THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
Cyril. Furthermore, if someone were to transgress against God by taking any consecrated items or neglecting their promises and failing to deliver upon them immediately, such negligence, if it arises from forgetfulness, points to the need for purification. It is written, “And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying: If any man do offence, and by mistake sin against him that is dedicated unto the Lord, let him for his fault bring unto the Lord out of the flock of sheep a ram without blemish, according to thy estimation, in silver shekels according to the sacred shekel, as a sacrifice of oblation; for
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that holy thing against which he hath sinned, let him recompense, and add a fifth part thereto, and give this unto the priest, and the priest shall purify him with the ram of the sacrifice of oblation, and it shall be forgiven him” (Lev. 5:14-16). It is indeed a serious sin to take anything that has been consecrated and offered up to the glory of God. Additionally, it is equally reprehensible, and not a small fault, to fail in fulfilling a vow; for it is said, “When thou gavest a vow unto God, be not slow to fulfil it, for he favoureth not the foolish: whatsoever thou hast promised, fulfil it. It is better for you not to promise, than to promise and not fulfil” (Ecclesiastes 5:3-4). Even David, the beloved of God, proclaims, “Pray and give thanks to the Lord our God” (Psalm 75:12). The sons of Eli were also punished for taking what was holy for themselves (1 Kings 2:12 ff.). What remedy can there be for such guilt? How can one free themselves from the weight of transgression? To begin with, restitution must be made for the stolen items, along with an additional restitution, for it is commanded, “a fifth part shall he put a fifth part upon the nan.” Then, he must offer the ram as a sacrifice: this signifies Christ, who was, in a sense, betrayed by the Jewish leaders for thirty pieces of silver given to the traitor disciple. Thus, through Christ, we find forgiveness for our offenses against God. Furthermore, it is evident that He can also deliver us from sins against our fellow humans; this is made clear when we examine what follows in the law: “This is the law concerning the sacrifice of the sacrifice of obedience: It is a great holy thing; the sacrifice of obligation shall be slain in the place where the burnt-offering is slain, and its blood shall be sprinkled upon the altar on all sides; the offerer shall present out of it all the fat, the curd, and the fat that covers the viscera, and both kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, that is upon the stalks, and the omentum that is upon the liver; with the kidneys let him separate these things; and the priest shall burn these things upon the altar as an offering to the Lord: it shall be a sacrifice of oblation. All the male sex of the priestly race may eat it; in the holy place it shall be eaten: it is a great holy thing. Of both the sin offering and the sacrifice of obligation the law is the same: it belongs to the priest, who cleanseth by means of it” (Lev. 7:1-7). Do you see that the process of cleansing is executed similarly in both instances? The law clearly mandated that transgressions against God and against our brethren should be purified through restitution and a ram's sacrifice. However, in Christ, there is not partial redemption, but complete cleansing of that which is defiled. Therefore, He proclaimed, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth in Me hath everlasting life, and does not come into judgement, but has passed from death to life” (John 6:47; 5:24). If one who is justified by faith in Christ escapes judgement, it follows that they are freed from offenses, and no accusation against such a person can be substantiated; for “Who shall condemn? Who shall accuse?” (Rom. 8:33-34). Thus, through our actions that satisfy our brethren who have been wronged, we secure justification in Christ. Zacchaeus, the tax collector, when called to follow Christ, not only promised to follow Him but also pledged to repay fourfold to anyone he had wronged (Luke 19:6-8). Therefore, those who desire Christ to dwell in them through the Spirit must first cleanse themselves from defilements and offenses, presenting their souls to Him as pure and unblemished. As the sacred psalmist joyfully asserts, “My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready: I will sing and sing” (Psalm 56:8). When wool is pure, colors adhere properly; however, if there are impurities, the color does not stay. Likewise, Christ’s communion will unite holy and pure souls, but it cannot establish itself in hearts that remain unyielding: “the holy Spirit of wisdom shall be removed from wickedness, and shall not dwell in a body enslaved to sin” (Prem. 1:5:4). Therefore, by extending kindness to those we have wronged and actively working to alleviate our brethren's sorrow, we can rid ourselves of all guilt and find forgiveness in Christ.