Living According to God’s Will

— About the Book —

The task of man’s earthly life is preparing himself for eternal salvation and blessedness. To attain this, a man must live in a holy and pure manner - that is, according to God’s will.

In this short but incisive treatise the reader is guided on a spiritual journey that begins with the awakening of conscience and the realization of the presence of both sin and virtue in the world, culminating in a union with God: that is “a living, personal relationship with the one we love.” In following the path of this ascent the author delineates many of its markers and stresses that these have both personal and societal aspects.       

This book is suitable for both private reading and group study. Questions for discussion or contemplation are interspersed throughout this edition. A short biography of the author is also included.

— Author Biography —

Metropolitan Philaret (1903-1985) was the third First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church outside of Russia. He was elected to that position in 1964, being at the time the most junior bishop among the Council. He is widely venerated throughout the Orthodox Church as a steadfast teacher of the faith.

— Contents —

Foreword

1 Conscience and Moral Responsibility

2 The Nature of Sin

3 Virtue

4 God’s Law

5 Freedom of Will

6 The Christian “I”

7 Humility

8 Conversion of Sinners

9 Grace and Salvation

10 Learning and Religion

11 Emotional Development

12 Emotional Development in Children and on Christian Hope  

13 The Education and Development of Man’s Will

14 Strengthening the Will with Work and Vows

15 The Struggle against Lust

16 Drunkenness, Greed, and Other Carnal Problems; Christian Death

17 Christian Justice

18 Falsehood: Christian Charity  

19 Envy; Cursing and Anger

20 Insolvent Ethical Systems

21 Christian Love as the Basic Principle of Morality

22 The Orthodox Family

23 Family and Society; Patriotism

24 Christian Service; War

25 The Unity of Love for God and for Neighbor

26 The Christian Obligation to Know God

27 The Necessity of Prayer

28 The Model of Christian Prayer

29 Prayer; Feasts and Fasts

Appendix 1: A Short Biography of Metropolitan Philaret

Appendix 2: The Transfer of the Blessed Remains of Metropolitan Philaret

Appendix 3: Metropolitan Philaret on Christianity and Communism

Notes

Scripture Index