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To: Kolokotronis

Kolo,
We believe that Christ saves us by grace through faith period. Salvation is a one-time act that is a done deal because it rests in what He did for us on Calvary. We also believe that true faith WILL produce good works and create in one the desire to be like Christ. Those works are not the cause of salvation but are the result of salvation and reason for salvation. They are part of our sanctification which is not completed until we reach heaven. So, salvifically, we are justified by grace through the faith God gives to us. Santification wise, we are in a process all of our lives of becoming more Christ-like. Some don't get very far in this process and will suffer loss as far as rewards go in heaven - yet, they themselves will be saved. Glorification is when the entire process wraps up and we don't know yet what that will entail -only that we will be like Him.

I'm not sure how close the Orthodox come to this point of view. That you all believe one can be saved and then lost seems to imply salvific import to works. We believe once someone is born again they can't be unborn. Once a son (or daughter) one can't no longer be a son or daughter. The fellowship can be broken. The relationship remains.

We do not believe that one can have mere intellectual assent as to what Jesus did and truly be saved. Salvation comes through the fruit of the Spirit in our lives called "faith" and that true faith is one that does produce the fruit of works. If the fruit isn't evident, chances are the faith isn't the fruit of the Spirit which saves.


10,245 posted on 02/13/2007 7:58:04 PM PST by Blogger
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To: Blogger

"I'm not sure how close the Orthodox come to this point of view."

Its not the same at all. We have no concept of salvation as you describe it. It sounds as if "santification" might be "something like" theosis, however.


10,247 posted on 02/13/2007 8:12:11 PM PST by Kolokotronis (Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated!)
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