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To: gobucks

Orthodox Christians don't speaking about getting or being saved. As the author of the article states, salvation is a process, a journey to God. The aim is communion and union with God. The goal of this process is called theosis or deification or divinization in which one participates in the glorification of Christ. Then the glory of God the Father in the face of the Son through the Holy Spirit lives in ones heart.

What protestants call 'being saved' is from an Orthodox perspective one of the major events in that journey to God. But the mark it leaves on the soul is not indelible. It is still possible to get lost on that journey and even to go in the opposite direction by rejecting God's love.

Those who have undergone the journey in this life to the point of theosis are called Saints and that is why the Church honors them. However, the journey to God is never over. But even those who reach theosis participate in an eternal process.

The question from an Orthodox perspective might be, "Can one who has undergone theosis ever loose this state?" Since the Saints continue to be honored, I would say probably not.


45 posted on 11/05/2004 2:39:44 PM PST by stripes1776
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To: stripes1776

"What protestants call 'being saved' is from an Orthodox perspective one of the major events in that journey to God. But the mark it leaves on the soul is not indelible. It is still possible to get lost on that journey and even to go in the opposite direction by rejecting God's love."

Is there a name for that 'major event'? In your experience, have you witnessed orthodox folks who were in the process of theosis, but then outright rejected it? If so, is such a person going to be rejected at the time of judgement?


46 posted on 11/05/2004 2:43:44 PM PST by gobucks (http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/classics/students/Ribeiro/laocoon.htm)
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