Let he who is without sin among you cast the first stone. (John 8:7)
You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. (John 16:20)
For if we judged ourselves, we would not be judged. (1 Cor. 11:31)
What is Sin?
Sin is the transgression of God’s law, a willful or unwilling transgression, knowingly or unknowingly, through deed, word, or thought.
Sin is dishonor brought to God, an insult, contempt, defamation, failure to acknowledge, and harm done to the Divine Being, stemming from a selfish sentiment.
Sin is unbelief and lack of trust in God, in His law, and excessive faith and trust in oneself, to the point where a person becomes their own law, for as soon as you transgress God’s Law, you follow another law, whether your own or the devil’s.
Sin is a second crucifixion brought upon the Savior, for through sin, all the mockeries and beatings of old are renewed. The nails, the spear, the thorns—through sin, the Savior feels them anew. But now, they are not inflicted by those who mocked Him and shouted, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”… Now they are administered by those who claim to believe in Him, to follow His commandments, to love Him. Now those who are baptized spit in His face, those who call themselves Christians place the crown of thorns on Him, now they strike Him, now they drive the nails, now they pierce Him with the spear—those for whom He endured mockeries and beatings, and for whom He shed His blood on Golgotha to make them children of God, to open Paradise, to shatter death, and to dismantle Hell.
Sin is a disease that spreads over both soul and body, which is why salvation also means healing, and forgiveness brings restoration.
Sin is a departure from God and, in turn, a drawing near to the devil; it is a departure from the Father’s house and the tending of the devil’s swine in a foreign land.
For we are slaves to whomever we serve (John 8:34), so sin means enslavement to the devil.
When you sin, you no longer consider what God has done for you, you cease to be His child, and you do not think of His justice, which will punish those who sin against His Will.
Through sin, all of God’s creations are turned against the purpose for which they were made. The mouth was not created by God to curse, gossip, or blaspheme our neighbor, but to speak things beneficial to the soul.
The mind was not given to you by God to find arguments that distance you from Him, but to find those that draw you closer.
The eyes were not made to look at things that harm the soul, but to behold God’s creations and to give thanks to Him.
Likewise, the ears, hands, and feet were not created to lead us away from God.
Do you not wish to regard God’s goodness and long-suffering as such? For know that all the time given to you is for gaining Paradise, yet you lose yourself thinking that He will no longer judge, that He will forgive, that there are others far worse than you.
What are the Consequences of Sin?
The harm caused by it
- Through sin, we lose the most supernatural gift we have from God. Without this gift, the soul remains deformed, foolish, and insensate.
- Through sin, the Holy Spirit is taken from us, and we are no longer recognized as children.Sin sickens, disturbs, weakens, misleads, and darkens both soul and body.
- Through sin, we lose the eternal happiness of Paradise.
- We lose the possibility of union with God and communion with the saints; we lose the eternal light and rest.
- We gain Hell with its unquenchable fire and everlasting darkness.
- Through sin, we lose all the good deeds we did before, for God will judge you based on what He finds you doing.
- Through sin, we lose God’s help (for as long as you remain in sin).
Confession
Do you not weep thinking that you have lost Paradise?
Does the sorrow brought to God not shake you?
Does Hell not terrify you?
Do you not seek to regain the state you lost?
Is it still possible?
Yes! You only need to will it…
God knew from the beginning our weakness and gave us the possibility of cleansing from sins. He knew that as long as man lives, he will sin, and that no one is without fault, which is why He told His disciples: Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in Heaven,words through which the Sacrament of Confession is instituted.
Confession or repentance is a bath from which the soul emerges unburdened of its weight and cleansed of the filth of sins, a bath in which all our impurities and mistakes are washed away and lost.
Confession is a medicine that heals the soul wounded by demons, a medicine that destroys the poison of sin.
Confession turns the sinner back from the devil to God and restores their connection with their Creator.
Confession means bringing the soul to deeds and things that align with its nature.
Confession restores a person pure to God.
Confession prepares the soul and body to receive the Holy Body and Blood of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Confess in Church at least four times a year to the same spiritual father. Better yet, monthly or every 40 days.
When you examine your conscience, find yourself guilty, do not justify yourself; consider the following points:
a. The motive or purpose for which you sinned. The next day, seek to avoid the respective opportune moment.
b. The intention—what you intended by sinning.
c. The circumstances—avoid them the next day.
d. The place where you sinned.
e. How far you spread it—did you encourage others?
f. The number…
Confession must be done with a contrite heart and with remorse. Contrition of heart is the distress and pain caused when you recall your sin.
