Title : The Heresy of Salvation in a Moment.

Author : H. H. Pope Shenouda III.

Translation : Mrs. Wedad Abbas.
Illustrated By : Sister Sawsan.
Edition : The First - December 1991.
Typesetting : J .C. Center.
Press : Dar El Tebaa El Kawmia.
Legal J>eposit N.: 9837 I l99l.
I.S.H. N. : 977-00-2735-9.
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III
I 17th Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of Saint Mark
5
THE STORY OF THIS BOOK
Since the mid-sixties, wrong concepts regarding Salvation
began to spread. This made me explain this subject in two
meetings held in Banha in April and May 1967 for the
ministers of Lower Egypt. The fruit of these two meetings
was my book "Salvation in the Orthodox Concept" Published
in June 1967.
The problem began to appear again in the mid-seventies in
a new form i.e. the heresy of salvation in a moment. I
published many articles on this heresy in "El Keraza
Magazine" through the years 1978 to 1980. I taught about
"Salvation" in the seminary and gave answers to the
arguments raised concering it especially by the Plymouth
Brethren and their followers.
In all this I put before me the teaching of the father apostles
in the Didascalia "Wash away the guilt through teaching" ..
My main objective was to convince, not to punish those at
fault.
Then I printed this book to complete my first book on
Salvation.
I think there is a need for third book on Salvation that
may discuss the views of the Protestants about Justification,
6
Sanctification, Glo.-ification, Regeneration, Fullness and other
similar topics.
I have already ~ i v n atlswers to the points that appeared
in some books to ralise doubts .. And lastly I say to m)'
children: Now, you }:1ave the two paths clear before you . .
Consider which ():Jle -you would take.
I want you to understand and hold to the sound belief of
the church. Do not :!Say Amen, aye without thinking. L
Pope Shenouda II
THE IMPORTANCE OF
DOCTRINE
AND TEACHING IT
Would we teach our children virtue without
faith and leave them a victim to the war of
doubts?
May faith be sacrificed for the sake of
spiritual comfort?
What is our attitude regarding the war of
doubts?
9
INTRODUCTION
Thirty years ago or more, some Christian sects accused
us that in teaching people the doctrines of faith we ignore
their spiritualities. They said that our sermons do not give
them salvation and that they get no comfort from listening
to speeches about belief and doctrines. They suggested that
comfort would only come through moving from teaching
doctrines to preaching on the spiritual path or the path of
salvation, according to their expression!!
In the usual simpleness of the copts, we stopped teaching
the doctrines of belief and began to preach spiritualities
following their salvation trend. But as soon as they found
us do this, they began to teach the doctrines of belief,
profoundly, according to their own concepts. They made the
grown ups and the young learn certain verses and interpreted
these verses to them in a certain way. Their salvation sermons
turned into pure doctrinal subjects and they went very far
in the rational path they previously criticized.
The Church became aware of the whole matter, how it
began, and how it urned and developed ...
It saw its children facing many varied doubts against faith
fighting them from within and without ..
10
The church had to act, and the action began frorn the
church presidency but it was to spread everywhere for the
sake of faith ...
Our children found themselves facing doubts that were
not taught to them in the Sunday Schools nor in the meetings
of the church. They found no written works to give them
answers. Moreover the western views swept even to some of
those who teach in the church!!
Religion is not a collection of virtues; for virtues can be
found even in non-believers such as the Brahmas and
Buddhists and others. But religion is before anything else a
belief and faith from which virtues originate and differ
spiritually from the virtues of non-believers .
In fact, salvation, though relating to man's spiritualities, is
a belief that has its basis and its effect on spiritualities . ..
So, the church will try its best to iLnplant the concepts of
belief deep within its children since their childhood. Thus,
when they grow up they will not be troubled due to the doubts
and wars of thoughts from outside ...
There is a great responsibility on the shoulders of the
parents in this concern ..
A mother should be aware of her responsibilitY as a
godmother to the child whom she received from the church
on the day of his baptism to bring him up in the life of sound
faith ...
The Sunday School also has a responsibility to modUy it
programs so as to conform with this objective ...
11
The father priests, preachers, youth leaders and any persons
who are concerned with teaching are all responsible as well ..
We teach faith to chil!fren by handing it over to them, but
in older age we explain faith to them .. However, in all stages
we make our children learn the creed and verses by heart..
In the stage of high school and university, our children tend
to argue; thus opposing views and doubts can be discussed.
Our program now is both doctrinal and spiritual. We teach
faith and virtue; we address the mind and the heart, the person
as a whole so that our teaching program might be perfect ...
Our concern about faith and belief must not make us ignore
the spiritual life and christian conduct .. and also our concern
about virtue must not make us ignore faith. Do these and
do not leave the others undone .. In fact, going far along one
of the two ways is wrong and dangerous.
In our study of faith, we should not be rational only but
spiritual as well.
We have to sum up all thoughts, trends, wars and doubts
that face our children outside the church and give answers
to them ...
This is also the responsibility of our churches, magazines
and thinkers. It is the responsibility of our seminaries as well ..
The generation we live in calls upon us to give certain
concern for faith. To be sure of this you can have a look
on libraries, bookshops and printed material.
12
Shallow teaching is not fit for this generation. Teachers
must be prepared by profound understanding, knowledge and
study.
Ministers must be afforded continuous studies that fit their
generation in the form of refreshing courses.
Every generation bas .the thoughts that prevail in it and
the studies that conform with it, and the ministers should
not live in a different generation not aware of the wars faced
by their children .and the doubts fighting them. How beautiful
indeed are the words of the apostle, "Always be ready to
give a defence to everyone who asks you a reason for the
hope that is in you" (1 Pet. 3:15).
CHAPTER 1
THE HERESY OF
SALVATION
IN A MOMENT
ITS HISTORY
AND ITS DANGER
A historical section
The danger of this heresy.
Sacraments are experiences.
To be God's children.
An attempt to justify themselves.
16
traditions, they went as far as to deny the church teaching .
they considered it unobligatory. Anyone has the right to
comment on the Bible as be wants!! without any control by
the church authority.
Some of the rationalists thought it a liberation of the human
mind from any church authority to give it a chance to think
as it wills .. so they called the rise of Protestantism a liberation
movement! However, this freedom led to the rise of scores
- or hundreds as some say - of Protestant sects. There are
28 sects in Egypt alone ... This is due to the lack of control
and being not by church traditions or teaching ..
No church authority condemns or corrects any deviation in
theological views ...
Even the followers of Luthor did not follow all his teaching.
There arose some who denied church teaching more than him
such as Calvin, Zwingel and others
He led them to disobey the church authority and the church
presidency ... and thus he could not force them to follow him
and his teaching .. . Now there are some protestants who refuse
some theological views of Luthor; and the Lutherian church
has become just one of various protestant churches that differ
from one another in views.
The point is that the protestants gave no more respect tn
the church as a leadership.
The rationalist spirit in the church began to discuss
everything, to accept whatever they wanted and refus
whatever they did not accept.
17
Thus, they went as far as to deny the sacraments.
They began to discuss first : What is a sacrament? how many
sacraments are there? .. and at last they denied all sacraments ..
Since the priesthood is the server of these sacraments, and
they have no priesthood in protestantian, why then would
there be any sacraments? what is their use?!
Perhaps some would say, ' But there is baptism in
protestantism' ...
Yes, there is baptism, but it is not a church sacrament nor
is it performed by the priesthood .. . It does not also have
the effectiveness we believe it has!. These are three essential
differences indeed .. .
Before Luthor, the Catholics were used to be baptized by
the priests in the church ... This belief in baptism became
deeply rooted within people throughout fi fteen centuries. It
cannot be shaken and is supported by the verses of the Bible ...
What can they do then, since they have no priesthood in
Protestantism?
As a solution they set elders instead of priests ... and the
word "priest" is translated in the Bible "elder" .. They made
elders baptize and gave them the title "priest" but this does
not mean that an elder has any priestly qualification or
authority!
But do protestannts believe that people attain salvation
through baptism?
No, they declare that salvation can only be attained through
18
faith It is a fourth difference between us and the Protestants
regarding baptism .
Protestants began to lay stress upon the subject of faith.
They began to concentrate in their meetings on the words:
"Believe .. and you will be saved,as if this verse was the only
one in the Bible speaking about salvation!! They concentrated
on faith in such a way that they even say. 'Just believe and
you will be saved'.
They are of the opinion that belief is a feeling in the heart
which can be obtained in a moment and consequently a person
can attain salvation in a moment .. of course without church,
sacraments, baptism or priesthood.
Thus, their view turned into a heresy which we'll try here
to discuss to see how dangerous it is for the faith of the whole
church ..
The danger of this heresy:
According to this heresy, people can attain eternal salvation
through a spiritual life away from the work of the church
and the priesthood and away from the church authority! Such
a spiritual life is based on faith alone, which is within the
heart-and on grace which is from God. And through
concentration on faith and grace, man's life becomes just
an individual relation between him and God. Thereupon
the words: church, priesthood and sacraments disappear from
one's spiritual life ..
Let'us have some examples of this now:
19
Baptism:
According to the heresy of 'salvation in a moment', baptism
has no role in attaining salvation because baptizing is not
performed in a moment. Thus they believe that salvation can
be attained through faith alone.
As for the concept of baptism, they deny its effectiveness
and ascribe all effectiveness of baptism to faith .
They argue: Does baptism give you rebirth when you are
born of water and the Spirit (Jn. 3:5)? No. According to
them rebirth is obtained through faith. Through faith you
become a son of God!
- Does baptism give justification and regeneration? Nor
this also. They say that you obtain justification and
regeneration through faith! Just look at Jesus Christ.
