Conclusion.

The Lord Jesus Christ came in order to establish the Kingdom of God among men — a

virtuous way of life. He taught us to care about this and beseech: “Thy Kingdom come, Thy

will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” However, He did not wish to impose this Kingdom

by artificial or compulsory means. Therefore He avoided any interference in the political

administration of the country, but called men toward repentance or change of heart — toward

a spiritual rebirth. This in turn would lead to improvement of all phases of community life.

In reading the history of the spread of Christianity, we see that gradually, as people

embraced the teaching of the Savior, favorable social and economic changes evolved in their

communities. Truly, Christianity facilitated the abolishment of slavery, elevated the position

of women, strengthened family unity, formed charitable organizations, and brought to mankind

the highest moral and humanitarian principles. We see a total disparity in countries

where non-Christian ideas, such as Fascism or “scientific” materialism, are propagated.

There, instead of the promised earthly paradise, something akin to hell exists, where, rather

than honoring God, a created cult honors the political leader.

Since only God knows all the inadequacies and weaknesses of the human race damaged

by sin, only He can help man overcome his bad inclinations and resolve personal, family

and community problems. Therefore, one must seek in the teaching of the Savior a directive

for aspiration and deeds. His teaching places faith in God and love of neighbor as fundamentals

of life. It teaches non-covetousness, compassion, humility and meekness. It calls on all to

do good and to develop all the abilities given by God. Christ’s teaching brings peace and

happiness to the soul. It teaches that man was created for eternal bliss in the Heavenly

Kingdom and assists him in attaining it. That is why a Christian must, with concentration and

a prayerful attitude, constantly read the Gospels, drawing from them heavenly Wisdom.

Selected Teachings of the Savior.

Charity: “Come you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom… For I was hungry

and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took

Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and

you came to Me” (Matthew 25:34-36; also see Luke 14:12-15, Luke 21:1-4).

Chastity and Marital Fidelity: (Matthew 5:27-32, 19:3-12).

Courage: “Watch therefore for you do not know when the master of the house is

coming — in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning — lest

coming suddenly, he find you sleeping” (Mark 13:33-37, see also Luke 11:24-26 and 21:34-

36 and Matthew 8:28-33, parable of the unclean spirit).

Faith: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever

believes in Him should not perish but have life everlasting” (John 3:16); “If you can believe,

all things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:23); “Blessed are those who have not

seen and yet believe” (John 20:29, also see Matthew 16:17, Luke 17:5-10, Mark 16:16).

Fasting: “However this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting” (Matthew

17:21; see also Mark 2:19-22, Matthew 6:16-18, Mark 9:29).

Good Deeds: “Whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them.” (Matthew

7:12); “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify

your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16); “Whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of

cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his

reward” (Matthew 10:42; also see Luke 19:11-27, Matthew 25:31-46, Luke 10:25-37, parable

of the Good Samaritan, also the parable of the barren fig tree, Luke 13:6-9).

The Grace of the Holy Spirit: “ That which is born of the Spirit is spirit…” (John

3:6); “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I

shall give him will never thirst. But the water I shall give him will become in him a fountain

of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:13-14); “ If you then being evil know how

to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy

Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11:13); “The comforter, the Spirit of truth…He will

guide us into all truth.” (John 16:13, also see John 7:37-39 and 14:15-21, also Mark 4:26-29,

the parable of the growing seed; Matthew 13:31-32, the parable of the mustard seed; Matthew

25:1-13, the parable of the ten foolish virgins).

Holy Communion: “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood

you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life and I

will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:27-58; Luke 22:15-20).

Humility: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew

5:3); “Whoever exalts himself will be abased and he who humbles himself will be

exalted” (Luke 14:11); “Learn from Me for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find

rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29); “Whoever desires to be great among you, let him be

your servant” (Matthew 20:26; see also Luke 10:21, Luke 18:9-14, Mark 10:42-45, John

13:4-17, Matthew 20:1-16, the parable of the workers in the vineyard).

Love: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with

all your mind and with all your strength… you shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark

12:28-34); “I desire mercy and not sacrifice” (Matthew 9:13); “He who has My commandments

and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My

Father …and we will come to him and make Our home with him” (John 14:15-23); “By this

all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35);

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13,

see also Matthew 5:42-48, John 13:34-35).

Non-Judgment: “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you

judge, you shall be judged…” (Matthew 7:1-2)

Narrow Path: “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way

that leads to destruction, and there are many who go by it. Because narrow is the gate and

difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14);

“The kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11:12);

“He who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:38; also

see Luke 13:22-30, Mark 8:34-38, Luke 14:25-27, John 12:25-26).