This pain does not consist only in feeling the sin, sighing, and weeping for it, but especially in hating the sin.
Remorse is the pain felt by the one who repents for having lost God’s grace and earned punishment.
The Church has established that before confession, you should keep a fast of seven days or even less. The sick are exempt. Read the prayers before and after confession, then leave the Church. If you are in a hurry, read them at home.
If the thought torments you not to confess because you haven’t fasted, it is from the devil. Go. Write your sins on paper and read them alone before the spiritual father. Confess, do not let yourself be interrogated. Ask when you are unsure, speak rather than remain silent. If necessary, the priest will give you or recommend a guide, and you will return for a more thorough and deeper confession.
The penance is determined by the spiritual father. This is medicine and a period of repentance, protecting you from partaking in holy things unprepared, unhealed, or unrestored. It is a great thing that after confession, at the Divine Liturgy, you partake mystically of Christ, and suddenly you are healed, restored, and gain strength against sin.
Commit before God not to repeat them. He will give you strength both for the commitment and for fulfilling the penance. Have the courage to change your life, otherwise, on one hand, you will try to do less evil and more good, but on the other, by allowing certain sins to persist in your life, the devil will have power over your life, rendering your prayers, those of your spiritual father, and those of the Church or the saints ineffective. God will forgive you for not yet being a saint, though that is what He desires from you, but not for failing to truly fight to cast out evil and refuse to let it back in at any cost. You are not tempted beyond what you can resist—have courage, dare, for you will be helped, only heed the word of your spiritual father, and especially as a beginner, visit him often to keep the devil’s attempts to reclaim you in check, to succeed in turning off the tap of sins, to strengthen the parts weakened by past sins where Satan seeks to break through, and to gain courage, gradually convincing yourself that he has no power over you unless you give it to him
The Ten Commandments
First Commandment:
I am the Lord your God; you shall have no other gods before Me.
Do you believe in God?
Do you believe in the Holy Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?
Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God?
Do you believe that Jesus Christ was born of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary?
Do you believe that the Virgin Mary is the Mother of God?
Do you perhaps believe that Jesus Christ is merely a great teacher, like many others?
Do you believe that God created the world from nothing?
Do you perhaps believe that God has distanced Himself from the world and no longer cares for it?
Do you believe in eternal life?
Do you believe that, at the end of the world, God will judge each person individually?
Do you believe in the rest of paradise and the torments of hell?
Do you believe that the Orthodox Church is the true one?
Have you mocked God’s commandments or the teachings of the Church?
Do you perhaps believe that everyone is saved, each in their own faith?
Do you perhaps believe that Catholics, Adventists, or other sectarians have a valid faith?
Have you attended gatherings of Adventists or other heretics?
Have you read heretical books (from sectarians) with interest? Have you given such books to others?
Have you visited fortune-tellers, soothsayers, or witches?
Do you perhaps believe that spells and charms are more powerful than the prayers of the Church?
Do you perhaps believe in dreams or superstitions?
Do you perhaps believe in luck and misfortune?
Have you complained against God?
Have you judged God for any trouble or loss?
Have you despaired because of something bad that happened to you?
Do you believe there is any trouble that God cannot resolve?
Do you read about God in Holy Scripture and other Church books?
Do you love God?
Do you perhaps love something (your job, money, family) more than God?
Second Commandment:
You shall not make for yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything in heaven, on earth, in the waters, or under the earth; you shall not bow down to them or serve them.
Do you perhaps wear pagan talismans or symbols around your neck?
Do you perhaps keep statues of idols or pagan deities in your home?
Do you perhaps believe that certain Eastern symbols or objects can ward off evil spirits?
Do you perhaps believe that any natural object has spiritual powers?
Do you perhaps believe only in what you can understand with your mind?
Do you doubt the Mysteries of God?
Do you believe that Holy Icons and the Holy Cross are sacred?
Do you believe that the veneration given to them rises to the saints depicted and to God?
Do you venerate Holy Icons?
Do you wear a Holy Cross around your neck?
Do you doubt the sanctity of Great or Small Holy Water?
Do you perhaps say that holy relics are mere bones?
Do you doubt the miracles performed through holy relics?
Third Commandment:
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold guiltless those who take His name in vain.