- Do you obtain salvation and remission of sins and get
your sins washed away in baptism! No. They think that you
can get all this through faith ... you get this the moment you
believe ... !
Well then, let baptism continue but without any
effectiveness . just a body without a spirit, a mere sign or
declaration of faith as the Plymouth Brethren say ... !
They claim that they are baptized! thus they carried out
the Lord's commandment in this regard. But would you ask
them what the effectiveness is of such a baptism that gives
no salvation, no justification, no forgiveness nor regeneration
from God, you will get no answer to your question ... !
20
If man is saved through faith alone, what is the value of
baptism then since man is saved without it? What also is the
meaning of the Lord's words, "He who believes and is
baptized will be saved" (Mk. 16:16).
This verse find no response within those who believe in
salvation in a moment!! As long as salvation can be attained
through faith, as they believe, then it has nothing to do with
the church, the priesthood or the sacraments ... !
As a result of their concentration on faith and confining
baptism to those who believe only, they refuse to baptize
children on the pretext that they have not yet attained
conscious faith!
Thus, according to them, children have no faith and no
baptism .. One wonders how can they be saved then since a
person cannot be saved without baptism according to the
words of the Lord in {Mk. 16:16). In fact children are lost
in the vortex of such questions!!
Some of them are mild enough to say, 'well, children may
be baptized, but they do not obtain salvation except at "the
moment the effect of baptism outbreaks within their hearts
making them declare their faith''.'
But we ask: what is the use of such baptism that avails
them nothing except when its effect outbreaks within them
when they grow up? And if they die in their childhood, are
they saved or not?
21
Repentance:
They believe that if a person repents, he will be saved the
moment of his repentance! without confessing, without a
priest and without an absolution ..
Repentance to them is a personal feeling that has nothing
to do with the church. They say to any person, 'Throw
yourself at the feet of Christ and you will come out justified.
A light will shine in your heart and you will become whiter
than snow. In such a personal meeting, at the feet of the
Lord, He wipes off all your sins ... in a moment? come then
and tell your experience!
Sometimes these experiences are published in a magazine
that carries an Orthodox title that people may imitate those
persons and follow their example. Thus they forget gradually
everything about the priest, the absolution, the church and
the sacraments.
Of course, a person who gets salvation in such a meeting
with God - as they say - has no need for the church and its
sacraments! he dispenses with them and is satisfied with the
direct personal meeting with God!
In concentrating on faith alone and its effectiveness, they
say to a person who sins, 'Just believe that God has remitted
your sin and you will feel that it is remitted in a moment.
The peace that surpasses all understanding will fill your
heart. .. without confession, church or priesthood.
They say, 'Even if you do confess, confess to God, for
it is He not the priest who will forgive you. And the moment
22
you confe s to God you will be saved, and will feel thnl nee
are freed from your sins!'.
This is the danger of the heresy "salvation in a moment
that they try through it to cancel the church and do nw'
with all its sacraments .. . not only baptism, priesthood nn I
confession but even the holy unction through which we rc cav
the Holy Spirit. ..
The Holy Unction:
According to them, any believer can lay his hands on you
and thus you receive the Holy Spirit. Even a woman cnn lu
her hands on you and you receive the Spirit and also be fJIItd
with the Spirit.
Consequently, you also can do the same and the othtrH
receive the Spirit through you .. !
Thus, the holy unction is no longer a church sacramcnl,
it became for all .. It is no longer a priestly act which only
the apostles performed at the beginning of Christianity (Act
8:14, 15) ... It became just a gift given you by those who
received it before and the church has no role in this matter ... !
The Plymouth Brethren are of the opinion that the Hoi)
Spirit is received through faith!
Through faith, the springs of the Spirit flow from youa
heart and thus you need not the holy unction from the church.
You receive the Spirit directly from God, through a personal
relation, in a moment!!
. " "' nl rc cxpertences .
23
not took to the secret effect of the sacraments
lnvi ible grace received by the person through the
ll oly Spirit and ministry of priesthood ...
. '
H' in ever) sacrament just an expenence.
ullntl , they do not call them sacraments but
II IIH I
11 y thut a person must practise two experiences i.e.
1 1tjo11 and sanctification. They hold these two
11 in place of the sacraments of baptism and holy
'
("" the other hand they do not refer at all to these
II . J , h dtl
1n nl nor to their relation to the church and pnest oo ..
w11 h God, according to them, is mere experience ...
n 1 ntion i.e (rebirth), for example, is not
an , church sacrament received in baptism but It JUSt
1
r.cnce! They ask a person,' Did you expenence,
1 rebirth? come then and tell people about your
11 n c and how you were reborn!'
muse, they see no relation between this rebirth .and
111 .. Thus, church sacraments are lost and turn mto
ht uf them may ask you 'Come, tell your experience.s:
did you receive the Spirit? How did you attam
111
11
s? Tell us how are you saved? how did the light of
lui t shine upon you?'
22
you confess to God you will be saved, and will feel that you
are freed from your sins!'.
This is the danger of the heresy "salvation in a moment"
that they try through it to cancel the church and do away
with all its sacraments ... not only baptism, priesthood and
confession but even the holy unction through which we receive
the Holy Spirit. ..
The Holy Unction:
According to them, any believer can lay his hands on you
and thus you receive the Holy Spirit. Even a woman can lay
her hands on you and you receive the Spirit and also be filled
with the Spirit.
Consequently, you also can do the same and the others
receive the Spirit through you . !
Thus, the holy unction is no longer a church sacrament,
it became for all .. It is no longer a priestly act which only
the apostles performed at the beginning of Christianity (Acts
8:14,15) ... It became just a gift given you by those who
received it before and the church has no role in this matter ... !
The Plymouth Brethren are of the opinion that the Holy
Spirit is received through faith!
Through faith, the springs of the Spirit flow from your
heart and thus you need not the holy unction from the church.
You receive the Spirit directly from God, through a personal
relation, in a moment!!
23
Sacraments are experiences!!
They do not look to the secret effect of the sacraments
that is the invisible grace received by the person through the
act of the Holy Spirit and ministry of priesthood ...
They see in every sacrament just an experience!
Accordingly, they do not call them sacraments but
experiences!
They say that a person must practise two experiences i.e.
justification and s::tnctification. They hold these two
experiences in place of the sacraments of baptism and holy
unction. On the other hand, they do not refer at all to these
sacraments nor to their relation to the church and priesthood!!
Life with God, according to them, is mere experience ...
Regeneration i.e (rebirth), for example, is not considered
by them a church sacrament received in baptism but it is just
an experience! They ask a person,' Did you experience,
brother, rebirth? come then and tell people about your
experience and how you were reborn!'
Of course, they see no relation between this rebirth and
baptism ... Thus, church sacraments are lost and turn into
experiences!
One of them may ask you 'Come, tell your experiences:
how did you receive the Spirit? How did you attain
fullness? Tell us how are you saved? how did the light of
Christ shine upon you?'
24
This shows that receiving the Holy Spirit is not a church
sacrament but an experience!
Salvation, to them, is not to believe and be baptized by
the priest in the church, but just a personal experience. It
is obtained when you throw yourself at Christ's feet, may
be in your private closed room and not in the church. It
is attained in your room in a moment, or the moment you
hear a sermon! in which a listener cries out 'glory' . because
he has attained salvation at that moment!!
So, any person speaks to you about his experience on
salvation or asks you to tell yours, say to him "your speech
betrays you".
To be God's Children:
They say this can be achieved at the moment of believing,
the moment of accepting christ as Redeemer and Savior!!
They misunderstand the words of the Bible that say, "But
as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become
children of God., (Jn. 1:12) You'll find an explanation of
this verse in this book on page
They say that becoming God's children is achieved without
baptism or the work of the church; just through a personal
relation between you and God!
Thus, when you meet with them they ask you, 'Have you
been saved? have you accepted Chirst as Savior and
Redeemer?' It seems as if you were not a Christian at all.
Some of them may present you-perhaps in a copy of the
25
Bible - with a vow to sign, to the effect that you have accepted
Christ as Savior!!
They do not stop at the point of your becoming a child
of God through faith but proceed to convince you that:
Since you have become a child of God, you should claim
your rights as a child and an heir!
Thus, the moment you accept Christ, you become a child
of God, an heir with Christ and having rights to claim!
This makes a believer loses his humbleness, loses humility
and the feeling of undeservedness. He turns in a moment
from a person condemned to die into a person claiming for
his rights as an heir:
Instead of standing among the catechumens, a believer is
called upon to come to the pulpit of the church, and as a
child of God tells how he became a child and an heir with
Christ!
Salvation:
They concentrate on two points regarding salvation, these
are: Salvation through the Blood, Salvation attained!.
Salvation is granted on the Cross, and you have attained
it through the blood of Christ the moment you believed on
the crucified Christ. It is an eternal salvation which you are
not apt to lose even if you fall.
So, you should chant the song that says, "Washed in the
noble Blood" or "I trust in the blood, I trust. .. "!
26
As long as you have attained salvation, you should live
in the joy of this salvation for ever. It is a free salvation
which you attained the moment you believed! It is their point
of view ...
Trusting that a believer never loses this slavation however
he falls, they mix up between the word "believers" and the
word "elect" as if they were one word!
Our comment on this is that all the elect are undoubtedly
believers but not all believers are elect.. for some may depart
from faith ...
In this book, God willing, I shall explain the point of
experience, the Portestant concept of it and our answer to
this ...
Those who adopt the view of salvation in a moment are
confused regarding the meaning of "moment" and its time!
