Baptist Illustrations
Soul liberty, congregational autonomy, believer's baptism.
Key question: “How does this affirm individual conscience and congregational discernment?”
14709 illustrations found
Metropolitan Kallistos Ware on Theotic Journey - Orthodox (Isaiah 43:2)
"The journey through waters and fire is the journey of theosis—painful transformation into divine likeness. The fires purify; the waters cleanse. God accompanies through this cosmic baptism. We are no
St. Isaac of Nineveh on Divine Rest - Orthodox (Matthew 11:28-30)
"The soul finds rest in communion with God—this is hesychia, sacred stillness. As we draw near to Christ in prayer, our inner turbulence calms. The yoke becomes light when we are joined to Him who car
Metropolitan Kallistos Ware on Hesychastic Peace - Orthodox (Philippians 4:6-7)
"The peace that passes understanding is hesychia—the deep stillness of the soul united with God. Through prayer—especially the Jesus Prayer—the nous descends into the heart, and divine peace fills the
St. John Chrysostom on Inexhaustible Mercy - Orthodox (Lamentations 3:22-23)
"His mercies never cease—they are inexhaustible, flowing from the infinite God. Each morning's mercy is fresh from the eternal spring. In the Divine Liturgy, we sing 'Lord, have mercy' repeatedly beca
St. Seraphim of Sarov on Joy in God - Orthodox (Psalm 37:4)
"Acquire the Spirit of peace, and thousands around you will be saved. Delight in God is the fruit of the Spirit—divine joy, uncreated energy. Through hesychasm, through the Jesus Prayer, through the L
St. Basil the Great on Work and Theosis - Orthodox (Colossians 3:23-24)
"Work offered to God becomes means of theosis—participation in divine life. The worker who labors for Christ shares in Christ's creative work. Whatever you do becomes sacramental when done prayerfully
St. John Chrysostom on Active Love - Orthodox (Micah 6:8)
"God requires not sacrifice but mercy—active love for the poor. Justice is mercy in action; mercy is justice from the heart; humility is the ground of both. The Liturgy after the Liturgy is Micah 6:8:
Metropolitan Kallistos Ware on Theotic Renewal - Orthodox (Isaiah 40:31)
"Renewed strength in the Orthodox vision is participation in divine energy. We wait, emptied of self-reliance, and are filled with God's own life. The eagle soaring is theosis pictured—lifted by divin
St. Gregory of Nyssa on Infinite Tasting - Orthodox (Psalm 34:8)
"Taste and see—but the tasting is infinite! God's goodness has no end; we taste forever without exhausting. This is epektasis: eternal progress into infinite divine goodness. Each taste reveals more t
Metropolitan Kallistos Ware on Grace and Synergy - Orthodox (Ephesians 2:8-9)
"Salvation is God's gift—entirely, completely. Yet Orthodoxy speaks of synergy: not that we add to grace, but that grace transforms us into participants. We are saved by grace through faith—faith that
St. Maximus the Confessor on Divine Wisdom - Orthodox (James 1:5)
"Wisdom is participation in divine life—theosis includes the mind. As we grow in union with God, wisdom increases. Prayer for wisdom is prayer for deeper participation in the Logos. God gives generous
St. Maximus the Confessor on Divine Energy - Orthodox (Philippians 4:13)
"Through Christ who strengthens me—this is theosis in action. Divine energy flows through human weakness. We become by grace what Christ is by nature. The 'all things' are possible because we particip
St. John Chrysostom on Infinite Love - Orthodox (Romans 8:38-39)
"Paul stretches language to express the inexpressible: nothing in height or depth, present or future, life or death. Why? Because God's love is infinite—and the infinite cannot be limited or separated
St. Maximus the Confessor on Faith and Theosis - Orthodox (Hebrews 11:1)
"Faith is the beginning of theosis—participation in divine life. The 'substance' is the seed of divine life planted in us; the 'evidence' is the foretaste of deification. By faith we begin to see as G
St. Silouan the Athonite on Divine Love - Orthodox (1 John 4:18)
"Keep your mind in hell and despair not—because God's love reaches even there. Perfect love casts out fear because divine love is infinite, uncreated, all-embracing. In theosis, we participate in this
St. Seraphim of Sarov on Acquiring the Spirit - Orthodox (2 Timothy 1:7)
"The goal of Christian life is the acquisition of the Holy Spirit. This Spirit gives power for ascetic struggle, love for enemies, and sophrosyne—the sound, integrated mind. Fear indicates the Spirit'
St. Maximus the Confessor on Deification - Orthodox (Romans 12:1-2)
"The transformation of the mind is theosis—the human nous being renewed, illumined, united with divine truth. 'Do not be conformed to this world' means detachment from passions that cloud the mind. Th
St. John Chrysostom on Priestly Dignity - Orthodox (1 Peter 2:9)
"Through chrismation, you become priest, prophet, and king—sharing Christ's triple office. The royal priesthood participates in the Divine Liturgy, offering spiritual sacrifices. This dignity is theot
St. John Climacus on Purified Heart - Orthodox (Psalm 51:10)
"The clean heart sees God—this is theosis. Through repentance, through the Jesus Prayer, through ascetic struggle, the heart is purified. 'Create' is ongoing: God continually cleanses those who contin
John Chrysostom on the Incomprehensible Gift - Orthodox (John 3:16)
"Consider how great a gift it is that He gave—His only-begotten Son. Not a servant, not an angel, not an archangel, but His own Son. And for whom? For ungrateful enemies. This is the wonder of God's l
Kallistos Ware on Providence and Theosis - Orthodox (Romans 8:28)
"The promise of Romans 8:28 points toward theosis: God works all things for our 'good'—and that good is nothing less than our deification, our participation in the divine nature. Everything serves thi
St. Maximus the Confessor on Theotic Transformation - Orthodox (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
"The inner person is being deified—this is daily theosis. While the body participates in Christ's death, the soul participates in His resurrection. The eternal weight of glory is full union with God.
St. John Chrysostom on Paschal Victory - Orthodox (John 16:33)
"Christ is risen—this is the victory! Death is trampled; hades is conquered; the world is overcome. 'Let no one fear death, for the death of our Savior has set us free.' Trouble in this world is tempo
St. John Chrysostom on Divine Presence - Orthodox (Isaiah 41:10)
"God's presence transforms fear into boldness. As the soul progresses in theosis, fear diminishes—not because danger decreases but because union with God increases. 'I am with you' becomes experienced