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Salvation in The Orthodox Concept HH Pope Shenouda III

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179 views3 pages

Salvation in The Orthodox Concept HH Pope Shenouda III

Uploaded by

cleybfilho
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Salvation in the Orthodox

Concept - HH Pope
Shenouda III
Dangers of "One Single Verse"
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household" (Acts 16:31)

This verse might be used as "proof" that all that is required for salvation is to believe on
the Lord Jesus Christ
But that would be taking the verse out of its context - who was it spoken to? Who was it
spoken by? What else in the Scripture discusses this concept?
The foolish person would base his whole concept of salvation on this one verse. But the
wise person would look at this verse's context in the book of Acts, and its context in the
whole scripture (since the Word of God is not mere verses, but breathes and is backed by
a living Spirit)
What could this verse mean?
This verse was spoken to a Gentile - if the apostle Paul had preached to him to do
good works, they would have benefited him nothing because he did not believe on
the Lord Jesus Christ. If he was speaking to a Christian who already believed in
Christ, he would have given him a different message
St Paul is conveying to him the first step and this happens often in Scripture
Simeon the elder said "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace
according to Your word, for my eyes have seen Your salvation." Did he see the
salvation? Did he see the Cross? Definitely not. But he saw the first step.
When Zacchaeus said that he would give back four times what he had stolen,
the Lord told him "Today salvation has come to this house." The repentance of
Zacchaeus was just the first step toward salvation.
"You will be saved, you and your household" - Why would his household be saved by
him believing on the Lord Jesus Christ? Again, it's simply the first step. He will still
convince his household to also believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as their first step,
and then they will take the next steps together.
The next verses: "Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in
his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes.
And immediately he and all his family were baptized. Now when he had brought
them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in
God with all his household." (Acts 16:32-33)
He and his family were baptized! If St Paul literally meant that all you have to
do is believe on the Lord Christ and declare your belief and have faith, why
would he then go and baptize them?
Other verses about salvation say other things... even from the Lord Christ, Himself!
A young man came to the Lord and asked "what good thing shall I do that I
may have eternal life?" - the Lord did not say "believe and you will be saved" -
He said "keep the commandments" and when the young man pressed for
more, the Lord told him "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and
give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
(Matthew 19). The Lord was giving him a message that was specific to him and
to his weakness. Does this mean faith is not necessary? Certainly not. Every
situation requires a suitable answer.

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God..." (Romans 5:1)

This verse seems clear... it's explicit. How can we deny it?
We don't deny it, but we place beside it another verse from the same epistle:
"For not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law
will be justified." (Romans 2:13)
We add to it another verse:
"You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only." (James 2:24)
We cannot say that it is only by works we are saved, neither can we say that it is only by
faith.

"But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted
for righteousness" (Romans 2:5)

Does this mean that God justifies the ungodly when they continue in their ungodliness?
God forbid
Add to it other verses:
"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men." (Romans 1:18)
"... condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who
afterward would live ungodly" (2 Peter 2:6)
"Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints to execute judgment on all,
to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they
have committed in an ungodly way." (Jude 14:15)
"Do not be deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor
homosexuals, nor sodomites... will inherit the Kingdom of God"

It is not proper at all to follow this manner of using one single verse only... It is wrong and
dangerous besides being unorthodox.

If anyone presents you a certain verse, however explicit and plain it may be, say to him: "One
verse is of no use to me. Let us bring together all the texts relating to the subject, then we can
argue."
No Salvation Except Through the Blood of Christ Alone

Revisão #1
Criado 5 April 2024 17:13:32 por Morcous Wahba
Atualizado 5 April 2024 18:04:40 por Morcous Wahba

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