Those who say that faith alone is sufficient, say it is the
moment of believing! and those who pretend to be Orthodox,
say that salvation is attained in the moment of being baptized.
It is evident that attaining salvation in the moment of
believing abolishes the effectiveness of baptism ... while saying
that salvation is attained in baptism cancels the idea of
attaining salvation through faith alone ...
The question stands without an answer, ''Which of the
two moments is the right one?'. Confusion increases more
when we remember that, practically, faith is not accepted
in a moment! nor baptism received in a moment!!
27
( cmfusion:
1 hose who adopt the heresy "Salvation in a moment" mix
up salvation, repentance and change ... A person may repent
1 or an awful sin that was troubling him so they say he is
nved! They mix up here between salvation, which they call
"justification" and repentance which they call
1 1
sanctification''.
They use the terms: justification, sanctification, regene-
ration, glorification and salvation in the sense given them
In the Protestant books.
An Attempt to Justify Themselves:
What raises wonder is that those who adopt this heresy,
though they do away with all the church beliefs, they try to
justify themselves saying that:
They are making the way of salvation easy before people.
They tell them salvation is not difficult to attain, it can be
attained in a moment! But the Lord Jesus Christ did not do
the same. He said expressly to us, "Because narrow is the
gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there
are few who find it, (Mt. 7:14).
Our fathers the apostles as well told us the same.
They explained to us the spiritual wars (Eph. 6), told us
that our adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion
seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet. 5:8), and also, "Conduct
yourselves throughout the time of your sojourning here in
fear, (1 Pet. 1:17), "If 1/le righteous one is scarcely saved,
where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?, (1 Pet. 4:18).
28
Saint paul the Apostle also says, "We must through many
tribulations enter the kingdom of God,, (Acts 14:22). He
rebukes them saying, "You have not yet resisted to bloodshed,
striving against sin, (Heb. 12:4)
Leniency sometimes leads to heedlessness and slackening,
believing that they have already attained salvation! They think
they have nothing also to do, for grace does everything!!
In conclusion I say that I shall try in this book to refute
all the points raised by those who talk about ''salvation in
a moment" in their books or leaflets. I shall give answers
to the material in the main sources from which they took
their views, I mean the Protestant books and in particular
those of the Plymouth for they are their chief instructor .. !
CHAPTER 2
BAPTISM
AND REPENTANCE
AND
THEIR NECESSITY
FOR SALVATION
Tbe necessity of baptism for salvation
* Is salvation attained tbrougb tbe word?
* Refutation.
* Real water.
* Children and baptism.
The necessity of repentance for salavatioo.
The role of church regarding salvation.
30
Those who say that salvation can be attained through faith
alone, do not consider baptism of any value, importance or
effectiveness. Even if they speak about it, their words would
be faint and without spirit. Their speech about baptism would
be in this case contradicting to their talk about salvation in
the moment of accepting faith.
They do not believe that through baptism a person ~ t s
salvation, regeneration, remission of sins or becomes Gods'
child... for all this is ascribed to faith in their opinion ...
Tt.e Necessity of Baptism for Salvation:
However, the Bible teaches us that baptism is necessary
for salvation for the following reasons:
1. The Lord Jesus Christ said, .. He who believes and is
baptized will be saved, (Mk. 16:16). He did not say only
"He who believes", but He made baptism a condition for
salvation because it is death with Christ and resurrection with
Him (Rom. 6:2-4).
2. St. Peter the Apostle, speaking about salvation through
baptism said, '' .. while the ark was being prepared, in which
a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. There
is also an antitype which now saves us, namely baptism,
(1 Pet. 3:20,21)
31
St. Paul the apostle also says that through baptism .. He
saved us, through the washing of regeneration, (Tit.3:5).
3. On the Day of Pentecost, when the Jews believed as
they were cut to the heart and asked the apostles .. Men and
brethren, what shall we do?, (Acts. 2:37), St. Peter the
Apostle did not say to them, 'Since you have believed, be
happy and rejoice. You are saved through your faith and
your sins forgiven!'
On the other hand, he said to them,
"Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name
of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive
the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).
It means that though they believed, their sins were still
standing and they were in need to be baptized to have their
sins forgiven". We would ask here, 'What need there was
that the apostle would baptize on that day three thousand
persons?' (Acts 2:41). It was not an easy task .. Was not faith
sufficient?
4. What happened on the Day of Pentecost, happened again
to saul of Tarsus when he believed.. He asked the Lord,
.. Lord, what do you want me to do?, (Acts 9:6).
And the Lord did not say to him, 'As long as you have
believed, you are saved!' but He sent him to Ananias of
Damascus who said to him, "Brother Saul... why are you
waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins."
(Acts 22:16). It is amazing indeed that a person who met
with Christ personally, talked to Him privately, was called
32
by Him and was elected a chosen vessel and a witness before
all people ... was not washed of his sins ... and needed to be
cleansed of them!
Where then is salvation in a moment bere? It did not take
place even in the case of St. Paul the Apostle who spoke
about the importance of faith for justification in (Rom. 5:1).
5. We mention here that the necessity of baptism for
forgiveness is part of our Creed; for we say, .. We
acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins". This
was decreed by the Catholic Apostolic Chruch in the fourth
century A.D. in the great ecumenical council. Can we say
no.w that all the fathers of the in the whole world
misunderstood baptism?
This reply is addressed to those who believe in the sanctity
of the councils and their decisions. As for other brethren,
they have the verses of the Bible stated above and I add to
this the following:
6. What happened to St. Paul, happened also to Cornelius ..
He was of the gentiles, yet the Bible says about him that
he was .. a devout man and one who feared God" (Acts 10:2)
He deserved to see an angel of God and hear from him the
words, .. Your prayers and your alms have come up for a
memorial before God" (Acts 10:4).
Then, the angel asked him to send for
surname is Peter who came and preached him and hts
household; they believed and the Holy Spirit fell upon them
and they spoke with tongues (Acts 10:44).
However, St. Peter did not say to them, 'Be happy and
rejoice. Your faith bas saved you and moreover you received
the Spirit who feD upon you and gave you a gift!!' No, be
rather said, .. Can anyone forbid water, that these should not
be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we
have?" .. And he commanded them to be baptized in the name
of the Lord" (Acts 10:47,48).
Thus, we see that Cornelius did not gain salvation in a
moment nor away from the church and its sacraments, frorn
baptism and priesthood. he entered through the right path
ordained by the Lord.
7. St. Peter commanded that Cornelius and his household
would be baptized because the Lord Jesus Christ ordered His
apostles to do so when He sent them. He said, to them, .. Go
therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit" (Mt. 28:19).
And it is impossible that the Lord Jesus Christ orders
something of no importance or value. Far be it from Him .
Baptism is actually necessary for salvation according to the
Lord's command .
8. The Lord even said that whoever is not baptized cannot
enter the Kingdom of God. When He was talking witb
Nicodemus, He said to him,
"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water
and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God" (Jn.
3:5).
34
9. Baptism is necessary because through it we get the
remission of sins (Acts 2:38), and washing them away (Acts
22: 16), crucifying the old man and walking in newness of
life (Rom. 6:6,4). Through it we also put on Christ (Gal.
3:27), we become God's children being born of water and
the Spirit (Jn. 3:5) and we are buried with Him and raised
with Him (Col. 2:12, Rom. 6:2-4).
Since baptism bas aU sucb effectiveness, bow can a person
be saved at tbe moment of bis accepting faith without
baptism?
And since a person should be baptized, we cannot say tbat
be attained salvation in a moment because faith and baptism
cannot be accomplished in. a moment. They are botb necessary
for salvation according to tbe Lord's words, "He who believes
and is baptized will be saved" (Mk. 16:16).
Besides, a person who will be baptized must first repent
(Acts 2:38). Thus, repentace, faith and baptism cannot all
be accomplished in a moment.
But, if we are to agree that salvation is gained at the
moment of accepting Christ and regeneration is also gained
at the some moment of acceptance, why then does the Bible
mention all these spiritual effects?!
10. All those wbo believed, were baptized ' immediately ...
Take for example: those who believed on the day of Pentecost
(Acts 2); Cornelius (Acts 10:48); Lydia, the seller of purple
(Acts 16: 15); the Philippian jailer (Acts 16:33); Crispus, the
ruler of the synagogue (Acts 18:8) and the Ethiopian eunuch
(Acts 8:38).
35
If faith alone was sufficient for one's salvation, would we
ay tben tbat tbe baptism of aU those was just an excess! 1
But being necessary according to the Lord's command to
His apostles, we conclude that salvation can neither be
attained through faith alone nor in a moment ...
11. Here I briefly mention the relation between salvation
through baptism and salvation through crossing the Red Sea.
When the children of Israel were saved from the servitude
of Pharaoh, Moses the Prophet said to the people, "Stand
~ t i l l and see the salvation of the Lord" (Ex. 14:13).
This symbol is explained by St. Paul the Apostle when he
id, "Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware
that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through
the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the
ca." (1 Cor. 10:1,2).
11. As tbe crossing of tbe Red Sea was a symbol of
lvation through baptism, circumcision was also a symbol
of baptism; for it was a condition for becoming members
of God's people in tbe Old Testament (Gen. 17).
St. Paul speaks of th1s also to the Colossians. He says to
them about the Lord Jesus Christ, "In Him you were also
c lrcumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by
rmtting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the
Ire umicision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which
ou also were raised with Him" (Col. 2:11,12).
36
Is Salvation Attained Through the Word?
