit work within us? If baptism and Chrismation alone are not enough, what are we to do and how does the cross of Christ relate to all of this? These and other topics are discussed on Search the Scriptures LIVE!

Having explained the grace we receive in the Mystery of Holy Illumination in Romans 6, St. Paul is nonetheless completely honest about the reality of Christian life and the continuous spiritual struggle required. He expresses the experience of all of us. Too often we do what we do not want to do, and what we actually want to do is not what we end up doing. Why is this the case and what can we do about it? Dr. Jeannie Constantinou explains.

Having explained the grace we receive in the Mystery of Holy Illumination in Romans 6, St. Paul is nonetheless completely honest about the reality of Christian life and the continuous spiritual struggle required. He expresses the experience of all of us. Too often we do what we do not want to do, and what we actually want to do is not what we end up doing. Why is this the case and what can we do about it? Dr. Jeannie Constantinou explains.

Having established that we are saved by Christ not the Law of Moses, justified because we believe in him, Paul continues his careful exposition in Romans to explain the effects of this new reality. How does the salvation achieved by Christ for all humanity occur for an individual person? In Romans 6, Paul explains that "justification" marks only the beginning of the process of salvation. After accepting Christ's justification we must continue by actively seeking illumination and sanctification.

Having established that we are saved by Christ not the Law of Moses, justified because we believe in him, Paul continues his careful exposition in Romans to explain the effects of this new reality. How does the salvation achieved by Christ for all humanity occur for an individual person? In Romans 6, Paul explains that "justification" marks only the beginning of the process of salvation. After accepting Christ's justification we must continue by actively seeking illumination and sanctification.

Dr. Constantinou discusses Paul's explanation of baptism. Romans 6 is the most important passage in the New Testament for the Orthodox understanding of what baptism is and its role in the Christian life. Why does Paul discuss baptism at this point? What does it have to do with everything that came before—salvation by faith, Abraham and his faith, Adam and the fall?

Dr. Constantinou discusses Paul's explanation of baptism. Romans 6 is the most important passage in the New Testament for the Orthodox understanding of what baptism is and its role in the Christian life. Why does Paul discuss baptism at this point? What does it have to do with everything that came before—salvation by faith, Abraham and his faith, Adam and the fall?

Dr. Constantinou continues her discussion of Romans 5, especially St. Augustine's ideas about sin. His writings tremendously impacted what Western Christianity thought—and still believes—about sin and also about God. Why do wrong ideas about the nature of sin lead to wrong ideas about God?

Dr. Constantinou continues her discussion of Romans 5, especially St. Augustine's ideas about sin. His writings tremendously impacted what Western Christianity thought—and still believes—about sin and also about God. Why do wrong ideas about the nature of sin lead to wrong ideas about God?

In Romans 5, Paul explains the role of Christ in salvation in relation to Adam. How can Christ be a "type" of Adam, since Adam sinned and Christ did not? Does this chapter support the interpretation of universal salvation? Since all "died in Adam," will all "live in Christ"? Western Christian understanding of sin and its effects on the human race was strongly influenced by Augustine's interpretation of Romans 5:12. From Augustine's faulty interpretation, the concept of "original sin" was born and took root in the West. How are Catholic and Protestant concepts of sin and salvation different from the Orthodox understanding? What do these different ideas of sin reveal about our different conceptions of God and His relationship to humanity?

In Romans 5, Paul explains the role of Christ in salvation in relation to Adam. How can Christ be a "type" of Adam, since Adam sinned and Christ did not? Does this chapter support the interpretation of universal salvation? Since all "died in Adam," will all "live in Christ"? Western Christian understanding of sin and its effects on the human race was strongly influenced by Augustine's interpretation of Romans 5:12. From Augustine's faulty interpretation, the concept of "original sin" was born and took root in the West. How are Catholic and Protestant concepts of sin and salvation different from the Orthodox understanding? What do these different ideas of sin reveal about our different conceptions of God and His relationship to humanity?

Dr. Jeannie wraps up her overview of the state of the Latin Church during the Middle Ages, especially the papacy. She will then turn her attention to Romans chapter 4 and St. Paul's brilliant and important insight about Abraham.