Patience: “In your patience save your souls” (Luke 21:19); “He who stands to the end

will be saved” (Matthew 10:22); “Bear fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15); “… remember that

in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things, but now he

is comforted and you are tormented.” (Luke 16:19-31, the parable of the rich man and

Lazarus).

Prayer: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be

opened to you” (Matthew 7:7-11); “And all things whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you

will receive” (Matthew 21:22); “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in

spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24, see also Matthew 6:5-15, Matthew 18:19-20, Mark 11:23,

John 16:23-27, Mark 14:38, Luke 11:9-10, Luke 18:1-8, the parable of the unjust judge).

Prudence: “Take heed that no one deceives you” (Matthew 24:4, see also Luke

14:28-33, Luke 16:1-13, the parable of the unjust steward).

Purity of Heart: “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God” (Matthew

5:8); “out of the heart proceed evil thoughts … These are the things which defile a man”

(Matthew 15:19-20); “…Those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word and retain it”

(Luke 8:15); “Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, will by no

means enter it” (Mark 10:15); “You are already clean because of the word which I have

spoken to you.” (John 15:3, Mark 7:15-23).

Reconciliation and Forgiveness: “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (Matt.

6:14); “forgive up to seventy seven times seven” (Matt. 18:22, see also Matt. 5:23-26, Luke

23:34, Matt. 18:23-35; the parable of the unforgiving servant).

Righteousness: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they

shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6); “Then the righteous shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom

of their Father” (Matthew 13:43); “ Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in

heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).

Rejoicing in God: “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad for great is your reward in

heaven” (Matthew 5:12); “Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give

you rest. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30); “I give them

eternal life and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand”

(John 10:28); “your joy no one will take from you” (John 16:22).

Repentance: “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Matthew 3:2); “For I

did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Matthew 9:13); “Whoever

commits sin is a slave of sin. If the Son makes you free you shall be free indeed” (John 8:34-

37); “Unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (like those crushed by the tower in

Jerusalem) (Luke 13:3-5; see also Matthew 4:17, John 5:14, Luke 7:47, Matthew 18:11-14,

the parable of the lost sheep, Luke 15:11-32, the parable of the Prodigal Son; Luke 18:9-14,

the parable of the publican and the Pharisee).

Temptations: “If your hand makes you sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into

life maimed, than having two hands, to go into hell.” (Mark 9:43-49); “Woe to the world

because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense

comes!” (Matthew 18:7, Luke 17:1-2).

Thankfulness: “Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? Were there not

any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?…arise, go your way.

Your faith has made you well!” (The story of the ten lepers, Luke 17:11-19).

Tongue: “How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of

the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the treasure of his heart brings forth good

things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that

for every idle word men may speak they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by

your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew

12:34-37, Matthew 5:22).

Trust in God: “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of

them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs on your head are all numbered, Do not fear

therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Luke 12:6-7); “Let not your heart be

troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me” (John 14:1); “The things which are impossible

with men are possible with God” (Luke 18:27); “For the Son of Man has come to seek

and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

Truth: “For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that

I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice” (John 18:37;

also see Matthew 13:44-46, the parable of the treasure).

Unity: “There will be one flock and one shepherd” (John 10:16); “That they all may

be one, as You Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the

world may believe that You sent Me” (John 17:21); “For where two or three are gathered

together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).

Virtues. The development of good qualities was a constant teaching of the Lord Jesus

Christ. For example refer to His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chs. 5-7) and the Beatitudes,

in which are traced the path towards total fulfillment (Matthew 5:3-12). The parable of the

sower (Matthew 13:3-23); and especially in the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30)

state the importance of development and of the abilities which God gave us. The combination

of gifts of grace with the development of abilities (talents) comprises the original wealth of

man; that is why it is said that “the Kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21).

Will of God: “Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven…” (Matthew 6:10); “Not

everyone who says to me Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the

will of My Father in heaven…” (Matthew 7:21).

Worldly Cares: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these

things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will

worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:19-34); “

For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will

a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26); “ Children, how hard it is for those

who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:24, see also Luke 10:41-42, Mark

10:17-27, Luke 12:13-21, parable of the rich fool).

A Prayer before reading the Gospels.

Make to shine in our hearts, O Master who lovest mankind, the incorrupt light

of Thy divine knowledge, and open the eyes of our mind to the comprehension of the

preaching of Thy Gospel. Implant also in us the fear of Thy blessed commandments

that, trampling down all carnal desires, we may pursue a spiritual way of life, both

thinking and doing all things well-pleasing unto Thee. For Thou art the enlightenment

of our souls and bodies, O Christ God, and unto Thee do we send up glory, together

with Thy Father, who is without beginning, and Thine all-holy, and good, and lifecreating

Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.