“Sin is thus not primarily a willful breaking of another’s will. It is not a transgression of something external to us, enforced only through the threat of violence or force. It is a violation of the very constitution of our being and of the world around us…it is “disintegration.” … it as a movement towards non-being. Sin is substantial. It can be healed and washed, excised and destroyed. Sin is not a “legal” construct in the modern sense of legal nominalism.” (Father Stephen Freeman)
“There is a great difference between sinning intentionally, because of an inclination towards a particular sin, and sinning unintentionally, because of human weakness, while still maintaining a disposition to please God. There is a great difference between leading a sinful life and satiating all sinful desires, and being tripped by sins because of weakness, human deficiencies and sinful disease — all the while still walking along the path to God.” (St. Ignatii Brianchaninov)
“People today are weary, confused and darkened by sin and egoism….People need to realize that their life is troubled because they have distanced themselves from God. They need to realize that they must repent and humbly confess their sins.” (St. Paisios the Athonite)
“It is truly amazing how the Lord calls all kinds of people in all kinds of circumstances to serve Him. Some people who have committed the greatest sins and mistakes have become saints. It is said that every saint has a past and every sinner has a future.” (Fr. Stavros N. Akrotirianakis)
“The Greek word eikon, from which we get the English word icon, primarily means “image.” We could say, “Man was created in the icon of God” (see Gen. 1:27). But it’s an image damaged by conceit and self-rule. We have all become infected with the sickness of sin, but the divine image of love nevertheless resides inside us.” (Jonathan Jackson)
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