Those who object to baptizing by water, try to avoid the
word "water" with all means. So, they do not admit the
baptism of water and speak about another kind which they
give the name "Baptism of the Spirit" and others call it "the
baptism of fire'' ... But the Bible mentions only one baptism
as St. Paul the Apostle asserts in his Epistle to the Ephesians
saying, uone Lord, one faith, one baptism" (Eph. 4:5).
What is this one baptism mentioned in the Bible?
We say it is the baptism of water and the Spirit by which
a person is reborn according to the words of the Lord, " ..
unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter
the Kingdom of God" (Jn. 3:5).
Here, they object concerning the concept of water:
An objection:
They said that water is the word, and to be born of water
means to be born of the word! They establish this upon the
following:
1. The relation between Christ and His church is described
by the apostle in the words, "He might sanctify and cleanse
it with the washing of water by the word" (Eph. 5:26) .. They
say that "water" here means "the word"!
2. They support their view also by the words of St. Peter
the Apostle, "Having been born again, not of corruptible
seed but incorruptible, through the word of God" (1 Pet:
1:23)!
37
"Of
They use also the words of St. James the Apostle,
h'' (las.
II\ own will He brought us forth by he word oftrut
bY the 1 '8). By these words they assert that regeneration IS
\\111 d!
Ut'futation:
th the
1 he words "He might sanctify and cleanse 1t wl
11 lJhmg of water by the word" (Eph. 5:26), do
11 nil _ whether linguistically or theologically speakmg -
I
f ct 1 !Ill' washing of water is the word ... ! The apost em a
. . d'' but
11111 say, 'with the washing of water whtch IS the wor
"with the washing of water by the word".
. f . rf
111
ed as
J. This means that the washmg o water as pe or
1 result of the word.
f P
tecost
t. Peter, for example, preached on the Day o en d
f h
. . b th wor .
hut the Jews were not cleansed o t etr sms Y e
d f h
. t say to
()I herwise there would have been no nee or tm o . h
r hlm, "Repent, and let every o.( you
''tmze of Jesus Christ for the rem1sswn of sms (Acts
. f
so in spite of the word and Its effect on them, o f
' d ce o
''ere cut to the heart and believed and asked the a V'l .
d
c thetr lhe apostles (Acts 2:37) yet they were not cleanse o .
' . h h jr SlDS
Ins. They waited for the baptism of water to ave t e a of
1
mitted. In the light of what had on the 0
p ntecost, we inquire about the mearung of the b
might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of waler Y
tlte word" and find out that:
38
2. The "word" i.e. the preaching leads to faith, and f11tll
leads to baptism. Baptism in tum leads to the remission o
sins i.e. the cleansing of sins or washing them away.
The same happened to Saul of Tarsus. He received the wo1
from the Lord of Glory himself not from an apostle or nn
person, yet he was not cleansed at the moment he rccc1v I
the word. The Lord sent him to Ananias who said to him
"Brother Saul ... now why are you waiting? Arise and I
baptized, and wash away your sins'' (Acts 22:16). I fuel h
been cleansed of his sins by the word, what would have he r
his need to be washed in baptism? We say that the wo1 d I I
him to faith, then to baptism where he was cleansed ol hi
sins.
This explains to us the meaning of the words "He brou 11
us forth by the word of truth" (las. 1:28).
3. The words "He brought us forth by the word of trutll
do not mean that we are born by the word directly hut
indirectly through faith and baptism.
However, neither the word "faith" nor "baptism'
mentioned here but they are implied for there is no nc
mention them expressly every time ...
I do not think also that any Protestant takes the word
"born again ... through the word of God" or "by the u m I
of truth, to mean that we are born again just by the wo1ll
without faith!!
4. If the word "faith" is implied, then the word "bapf1Mnl
1
39
101 example the words of the Lord "He who believes
1 liJJfi?.Hl will be saved" (Mk. 16: 16); He said f t ~ r
lui It who does not believe will be condemned". This
11 d d not mention baptism because a non-believer
l b tptized, the church does not permit him.
on who does not believe does not ask to be baptized ..
wns no need for the Lord to say 'he who does not
md who is not baptized will be condemned'.
11, 1hc word comes first and faith and baptism come
1 1 1 snit and the person who is baptized is reborn
11 1 nnd ~ h e Spirit and becomes a child according to
r I ol the Lord in (Jn. 3:5).
1 p r on considers himself born by the word because
1, b ing the main start point, he would not have
I mything else nor been saved ... !
1 nmc now to the words of St. paul the Apostle:
u lw \ler 'calls upon the name of the Lord shall be
(limn. 10:13).
tlon attained here as soon as a person calls upon
1 the Lord without any regard to all the previous
tlu is literalism. In this way we seperate one verse
11 cumstances involving it and omitting all other
v 1 csll This does not conform with the spirit of
II tlll
40
We notice in this verse, (Rom. 10:13), that there is no
mention of the "word" or the "faith" ..
So, we have to read the other verses said by the apostle
to understand the occasion on which it was said. He said,
"For whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not
believed! And how shall they believe in Him of whom they
have not heard? And how shall they preach unless they are
sent" (Rom. 10:13-15).
7. So, the apostle tells us about implied steps not mentioned
explicity in the verse. The meaning of the verse is that
salvation is for all people, for whoever calls upon the name
of the Lord. This is preceded by the faith and the faith is
preceded by hearing the word which means that there must
be preachers and those preachers are to be sent by the church
so that their preaching might be lawful.
In the same way we can understand the other implied steps.
Repentance, for example, is not mentioned but we can guess
its necessity because without it a person cannot be saved bu.
perishes (Lk. 13:3). Baptism also is not mentioned but can
be understood implicitly according to the words of the Lord
in (Mk. 16:16).
8. Now we say: Suppose the washing of regeneration is
perfected by the word alone, why did the Lord Jesus Christ
say to His disciples, "Go therefore and make disciples of
all the nations, baptizing them" (Mt. 28:19).
Since the word is sufficient, then discipleship will be
41
ufficient and it serves the word more than just leads to faith ..
Why then is baptism necessary as long as they have been
h d d leansed of their sins by the word alone 1 cborn, was e an c
without baptism!!
9. And why did the Ethiopian Eunuch to be
after he had beard the word? St. Philip told about
hed h. He was convinced and believed With all
.md preac tm. .
his heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God 8.36,37),
f hi
Why was 1t necessary
yet baptism was very necessary or m ..
as long as he was cleansed and sanctified and reborn by the
word, as they say?!
10. The problem of those who fight the .baptism of. water
and the Spirit is that they think that it is JUSt a baptism of
water ... as if water is without the Spirit. So, they do not
esteem water!
L d
"born oif water and the Spirit, (Jn.
But the or says,
3:5). The Spirit acts in water sanctifying it so that whoever
. . d . . d orne out will be born of water and the
1s dippe m 1t an c
Spirit. This is expressed by the apostle in (Tit 3:5) he
u d through the washing of regeneratiOn and
say "ne save us .
. . h u
1
Spl'rit, The apostle does not mention
renewmg 0.1 t e nO Y
" h d,, Water here is not the word but real water. here t e wor .
Real Water:
1 N d bt the Ethiopian Eunuch was baptized with real
0 ou d h h .
water' for the Bible says, "So he commande t e c
to stand still and both Philip and the eunuch went down mto
the water, and he baptized him. Now when they came up
42
out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away. "
(Acts 8:38,39).
It is said immediately after this, that the eunuch "went
on his way rejoicing". This rejoicing was not mentioned
before because though he accepted the word and believed,
something was still lacking i.e. baptism.
Of course, water mentioned in the story of the Ethiopian
eunuch was not the word because the word had its role before
that, when St. Philip "opened his mouth, and beginning at
this scripture, preached Jesus to him'' (Acts 8:35).
2. In the story of Cornelius, water was real also: It was
not the word. The word preceded when St. Peter opened his
mouth and preached Cornelius and his household; so they
believed, the Holy Spirit fell upon them and they spoke with
tongues (Acts 10:44). Only then St. Peter said, "Can anyone
forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have
received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" (Acts 10:47); "And
he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord".
We ask here, 'What is the importance of baptism for those
who have beUeved, received the Holy Spirit and spoke with
tongues?
3. The Lord Jesus Christ also asserts this fact, "Unless
one is born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter the
Kingdom of God" (Jn. 3:5). He meant real water not the
word only. By such water the Lord meant regeneration, of
the Spirit (Jn. 3:3,6).
4. You will find, dear reader, a long chapter on water and
its symbols and blessing in my book on "The Good
43
rhursday" in which I begin with the first mention of water
m the Holy Bible; "The Spirit of God was hovering over
the face of the waters" (Gen. 1:2) .
Children and Baptism:
Since baptism is necessary for salvation, as I have explained
m the beginning of this chapter. .. , and since baptism has so
serious effectiveness that no one can dispense with, so we
cannot prevent children from being saved. Accordingly, we
cannot deprive them of the blessings and benefits of baptism ..
An Objection:
They argue that faith is a condition for baptism; and since
children are not yet wise enough to accept faith, they cannot
be baptized.
Those who hold to this view utterly refuse the baptism of
children.
But there is another view that agrees to baptize children
on condition that they declare their faith when they grow
up or when the effectiveness of baptism becomes apparent
within them ..
Refutation:
1. We should baptize children for their salvation. If we
do leave them without baptism and without faith, they will
surely perish ... Who then agrees to shoulder the responsibility
of throwing all the children of the world into perdition!..
44
2. The Lord Jesus Christ showed special concern for tht
children. He said, "Unless you are converted and become
as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom
of heaven" (Mt. 18:3). He took the children unto Him and
them saying, "Let the little children come to Me, and
do not forbid them; for of such is the kindgom of God.
Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the
Kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it''
(Mk. 10:14-16).
