On Fear of God and Good Works. Priest Daniel Sysoev

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Approved for distribution by the Publishing Board of the Russian Orthodox Church PB 13-314-2075 64 pp. Priest Daniel Sysoev. On Fear of God and Good Works. Daniel Sysoev Inc, New Jersey, 2018. ISBN: 978-5-4279-0076-1

The concept of the fear of God has unfortunately become unpopular in our time. Yet as Scripture says, The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (Ps. 110:10). These words are so important that the Word of God repeats them on numerous occasions. The path of Christian life begins with turning away from evil, and it continues with doing good. This book explains what comprises this good, how good works correlate to faith in the Lord, and how to walk the path of salvation while guarding oneself with the fear of God and the remembrance of death.

Booklet 4 of 12 from a series of talks given by Priest Daniel Sysoev entitled “How to Inherit Eternal Life.”

Protected by USA Federal copyright law. Reproduction of this book in whole or in part is prohibited. Any attempt to violate the law will be prosecuted.

© Daniel Sysoev Inc, 2018 © Yulia Sysoeva, 2018


CONTENT

ON FEAR OF GOD AND GOOD WORK S On the Need to Stop Sinning ������������������������������ 5 Salvation Comes Not By Good Works Alone ���� 5 Why Are Good Works Necessary? ������������������ 10 Two Hundred and Twenty-eight Virtues ���������� 12 Two Kinds of Good Works: of Thought and of Action �������������������������������������������������������������������� 17 Acts are Outward Works ������������������������������������ 21 Good Works Done for Society ��������������������������24 Good Works Done for Individuals ��������������������29 Inner Virtue ����������������������������������������������������������30 The Supreme Goal in Life is Holiness �������������� 37 The Importance of the Fear of God ������������������42 Why Do Theories Arise that God Need Not be Feared? ������������������������������������������������������������������44 Two Forms of Fear of God ����������������������������������46 The Highest Form of Fear of God �������������������� 49 Fear of God and Remembrance of Death ��������50 The Fruits of Remembrance of Death ��������������53 3


The Desire for Death is a Manifestation of Holiness ����������������������������������������������������������������55 Not Every Desire for Death is Praiseworthy ����56 Why did God Not Grant Men to Know the Hour of their Death? �������������������� 57 On Remembrance of Death and Daily Affairs ��������������������������������������������������58 Remembrance of Death is a Gift from God ������ 61


ON FEAR OF GOD AND GOOD WOR K S

On the Need to Stop Sinning

This is a very important topic, as many people

enter the Church not knowing that sin exists, and are quite surprised to learn that abortion, fornication, drunkenness, foul language, and smoking are sins. Frequently one encounters the most appalling ignorance. Some hold that stealing from the state is not a sin—that is, stealing from another person is wrong, but stealing from the state is permissible. Here is what King David says about where to begin the good path: Turn away from evil and do good (Ps. 33:15). This path begins with turning away from evil, and continues with doing good. Salvation Comes Not By Good Works Alone

First of all we must understand that we are not

saved by good works. When the Jews asked the Lord what works God requires of us, Jesus 5


answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him Whom He hath sent (Jn. 6:29), that is, in Jesus Christ. This is the sole and most important good work, from which all other good works proceed. Faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God, in God the Father Who sent Him, and in the Holy Spirit justifies a man, making him righteous. Faith in the Trinity and the redeeming sacrifice of Jesus Christ the Godman is the sole means of our justification. A person who believes that one can be justified by any means other than the redeeming sacrifice of Christ is excommunicated from the Church. The apostle Paul says the same in his epistle to the Ephesians: But God, Who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which 6


Priest Daniel Sysoev

ON FEAR OF GOD AND GOOD WORKS Translator and Editor in Chief Priest Nathan Williams Layout and design Kyrill Zubchenko Except where otherwise noted, scriptural quotes are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. Quotes from the book of Psalms are taken from The Psalter According to the Seventy, published by Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline MA; all rights reserved. Quotes from The Ladder are taken from The Ladder of Divine Ascent by St. John Climacus (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1959). mission-shop.com danielsysoev.com mission379@gmail.com +1(609)605-70-76


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