But the time will come, and it has already come, when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such worshippers the Father seeks for Himself. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth’ (John 4:21-24). Cyril. What troubles you in these declarations? What appears to be intricate and incomprehensible? Please, share your thoughts. P. The sacred text instructs us to move away from the old practices and to turn away from the lawful truth. To those who seek it, Paul has stated: ‘those who remain without Christ have fallen away from grace, but we in spirit expect and hope for righteousness from faith’ (Galatians 5:4-5). Furthermore, although he recognized the significant advantages of living according to the law, he remarked: ‘But what was an advantage to me, I counted as vanity for Christ's sake. And I counted all things as nothing for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for Him I gave up all things, and counted them all as rubbish, that I might gain Christ, and be found in Him, not with my own righteousness, which is of the law, but with that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness of God by faith’ (Philippians 3:7-9). He clearly affirmed that the old commandment had its insufficiencies; thus, he explained that a new commandment through Christ, which is an evangelical commandment, has been profitably taught to us. He writes: ‘But the abolition of the former commandment is because of its weakness and uselessness, for the law has perfected nothing; but a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God’ (Hebrews 7:18-19). He further states, ‘For if the first covenant had been without defect, there would have been no need to seek a place for another. But the prophet, reproving them, says, Behold, the days are coming, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not such a covenant as I made with their fathers at the time when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, because they did not abide in that my covenant, and I neglected them, saith the Lord. This is the covenant which I will bequeath to the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord: I will put My statutes in their thoughts, and write them on their hearts’ (Hebrews 8:7-10). Then, explaining the concept of new excellently, he says: ‘In saying ‘new’ he showed the decrepitude of the first; and that which is decrepit and old is near destruction’ (Hebrews 8:13). If, then, the law achieved little, and there was a removal of an ancient commandment along with the introduction of a later commandment that brings us closer to God, why does the Saviour say, ‘I came not to break the law, but to fulfil it,’ and that ‘we must worship in spirit and truth’ God and the Father (John 4:24)? This latter statement suggests we should abandon the rites and observances of the law. К. You delve into a profound sea of inquiries! What mind can adequately fathom such intricate reflections to show us that the new scriptures are closely related to that which the wise Moses established and address similar themes, and that life in Christ is inherently connected to the way of life dictated by the law if the prescribed aspects of old are considered through spiritual contemplation? For the law serves as an image, a shadow, a representation of godliness, still in the process of development, concealing the beauty of truth within it. Would you not agree? P. Indeed; yet what explanation can encapsulate this? How can one live by the Gospel yet feel bound to fulfill the ancient commandment as outlined by Moses? K. This is not as straightforward as some might believe; rather, virtue encompasses a diverse array of elements, and the glory of life in Christ shines through a multitude of good works. The divine David, in Psalm 44, portrays a pure maiden as a queen, symbolizing the Church, beside Christ, adorning her in splendid attire, stating, ‘The queen is delivered up to Thy right hand, clothed and adorned with garnished garments’ (Psalm 44:10). The term ‘garnished’ resonates with honor and dignity, while ‘exalted’ signifies the manifold nature of virtue. The Church shines remarkably, possessing a beauty of spirit that is invisible to the physical eyes, yet is clear to the mind and heart, unveiling the Jew who is contemplated in secret due to the numerous embellishments of grace and distinction. As the blessed Paul writes, ‘For he is not that Jew which is outwardly so, neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh; but he is that Jew which is inwardly so, and that circumcision which is in the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter: to him also the praise is not of men, but of God’ (Romans 2:28-29). P. Now, consider this: if spiritual circumcision has been introduced, and legal sacrifices are nullified, and this way of life holds no significance for us any longer; does not Christ's declaration, ‘I came not to break the law, but to fulfil it,’ seem astonishing if it were true? If it were not so, then nothing would inhibit us from honoring God through offerings of oxen, burning incense, or presenting turtle doves and doves; and if other rites were mandated by the ancients, we would also feel compelled to observe them. C. But, my friend, your perspective is profoundly skewed: you perceive the law as obliterated, implying no benefit from it, regarding it as entirely ineffective for discerning what is essential, and believing it has changed solely to demonstrate truth; yet the blessed Paul states: ‘Do we destroy the law by faith? By no means; but we confirm the law’ (Romans 3:31). The law is foundational and leads effectively to the mystery of Christ (Galatians 3:24). The commandments given by Moses are the initial signs of God's testimonies (Hebrews 5:12). If we dismiss the tutor, who will guide us to the mystery of Christ? And if we shun the starting points of God’s testimonies, how then or from where shall we reach the ultimate reality? Is not Christ the fulfillment of the law and the prophets according to the Scriptures? (Romans 10:4). P. Yes. K. It is written so. And the fulfillment of the law and the prophets is embodied in Him, as He is the focal point to whom every test of the prophets and the law points. Therefore, in rebuking the Jews for their disbelief, He said, ‘Think not that I will accuse you before the Father: there is Moses your accuser, in whom ye trust. For if you believed Moses, you would also believe me, for he wrote about me. But if you do not believe his writings, how shall you believe My words?’ (John 5:45-47). Thus, when He asserts that He came not to abolish the law, but to fulfill it, do not conceive of a total annihilation of what was established in ancient times—rather, think of it as a transformation or a remaking of the shadows into reality. P. You speak rightly. C. Through Christ, this transformation was intended to occur. Artists skilled in painting and drawing, when they begin their work, do not immediately create a flawless image; instead, they first lay down less refined tones and outline their intention, subsequently filling in these shadows with appropriate and precise colors, turning the outlines into clear and significantly improved representations than those at the outset. Would you not agree? P. I concur entirely. K. Similarly, those who craft in metal, when desiring to produce a statue, first form it in wax—a fragile model—and then pour molten metal to create a piece that is perfect in appearance and beauty. Just as the various colors meticulously enhance the original shadows, and the molten metal reshapes the wax figure, it may appear as though the initial forms are discarded or destroyed. Yet, that is not the truth. The metalworker and the artist, by no means compromising the truth, might assert, We have not obliterated the shadows, nor deemed the figures entirely unworthy; rather, we have completed them. For what appeared obscure and flawed in these shadows and figures has transitioned into something better and more evident.
THEOSIS