Thus, we can say that they receive the Kingdom in a
I
particular way which we cannot approve of. To put it clearly
we say:
3. A child has no doubts concerning faith and he does nor
resist it. God also does not require him to have rhe
understanding fit for the grown-ups.
4. A child needs to grow up in faith inside the church
developing this faith within him. So we give him 1 he
opportunity by baptizing him and allowing him to receive
all the means of grace that would help him along his sp1ritu.ll
life; otherwise we are doing him wrong. Also, we must not
rationalize matters of faith.
5. A child does not need to declare his faith when he grows
up or when he becomes twelve years old as some do sll) r
In fact he continually declares his faith in every stage of hl!'l
childhood according to his ability.
Like the children are those simple people who have nothi u
to do with rationalism but may have that Spirit who "seardli'\
all things, yes, the deep things of God" (1 Cor. 2:10
1
45
(. As for the acknowledged rules of faith, we say that we
a child according to the faith of his parents.
Depending on the faith of the parents is familiar in the
lloly Bible regarding many things such as circumcision, the
tving of the firstborn by the blood of the lamb, the saving
of the children by the crossing of the sea ... ect.
is mentioned about this in detail in my book on
11
B,aptism".
7. ltegarding their belief that the effectiveness of baptism
'l'lwnrs in them in a certain age I say,
What is this effectiveness? What does it need in order to
lllP m in a certain age?'
B tptism, being death with Christ and rising up with Him,
not need a certain age to have its effectiveness. Neither
ncration nor washing away of the original sin of the
1 (lll or of the sins committed previous to baptism needs
tuin age to be achieved in a person. A person becomes
hlld of God, has his sins forgiven and obtains justification
ll 11 neration at the time of his receiving baptism. At that
1111 time the old man dies and a new free man is born ...
11111ln on Christ (Gal. 3:27).
" thing else in which the effectiveness of baptism may
1'1" r hall be available in both grown ups and young.
Another view says that children may be saved without
I tpl '" " but this view contradicts with the teaching of the
II 1 Jlihll on redemption, atonement and the importance
lul111 for salvation.. This view has no
s I hat the church used to baptize children since
I 1m I 1hc car as we see that whole families were baptized
Itt. 111 their members whether young or grown ups. Take
fnr example the Philippian jailer, .. he and all his family were
baptized" (Acts 16:33) and Lydia the seller of purple, .. she
and her household were baptized" (Acts 16:15) ... It is
unreasonable to say that all those and others included no
children at all!
10. The Holy Bible does not contain even one verse that
prevents children from being baptized.
Repentance and its Necessity for Salvation:
1. No theologian in the whole world can say that a person
may be saved without repentance
Not to repent means to remain attached to sin and seperated
from God because, .. What communion has light with
darkness?" (2 Cor. 6:14).
Salvation, in its true meaning, is to be saved from sin and
its punishment. The Lord Christ was called Jesus i.e. the
Savior because .. He will save His people from their sins"
(Mt. 1:21). So, as long as there is sin, there will be no salvation
because a person cannot attain salvation as long as he leads
a sinful life.
2. The necessity of repentance for salvation appears in the
words of the Lord Christ.
47
"Unless you repent you will aU likewise perish" (Lk.
13:3,5).
Repentance is also connected with the forgiveness of sins
(Acts 5:31).
The crucifixion of the Lord Christ was for the forgiveness
of sins because His blood was the salvation offered by Him
to the world ".. in whom we have redemption through His
blood, the forgiveness of sins" (Col. 1:14) and, "In Him
we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of
sins" (Eph. 1:7).
No sin may be forgiven as long as a person stiU commits it.
If a person repents, his sin will be forgiven ... Also, the
Kingdom of Heavens will be open only for the repentants
while all sinners will be cast in the lake which burns with
fire and brimstone (Rev. 21 :8).
St. Paul the Apostle says in this regard, "For if we sin
willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth,
there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain
fearful expectation of judgment and fiery indignation which
will devour the adversaries" (Heb. 10:26,27).
-3. Our fathers the apostles connected the forgiveness of
sins with repentance as well as with baptism. Thus, for the
forgiveness of sins, St. Peter addressed the Jews on the Day
of Pentecost saying, "Repent, and let every one of you be
baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of
sins" (Acts 2:38).
48
4.. the connection of repentance with the
reiDISSton of sms, it is stated in the Bible, "Repent therefore
and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out" (Acts
3:19).
. then a person who does not repent be saved and have
hts sms blotted out! certainly not. The words of the Bible
are clear. But should you say, 'My sins will be blotted out
by the of Christ' I tell you that no one objects to this,
but wtll not be worthy of the blood of Christ 'f
cont
1
you
. mue cOirumttmg sms without repentance. The blood of
Chnst does not encourage you to remain in sin. Repent then
and be converted that your sins may be blotted out by the
blood of Christ.
5. We are not merely required to repent but the Bible
also "Th "' b fi says
, ereJore ear ruits worthy of repentance'' (Mt. 3:8).
It is stated also, "they should... do works befitting
(Acts 26:20) .. The apostle even rebukes us for
says, "You have not yet resisted to bloodshed,
stnvmg agamst sin" (Heb. 12:4). To have repentance "we
do not wrestle against flesh and blood . but , .
f , agamst
prmclpa Illes... against spiritual hosts of wickedness . th
place-;': (Eph. 6). St. James advises us also
Resist the dew/ and he will flee from you" (Jas. 4:7).
. 6. The connection of repentance with salvation is apparent
m the words of the apostle to the Corintheans when they
felt sorry due to his rebuke. He said, "For godly sorrow
produces repentance to salvation" (2Cor. 7:10).
\
49
7. We can say also that man sins everyday and the wages
of sin is death (Rom. 6:23), so he needs to be saved from
this death.
He needs to repent so that he may be saved from this death .
The Lord Jesus Christ asserts, "Unless you repent you will
all likewise perish, (Lk. 13:3).
8. Perhaps some would say, 'Repentance is not the price
of salvation. The price is the blood of Christ' ... I answer,
'It is true that the blood of Christ is the price of salvation ...
but it blots away only the sins of those who repent
Repentance then is not the price, but the means without which
we do not deserve the sacred blood'.
9. And since man sins everyday and needs to repent
everyday, so repentance accompanies him all his life to save
him from his sins. Thus, it is evident that salvation cannot
be attained in a moment.
It is a spiritual war that continues all the life long
a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again'' (Prov.
24: 16) and St. Paul The Apostle says, "But I discipline my
body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached
to other I myself should become disqualifred" (1 Cor. 9:27).
It is St. Paul the great apostle who says this, are you so
better than him that you can say you are already saved and
attained the Kindgom ... Would not it be more suitable for
you to say that this comes through a struggle for the whole
life instead of saying I am saved in a moment!!
50
10. Hence, repentance is necessary for salvation but
according to our Orthodox concept differs 'from
at an the Protestant concept.
Repentance According to the Orthodox Concept:
The of repentance is generally recognized. No
one argues It.
However' to the Orthodox differs from it to
the with regard to its nature, its effectiveness
and It out as well as regarding its necessity for
salvation and other matters related to it ...
Here, we are going to treat these differences one by one:
Repentance being a Church Sacrament:
According to the Orthodox concept, repentance is one of
the seven sacraments of the church. According to the
protestants. who do not believe in any church sacraments,
repentance IS not a sacred sacrament, but mere feelings within
the. heart. The person feels sorry for committing sin and
decides to change his conduct.
Thus, we can say that there is a difference between
"repentance" and "the sacrament of repentance".
:his difference has its significance and theological results
which we record here:
Repentance and confession:
One the basics of repentance according to the Orthodox
concept Is confession of sins to the father priest as it is stated
51
in the Bible, "He who covers his sins will not prosper, but
whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy" (Prov.
28:13). People practised confession of sins in the Old
Testament as we see in (Lev. 5:5), and this continued till .. he
period between the two Testaments. People used to go out
to John Baptist " .. and were baptized by him in the Jordan,
confessing their sins" (Mt. 3:6).
In the New Testament as well, people practised confession,
"And many who had believed came confessing and telling
their deeds" (Act 19:18).
As for protestants, they do not include confession in
repentance but rather attack it. In this regard, they are two
parties:
1. One party attacks confession and priesthood too publicly.
Those are weak because being apparent they are avoided
by those who have firm belief. Their views are also known
and are easy to refute.
1. The other party does not attack confession, priesthood
nor holy communion but they neglect them in their speeches
and give alternatives so that people may forget them.
I shall give you here some examples from the magazine
entitled "AI-Yanbou" i.e. the Spring or Source:
[Do you like to be justified-now? what kinders you?
Nothing ... It is the opportunity of your life to come as you
are .. to accept the Lord Jesus and be justified in a moment]!!!
(1 :p.l3),]
52
[Just look at the Lamb of God, put your transgressions
and sins upon Him and go away free. Cast all your burdens
on Him and enjoy forgiveness]!!! {l.p.l7),
[This is the price of justification: the Righteous One has
died and paid off all the debt of sin for ever. If you do accept
Him, you will be acquitted and come out of His presence
free of every debt.] (l.P .12)
[If you are able to see Him stabbed by the Roman soldier,
you will be justified in a moment] (l.p.IO),
In all these examples, we notice that a person obtains
justification and remission of all his sins without confession
or absolution .. as soon as he accepts Christ or even calls
Him!! and moreover without any church sacraments.
An example of this can be found in one of the Coptic
magazines that adopted this spirit and spread it under the
words "Spiritual experiences" . . . There is no mention at all
of the sacraments as if they were of no importance. Other
althernatives of words that have a spiritual impression are
introduced concealing behind them a theological danger ...