Have you ever cursed God or Jesus Christ?
Have you ever cursed the Mother of God?
Have you ever cursed the Saints, the Church, Easter, the lamp, the Cross, or any other holy thing?
Have you sworn by God’s name and broken that oath?
Do you perhaps habitually say “zău” (short for “by my God”)?
Have you sworn on your life, your family, or anything else you possess?
Have you cursed yourself?
Have you cursed another person, animal, or thing?
Have you cursed yourself or others who wronged you?
Fourth Commandment:
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall do no work.
The Sabbath day is Sunday, the “Day of the Lord.”
Feast days marked with a red cross in the Church calendar are also days of rest.
Do you perhaps work on Sundays or feast days?
Do you perhaps call others to work on these days?
Do you attend church every Sunday and on feast days?
Do you participate with reverence in the Divine Liturgy?
Do you perhaps talk or gossip in church, disturbing the service?
Do you perhaps say it’s better to stay home than be disturbed by someone in church?
Do you perhaps say you are young and will have time for services later?
Fifth Commandment:
Honor your father and your mother, that it may be well with you and you may live long.
Parents and in-laws deserve equal honor, as they are equally parents.
Have you insulted or struck your parents?
Have you mocked their good advice?
Have you spoken ill of them or mocked their weaknesses?
Have you stolen from them without their permission?
Have you ignored their needs?
Have you failed to help them in their old age to the best of your ability?
Have you forgotten to commemorate your deceased relatives?
Do you equally help your brothers or sisters?
Have you wronged a relative?
Have you quarreled over inheritance or family property?
Do you hold grudges or enmity against a relative?
Men: Do you lovingly and patiently help your wife and children?
Do you work for the prosperity of your household, or do you squander money on alcohol or cigarettes?
Have you struck your wife, mistreated her, or insulted her?
Women: Do you obey your husband?
Do you perhaps, because of his sins, no longer love him?
Do you perhaps blame God for your wayward children?
Have you encouraged your household to be faithful and love God?
Have you taught your children faith in God?
Have you struck, cursed, or damned your children?
Have you left your children’s serious sins unpunished?
Have you taught your children to be deceitful, lazy, or demanding?
Have you encouraged someone to steal or commit another sin?
Do you pray daily for your household?
Sixth Commandment:
You shall not murder.
Have you ever killed a person, whether intentionally or unintentionally?
Have you spoken well of someone who committed murder?
Have you beaten someone?
Have you spat on or threatened someone?
Do you harbor thoughts of revenge or hatred? These can lead to murder.
Do you wish death, harm, or loss upon someone?
Do you rejoice in the misfortune of a certain person?
Are you saddened by someone’s gain or good fortune?
Abortion means killing your defenseless children in the womb.
Men: Have you encouraged your wife to have an abortion?
If she wanted an abortion, did you try to stop her?
Women: Have you aborted your children?
Abortion is a sin of both the woman and her husband.
Have you, because of some trouble, wanted to take your own life?
Seventh Commandment:
You shall not commit adultery.
Have you slept with someone before marriage? (fornication)
Do you live in concubinage, that is, without being married?
Have you committed unnatural acts with your spouse? (other forms of sexuality)
Have you cheated on your spouse? (adultery)
Do you lust after another person’s spouse?
Do you watch erotic films or read erotic magazines?
Do you masturbate alone or with someone else?
Do you dress provocatively to tempt others?
Eighth Commandment:
You shall not steal.
A priest cannot absolve a theft that has not been returned to the victim. Therefore, if possible, return what you stole, then confess.
Have you stolen money or items from the state, a company, or an individual?
Have you received or kept stolen goods in your home?
Have you returned everything you borrowed?
Have you tried to find the owner of found items?
Have you sought to profit at the expense of others?
Have you altered land boundaries with your neighbor?
Have you encouraged someone to steal or deceive?
Have you charged interest for help given?
Have you falsified a product you sold?
Have you cheated in weighing goods?
Have you taken bribes in money or goods?
Ninth Commandment:
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
Do you habitually lie to gain something?
Have you lied to harm someone else?
Tenth Commandment:
You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his field, nor anything that belongs to your neighbor.
Are you envious of someone?
Do you regret someone’s achievements?
Do you rejoice in someone’s losses or troubles?
Do you despise someone for their wealth?
Have you lusted after your neighbor’s wife, daughter, husband, or son?