Audio: http://www.orthodox.net/sermons/pascha-sun-07_2023+fathers-first-council+salvation.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/WRQQfuwmWlk We celebrate the Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council the Sunday before Pentecost. Why? There is a very good reason. Jesus Christ explained that reason authoritatively in his high priestly prayer (John 17:1-13) along with describing two essential aspects of our salvation. We learn about those two aspects also, and how all dogma is moral. In doing so, we include two favorite stories about how even in everyday life we can live perfectly. (The picture in the video is a sunrise at North Padre Island. At the time I gave a sermon my wife and I were spending a week in North Padre Island, and I was praying with the sunrise almost every day. I highly recommend it! ) Video/ Audio Timestamps. 0:19- 1:24 Have I changed any during the season? We should be getting better. 1:24 – 19:22 Two main points today: Why celebrate the Fathers of the first Ecumenical Council today, the Sunday before Pentecost, and “What is salvation?”; 2 essential aspects of salvation. 1:34 – 1:44 (and 10:42 – 14:39 ) Why do we celebrate the Fathers of the first Ecumenical Council today, the Sunday before Pentecost? 1:44 – 2:03 What is salvation? Introduction. 2:03 – 5:00 Why do we celebrate the Fathers of the first Ecumenical Council… Cont. It’s all about Jesus Christ and His authority. Also an apology against Arianism. 5:00 – 19:22 In the “High Priest Prayer” of Jesus, He establishes His authority, and in so doing, teaches us two essential aspects of salvation. 5:53 – 7:25 Salvation is to be perfected such that we *know* God John 17:3 7:25 – 8:00 There are NO external, imposed always in Orthodox Christianity! 8:00 – 18:58 The “second” part of salvation, contemporaneous with knowing God – to be one with Him, as God is one with Himself. John 17:11b “Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are” 8:39 – 19:22 Two ways in which we may be one, as God is one. The second great Commandment is essential and First, so that we learn to fulfil the Great Commandment, and become one with God. 10:04 – 10:36 Love is an eternal virtue. 10:42 – 14:39 Why celebrate the Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council today, redux. We MUST understand the dogmas of our faith, because all of them are about how to live in order to know God. They are all moral in nature. 14:39 – 19:22 Two stories about the completion of our salvation – from everyday life. 15:15 – 17:03 Perfection is instant forgiveness even when we are unambiguously wrongrf, even in a violent way. The overzealous novice and the holy monk. 17:03 – 18:58 Another story illustrating being One with God – Two monks walking towards the city, who meet a prostitute walking the other way. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRQQfuwmWlk