UNION WITH GOD

Stephen Freeman, Orthodox priest wrote:

“It is a curious thing when we consider the word, “grace.” In common speech, grace means to be given some “slack” or a “leeway” that is not deserved. In Western juridical notions of God, grace means that God is somehow giving us something we do not deserve (such as forgiveness or salvation). Orthodoxy has a very different understanding. Grace is nothing other than the Divine Energies, the very “life” of God. Grace is God Himself. We are “saved by grace” because salvation is nothing other than union with God. To live by grace is to live by the very life of God and communion with Him. Thus when Christ speaks of communion with Him He says, “Whosoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood, abides in me and I in them.” (Jn. 6:56) This is grace.

“The living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father. So whoever eats me will live because of me.” Jesus