It is a vague style which we should reveal to the people
to be on guard.
It is the style of the non-Orthodox pamphlets.
Repentance and the Chmch:
While Protestantism introduces repentance as mere
individual act within the heart, Orthodoxy adds to it the role
of the Chruch, the sacraments and the holy orders
- ----
(puesthood) ... These three are never mentioned in the
JH oductions of those who attack Orthodoxy and this reveals
their works.
Orthodoxy introduces with repentance, the from
the mouth of the priest according to the authonty gtven t.he
priests by the Lord, "Receive the Holy If
the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retazn the szns
of any, they are retained" (Jn. 20:22,23).
Besides, there is the spiritual guidance given by the father
confessor and the permission to partake of the Holy
Communion.
Repentance and Salvation:
As we mentioned before, Orthodoxy considers repentance
necessary for salvation.
On the other hand, Protestants focus on the
of the Blood for salvation and ignore repentance or giVe 1t
the name "Sanctification" without concentrating on its role
regarding salvation . ..
Some replace the word "repentance" by the word
" salvation". If someone had been addicted to drinking or
gambling and he repented after hearing a sermon, they say
that he attained salvation at that moment!
But is it not possible that such a returns to his habits
or even if he did not, would not he continue committing other
. I
sms ....
---- .
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Repentance and Grace:
In repentance, protestants concentrate on the act of grace
and believe that any struggling is of no value! It is sufficient
for a person to throw himself down at the feet of Christ and
He will save him from all his sins with no action whatever
on his part!.
But, according to Orthodoxy a spiritual Ufe is a communion
with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit helps, grace acts and a person
struggles.
A person who does not resist finds the words of the apostle
rebuking him, .,You have not resisted to bloodshed, striving
against sin" (Heb. 12:4).
The spiritual life is described in the Holy Bible as a war
against spiritual hosts of wickedness, which needs the whole
armor of God (Eph. 6). To obtain the reward, a person must
conquer as the Lord Jesus Christ asserted in His messages
to the angels (pastors) of the seven Churches. He repeated
the words .,He who overcomes ... .. seven times as a condition
for attaining the eternal rewards (Rev. 2,3).
Grace does not do everything alone, otherwise God would
not have said about repentance, .,Return to Me, and I will
return to you" (Mal. 3:7).
See on this point my book "Salvation in the Orthodox
Concept" which includes a whole chapter on this topic ...
In conclusion I say that Protestantism focuses ont he divine
role only in repentance and salvation ignoring completely the
human role.
55
Repentance and Experiences:
They consider repentance an experience, and they encourage
repentants to tell their experiences publicly in the meetings.
It is usual to hear from them long speeches in which they
say, "I was (so and so) ... and I have become (so and so .. ).
Such a person goes on telling about nasty sins, not even feeling
ashamed!.. and then moves to tell what grace he had obtained,
as if to cover such sins!!
Orthodoxy, however, does not permit any person to tell
his experiences because this often conceals boasting of the
change that the repentant attained. Besides, some people may
be hurt when hearing such sins from the "unashamed"
repentant...
Repentance is a Combination of Joy and Humiliation:
Orthodoxy teaches a repentant to be contrite-hearted, to
remember the sins that he offended God with and drench
his bed with tears as David the Prophet did.
Protestantism, on the other hand, encourages people to
rejoice not to humiliate themselves ... They make of a person
who recently repented a minister, which thing makes him
unaware of his sins and gives him no chance to feel remorse!
They take as a pretext for this the words of the psalm 51:12
.,Restore to me the joy of Your salvation".
But we remind them of the letter of St. Paul which made
the Corinthians sorry and that sorrow led them to repentance
(2 Cor. 7:8,9).
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We cannot forget also that the people of Israel though happy
of being saved from the destroyer were to eat the Passover
Lamb with bitter herbs as the Lord commanded (Ex. 12:8).
The bitter herbs reminded them of their sins which led them
to the bondage of Pharaoh.
The Passover reminded the Israelites of salvation and its
joy, but it was to be eaten with bitter herbs.
What do Protestants say of these "bitter herbs'' of
repentance? What do they say of the heart remorse and tears
of repentance.
Repentance and Regeneration:
What the Orthodox call "Repentance" is called by
Protestants "Regeneration, Rebirth, or Salvation" .. ! They
ask a repentant, 'Have you been regenerated or born anew?
Have you been saved?' What they mean is mere "repentance"
which that person might have experienced .. !
According to the Orthodox concept all these terms
"regeneration, rebirth, salvation" take place through the
sacramant of baptism .. As for repentance, it is a change of
one's conduct.
However, we discriminate between the renewing of nature
that takes place in baptism and the renewing of mind (Rom.
12:2) that takes place through repentance.
Repentance, Conduct and Works:
protestants look to the christian life as a life of grace and
faith not a life of conduct and works. But Orthodox put on
57
the side of faith and grace, conduct and works see!ng that
the latter are the outcome of the former and demonstrate
them.
The Holy Bible teaches us, "Therefore bear fruits worthy
of repentance, (Mt. 3:8), ".. and do works befitting
tepentance" (Acts 26:20), "/will show you my faith by my
1orks, (Jas. 2:18), "He who says he abides in Him ought
h mself also to walk just as He walked" (1 Jn. 2:6), and,
"/Jut if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have
fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ
Ill\' Son cleanses us from all sin, (1 Jn. 1:7).
We see then that the importance of conduct and works
n biblical teaching ...
leansing is attained through the Blood, but with
1 pcntance and walking in light as preconditions as we are
lwnht by St. John the Apostle (1 Jn. 1 :7).
58
THE ROLE OF CHURCH IN SALVATION
The great salvation given by the Lord Jesus Christ on the
cross is conveyed by the church to the people by the act of
the Holy Spirit working in it. This is the command of the
Lord Jesus Christ Himself that the church performs this
through three means: the ministry of the word, the ministry
of the sacraments and the ministry of reconciliation and
pastorship.
The Ministry of the Word:
Our Protestant brethren are of the opinion that salvation
depends on faith .. But how can faith be received by people
except through the church?.
We have the words of the apostle, "How shall they believe
in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they
hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless
they are sent?" (Rom. 10:14). It is the church that sends the
preachers after laying of hands on them .. It is also the church
that spreads faith without which no one may be saved ...
Hence, we conclude that the church has a fundamental role
in salvation as it spreads faith and provides preaching and
the ministry of the word ...
59
The church has received this ministry from the mouth of
t hrist Himself, for He said to our fathers the apostles, "Go
llrPrefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them
m the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
,\pirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have
t ommanded you" (Mt. 28:19) ... and, "Go into all the world
and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mk. 16:15).
Through this preaching, the church conveyed faith to the
people, and, but for the church no one would have attained
salvation. So, the apostles gave themselves to this ministry
as they said when they were ordaining the seven deacons,
"But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the
ministry of the word" (Acts 6:4).
It is noteworthy that the ministry of the word which leads
to salvation bas been entrusted by the Lord to the church
alone not even to angels.
We notice in the story of the conversion of Cornelius that
God sent him an angel. The angel woulq have been able to
preach the gospel to Cornelius but he had not done that.
He referred him to the church as it was entrusted with this
ministry. The angel said to him, "Send men to Joppa, and
send for Simon whose surname is Peter ... " What was Peter
to do? The angel explained,
"He wiU tell you what you must do" (Acts 10:5,6). It thus
became the message of the church to teach people and reveal
to them the rules of faith and the way to salvation. Hence,
Saint Paul the Apostle said to his disciple St. Timothy the
Bishop.
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"Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in
them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those
who hear you" (1 Tim. 4:16).
So, teaching is one of the means of salvation and is
entrusted to the church according to the words of the Lord,
" .. . teaching them to observe all things that I have
commanded you" (Mt. 28:19).
St. Paul likewise said, I(For if I preach the gospel, I have
nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe
is me if I do not preach the gospel! ... I have been entrusted
with a stewardship" (1 Cor. 9:16,17).
Then, salvation was the aim of preaching as the same
apostle said,
" .. that I might by aU means save some ... " (1 Cor. 9:22).
Through preaching and the ministry of the word, Philip
was able to lead the Ethiopian eunuch to faith and salvation
(Acts 8) .. Likewise the ministry of the word caused the
salvation of three thousand souls (Acts 2:41).
The ministry of the word is only performed by those who
are sent by the church. So, when Barnabas and Saul were
called by the Holy Spirit, they were referred to the church.
The Holy spirit said, "Now seperate to Me Barnabas and
Saul for the work to which I have called them" (Acts 13:2).
Though the call was from the Holy spirit, it had to pass
through the lawful channels in the church entrusted with the
ministry by God. So, "Having fasted and prayed, and laid
61
hands on them, they sent them away" (Acts 13:3). Thus they
began their ministry.
However, the ministry of the word is not the only work
of the church pertaining to salvation, for there is also the
ministry of the sacraments.
The Ministry of the Sacraments:
The church makes salvation attainable also through the
ministry of the holy sacraments.
1. The sacrament of Baptism is in the foremost. The Lord
said about this sacrament, "He who believes and is baptized
will be saved" (Mk. 16:16), and commanded the apostles to
perform it saying, "Go therefore and make disciples of all
the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and
of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Mt. 28:19).
Therefore, when the Jews believed on the day of the
Pentecost, they were baptized by the apostles for the remission
of sins (Acts 2:41,38).
Undoubtedly then, baptism is necessary for salvation since
it brings about the remission of sins.
Therefore also the apostles baptized the Ethiopian eunuch
(Acts 8), Cornelius and all his household (Acts 10), the people
of Samaria (Acts 8), the Philippian jailer and his household
(Acts 16), and Lydia the seller of purple and her household
(Acts 16).
The church still offers salvation to the people in baptism
through which they are buried with Christ into death and
62
rise with Him, their old man is crucified with Him (Rom. 6)
and they put on Christ (Gal. 3:27).
In baptism also, the church offers people the remission
of the original sin and the sins committed before baptism
through the deserts of the blood of Christ. They become also
Gods' children (Jn. 3:5, Tit 3:5). You can read more about
this in the beginning of this chapter in the part treating the
effectiveness of baptism and its necessity for salvation.
2. But people usually sin after being baptized and need
to be delivered of the punishment of these sins. Here, the
church offers them the sacraments of Repentance and
Eucharist for the remission of their sins.
This is done by means of the authority given to the church
by the Lord Jesus Christ when He said, "If you forgive the
sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins
of any, they are retained" (ln. 20:23) and "Whatever you
bind on earth wil be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose
on earth will be loosed in heaven" (Mt. 18:18).
What a joy it is for a believer to receive an absolution of
his sins by an authority given by the Lord Jesus Quist Himself
and thereupon have forgiveness!
A believer obtains forgiveness also in the sacrament of
Eucharist as we say in the Holy Mass, [Given for us salvation,
remission of sins, and an eternal life for whoever partakes
of them], for when the Lord Jesus Christ instituted this
sacrament He said to His disciples that His body and His
blood were 'jor the remission of sins" (Mt. 26:28).
63
Likewise , He addressed the Jews saying, "Whoever eats
My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life" (Jn. 6:54)
and, "abides in Me, and I in him" (Jm. 6:65).
3. The church also helps people to attain salvation by giving
them the Holy Spirit to dwell within them through the
sacrament of the Holy Unction (1 Jn. 2:20,27).
This great sacrament was given by the church in the
beginning through the laying on of hands (Acts 8:17; 19:6).
And since man cannot lead a spiritual life or be rebuked
for a sin without the act of the Holy Spirit, then we conclude
that giving such a sacrament by the church has a deep effect
for salvation.
4. But all these holy sacraments leading to salvation are
Kiven by the church by means of another sacrament which
Is the sacrament of holy Orders (Priesthood).
Thus we can recognize the importance of the church and
Priesthood for salvation.
It is true that salvation has been perfected on the cross
by the redeeming blood of Christ; but this salvation is offered
to people by the church through the priesthood and the holy
1craments ...
Besides, there is the ministry of reconciliation and
1mstorship.
lnstorship and the Ministry of Reconciliation:
1 very believer is apt to go astray but no one can seek him,
I c care of him and restore him except the church, that leads
64
believers throughout the life of repentance and along the path
of salvation as the Bible states,
"He who turns a sinner from the error of his way will
save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins" (Jas.
5:20).
Thus the church saves the souls from death, the death of
sin when it guides, seeks and converts them. The church also
tries to reconcile them with God as St. Paul the Apostle says,
"God... has given us the ministry of reconciliation ..
Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were
pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be
reconciled to God" (2 Cor. 5:18,20).
may be included under the sacrament of
Repentance.
Had not this message been important for the salvation of
the people, the Bible would not have mentioned that God
had given some to be pastors ... for the works of ministry
for the edifying of the body of Christ (Eph. 4:11, 12), nor
would Christ have said to Peter, "Feed My lambs.. Tend
My sheep" (Jn. 21,15,16).
Pastorship is carried out by the Priesthood in the church.
Therefore, St. Paul the Apostle addressing the bishops of
Ephesus said, take heed to yourselves and to the
flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers,
to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His
own blood" (Acts 20:28).
65
11 11 aossible that salvation be obtained without any
_.., .. ,,.. uf pastorship? Not at all Here, the Bible tells us
ltuut rht beep that had no sbephered that the Lord, .uwhen
11 ,H, the multitudes, He was moved with for
111
, lll'cause they were weary and scattered, like sheep
1
IIIJ 11o shepherd" {Mt. 9:36).
1 husc were easy to be a prey to the enemy and lose
1l 1taon ...
llttu.'l' we say that no salvation may be attained except
lhruugh the church.
---
---
----
-
-
nn
I
CHAPTER 3
WORKS
AND THEIR POSITION
IN THE SUBJECT
OF SALVATION
Objection and refutation
The works of the Law.
Works without faith.
Works ultimately human.
The act of the Holy Spirit Ia the
sacraments.
Works done in communion with the
Holy spirit.
Works done by God alone.
J
68
An Objection:
Those who are of the opinion that salvation may be attained
in a moment say that faith is the only means of salvation
and can be obtained in a moment!! Therefore they deny that
works have any effectiveness and object to including them
in salvation because salvation is perfected through the blood
of Christ alone ..
They support their view by many verses such as:
~ ~ u t when the kindness and the love of God our Savior
toward man appeared, not by works of reghteousness which
we have done, but according to His mercy, He saved us
through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy
Spirit" (Tit. 3:4,5).
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that
not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest
anyone should boast . .. (Eph. 2:8,9)
Refutation:
1. We'd like to ask those who concentrate on faith and deny
works: 'What works do you mean?'. In fact there arc
six kinds of works:
a. The works of the Law which are mere rituals.
b. Works preceding faith i.e. good works done by the
gentiles.
69
c. Works which are merely human and God does not
support them.
d. The act of the Holy Spirit in the sacraments.
e. Good works in communion with the Holy Spirit.
f. Works of God alone and the means to have their
deserts.
We have then to examine each of these six kinds of works
to find out which of them are refused according to the Bible
and which are so necessary that without them we might have
no salvation because "Faith without works is dead" (Jas.
2:26) .
2. I ask, at this point, 'why did the apostle concentrate
on faith?'
He concentrated on faith while he was talking with
non-believers whether Jews or gentiles and when speaking
about them. It is because he wanted to show the importance
of redemption through the blood of Christ.
It is true that without faith no one would have been saved
whatever good works they had done. Faith was the critical
point bt:cause it meant that they had to be converted. If they
cpted faith, they would accept other steps as baptism,
I 1 ntance and holy communion. He who accepts Christ,
J)ts all His teachings.
I hus the apostle, when speaking to the Jews and gentiles,
n ntrated on faith not on works.
With the Jews, he attacked the works of the Law without
f Ill h,
70
With the gentiles, he attacked the good works they did
without faith.
But when good works are correlated to faith, they become
necessary and acceptable, being the fruit of faith ...
Let us now explain these two rejected kinds of works:
The Works of the Law:
3. The works of the Law were of such an importance ir
the Old Testament that they believed those works would brio-..
them justification. Among those works are the ritual practices
imposed by the Law such as: Circumcision; keeping the
Sabbaths, the seasons, the festivals and the new moons; the
afferinp; things that defile such as food, drink, toucbing etc.
and purification. Tbe aposde asserted that a person must not
depend on such rituals because they do not justify a person.
He declared that the works of the Law have been abolished
because they were just symbols of the gifts of the New
or just "shadow of things to come" as he said,
"Therefore let no one judge you in food or in drink, or
regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths" (Col. 2:16).
Circumicision for example was one of the works of the
Law. If was a mark of the people of God and was a symbol
of baptism. In circumcision part of the man dles as a symbol
of the whole; in the same way a believer dies in baptism and
is buried with Christ to rise with Him. Therefore circumcision
of the Old Testament was just a work of the Law that has
71
no relation with salvation because it is a shadow of the things
to come. Baptism replaced it.
Even in the Old Testament, tbe Lord declared that the
works of the Law if done without a spirit, would become
of no value
In this case they turn to mere practices which the heart
does not take part it. A person may even perform them and
at the same time commits sin!
The Lord said, "Bring no more futile sacrifices; incense
is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths,
and the calling of assemblies - I cannot endure iniquity and
the sacred meeting. Your New Moons and your appointed
feasts My soul hates, they are a trouble to Me, I am weary
of bearing them ... Your hands are full of blood." (Is.
1:13-15).
S. These works of the Law are attacked by the apostle also:
"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the
Law but by faith in Jesus Christ. " (Gal. 2:16); "But that
no one is justified by the Law in the sight of God is evident,
f or just shall live by faith'." (Gal. 3:11); uTherefore
by the deeds of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight. "
(Rom. 3:20).
It Is evidently clear from these verses that the apostle meant
th works of the Law which are not the kind of works required
In Christian life. Perhaps such works were meant by those
who were of the opinion that the way to Christianity must
ao by Judaism
72
The apostle, by these works, was addressing the Jews and
whoever of them wanted to be converted in the apostolic
epoch. Those wanted to bring their Jewish customs, rituals
and practices into Christianity, so the apostles had to explain
to them that faith is the way to salvation not the works of
the Law.
But what about the gentiles? See what the apostle says:
Works without faith:
In other words; good works done before accepting faith
such as the works of the godly persons of the gentiles as
Cornelius and others.
They are good works but a non-believer cannot be justified
by them. Justification is effected only by the blood-of Christ,
who took upon Himself our sins and died for us, "In whom
we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of
sins'' (Col. 1:14), and, "Being justified freely by His grace
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God
set forth to be a propitiation by His blood, through faith,
to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance
God had passed over the sins that were previously
committed.,, (Rom. 3:24,25).
Therefore, any good works without the blood of Christ
do not save a person.
"Without shedding of blood there is no remission,, (He b.
9:22).
Salvation, in our belief, may only be attained through the
73
great redemption offered on the cross. Thus, works without
believing in the blood of Christ and the atonement would
bring no justification to anyone. These are the works meant
by the apostle when he said, "not by works of righteousness
which we have done'' (Tit. 3:5).
It is not this kind of works which we mean when speaking
about works, for we aU believe in redemption, atonement
and the importance of the blood of Christ.
Besides the two rejected kinds of works mentioned before,
there is a third kind i.e.
Works Ultimately Human:
They are the works done by people without seeking God's
support the communion of the Holy Spirit . .. They are done
wholly with the human power and thus have no role in
salvation.
We cannot describe such works as spiritual or good works
in the accurate meaning of the words.
Human works, separate from God, never save man.
Any work done by man alone without the hand of God
surely leads to vain glory. Thus it will have no reward and
has no relation to salvation. We say of such works in the
hourly prayers, "by my works I have no salvation i.e. by
my works alone, without You Lord and without Your blood ...
Now, having explained the three rejected kinds of works
that have no relation to salvation, let us treat the other three:
74
The act of the Holy Spirit in the Sacraments:
The seven church sacraments are not just human works
performed by the father priest, but they are secret works done
by the Holy Spirit Himself through the priest. The priest in
this case is just a minister of the sacrament.
It is the Holy Spirit who gives the new birth to the
believers in baptism, so they become, of water and
the Spirit, (Jn. 3:5); and, "born of the Spirit" (Jn. 3:6).
What can we say then of baptism? Is it a human or a divine
work?
It is the Holy Spirit also who sanctifies and confirms
a believer in the sacrament of tbe Holy Unction (Holy Myron).
So, St. John the Beloved said, you have an anointing
from the Holy One, (1 Jn. 2:20).
Is this anointing a human action though it is from the Holy
One?!
Is it a human action that the Holy Spirit comes upon
believers (Acts 19:6)?!
* In the sacrament of repentance, it is the Holy Spirit who
forgives sins. Therefore the Lord breathed on His holy
disciples and said, the Holy Spirit. If you forgive
the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins
of any, they are retained, (Jn. 20:22,23). It means that
baptism is perfected by the Holy Spirit received by them ..
Can we consider it a human action still?!
* In the sacrament of Eucharist, it is the Holy Spirit that
75
transforms the bread and wine into the body and blood of
the Lord as He himself says, eat; this is My body,
... for this iS My blood, (]Cor. 11:24, Mt. 26:26-28).
This blessed sacrament has been laid down by the Lord
Himself.
In the sacrament of matriomony, the two become one
by the action of the Holy Spirit. That is why the Lord said,
God has joined together, let not man separate, (..Mk.
10:9)
Likewise, the Holy Spirit works in the other sacraments
giving the, blessings and gifts through them.
Hence we say that whoever rejects the church sacraments
and denies their effectiveness for salvation, ln fact denies the
action of tbe Holy Spirit IDmseH by whom the sacraments
are performed.
They forget the explicit words of the Lord, who
believes and is baptized will be saved, (Mk. 16:16). Do those
who attack works consider baptism a human action? Cannot
they see that it is truly an act of the Holy Spirit who gives
birth to a new man from water? If so, then it is an act of God.
Accordingly, he who denies the effectiveness of baptism,
denies God's act.
Besides, how can we reject God's act though He "Of His
own will He brought us forth" "through the washing of
regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit , 1:18,
Tit. 3:5). And by this washing He washed away our sms and
'iaved us (Acts 22: 16).
76
Why do tbeY abject to the forgiveness of sins through the
priest? Is thJs forgiveness a human act or an act of the Holy
Spirit?
If it is an act of the Holy Spirit, why do they reject it?
It is thus a divine work and the priest is just a minister of
the sacrament. It is the Holy Spirit who forgives sins and
declares it on the mouth of the priest as I have explained
in detail in IIlY book on "Priesthood".
We ought only to stand before these works done by the
Lord in the holy sacraments for our salvation and say, ''Stand
stUl, and ses the salvation of the Lord." (Ex. 14:13).
Can we deny all the church sacrametns and the action of
the Holy Spirit in them just to hold to the heresy of salvation
in a moment? or to insist that salvation is attained through
faith alone which they think is accepted in a moment? Would
we for such views deny all the verses of the Holy Bible that
prove the opposite .. . 1!
I say that they fight the church sacraments because they
do not understand them. They think these sacraments are
human actions and so they attack and reject them while they
are the action of the Holy Spirit.
Let us move now to another kind of works to see whether
those who reject it are right or wrong:
See my book "Priesthood. P. l67-191".
77
Works Done in Communion with the Holy Spirit:
We pray the Holy Spirit to share work with us saying in
the prayers of raising incense,
[Share the work of Your servants in every good deed.]
See my book " Priesthood. P. l67-191".
Certainly without God we can do nothing (Jn. 15:5), for
He works within us, through us and with us as St. Paul said
about himself and his companion Apollos, "We are Gods
workers, (1 Cor .. 3:9). He said also to the Philippians,
It 1s God who works m you both to will and to do for His
good pleasure" (Phil. 2:13).
Since it is God who works in us, then the good works done
by a believer are not just human deeds but the communion
with the Spirit who dwells in him, stimulates him to work
and shares work with him.
So, Church, in every meeting, gives he blessing of "the
commumon of the Holy Spirit, which Saint Paul the Apostle
mentioned in (2Cor. 13: 14).
we d.o not share the essence or godhead of the Holy
Spmt.. far It be from us! We just share work with Him, and
thus we become "Paratakers of the divine nature" (2 Pet.
1:14) ... Only in work.
However, one may not look down upon the work we share
with the Holy Spirit or disregard its value for salvation.
"He who has ears to hear, let him hear" (Mk. 4:9,23).
78
If we ever speak, it is not we who speak but as the Lord
Jesus Christ 'nys, ' 'It t ~ not you who speak, but the Spirit
of your / 'ather who speaks in you, (Mt. 10:20). Even when
we Jl' ny, we do not pray by ourselves "For we do not know
what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself
makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be
uttered, (Rom. 8:26). Likwise when we do repent, the Spirit
convicts us (Jn. 16:8). He guides us and strengthens us; when
we serve we hear the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, "But
you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon
you; and you shall be witnesses to Me ... ,, (Acts 1:8).
Thus, as we have seen, any good works done by a believer
are not done by him alone but are done by the Holy Spirit
working in him.
He who fights such works fights the Holy Spirit doing them
and fights the Lord Jesus Christ, for He said, uwithout Me
you can do nothing, (ln. 15:5).
Even our will and any work we perform are due to God
as the apostle says, uFor it is God who works in you both
to will and to do for His good pleasure (Phil. 2:13).
Therefore, those who fight good works do not understand
them well. They think they are just human works and so
attack and reject them! Would they recognize the work of
the Spirit in these works, they would be ashamed to attack
them.
Furthermore, without these good works, we cannot enter
the Kingdom of Heavens as I have explained in detail in my
book "Salvation in the Orthodox Concept".
79
In other words we say,
Good works do not save us, but we are not saved without
them.
We can at least call such works " the fruit of faith ... Thus
we ask those who concentrate on faith alone: Is that faith
fruitful or not? To be living faith, it must have fruit, and
so the value of works appear. But if it has no fruit we are
faced with the verse which says, "Therefore every tree which
does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the
fire, (Mt. 3:10).
So, if they think that faith is necessary for savlation, they
must know that it is necessary with its fruit i.e. with such
good works.
Otherwise, i.e. if it is not accompanied with works, it will
be dead (Jas. 2:17,20). St. James the Apostle addresses the
believers, uWhat does it profit, my brethren, if someone says
he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him,,
(las. 2:14).
We move now to the last point in the subject of works
which is: works done by God alone and how we deserve them.
Works done by God Alone:
Redemption is done by God alone. We did not take part
in it.
Salvation perfected through redemption is an act done by
God alone.
80
However, God's action is one thing, and deserving it is
another.
God, by redemption, offered an atonement to the whole
world (1 Jn. 2:27). But had all the world profited of this
atonement? Certainly not.
Likewise, are all people saved by the salvation offered by
the Lord? Nay .. Then, shall we escape if we neglect
so great a salvation"! (Heb. 2:3).
But how can we attain the salvation perfected by God
alone?
Is it by faith? but faith itself is an action ...
Is it by baptism and repentance? They are also actions.
What faith then makes us attain salvation? The apostle says,
"For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not
only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake" (Phil.
1:29).
Faith that gives us salvation then is a gift granted us by
God.
The apostle says also of this faith, "No one can say that
jesus is Lord except by the Holy-Spirit" (]Cor. 12:3).
Baptism also is rebirth of the Spirit (Jn. 3:5,6).
So, although salvation is wholly an act done by God it
is received through baptism as the Lord said, "He who
believes and is baptized will be saved" (Mk. 16:16).
Ill
Moreover, we cannot attain salvation unless we repent.
The Lord said in this regard, "But unless you repent you
will all likewise perish" (Lk. 13:3,5). St. Peter the apostle
said something similar to the Jews on the day of Pentecost
(Acts 2:38):
"Repent, and let every one of you be bapti:.ed in the
of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall rece1ve
the gift of the Holy Spirit".
It is clear then there must be repentance and baptism in
order that our sins may be forgiven and we receive the
of the Holy Spirit. And of course there can be no
without such forgiveness or without the Holy Spmt.
Accordingly, since forgiveness is necessary for salvation .and
it cannot be obtained except through repentance and baptism,
why would anyone deny the value of works?!
The Orthodox teaching is a biblical teaching supported by
the Holy Bible.
The verses speaking about salvation are numerous and
clear.
As for works and the verses demonstrating them you can
return to my book "Salvation in the Orthodx Concept". But
in short I say that judgement will be according to works,
for God will "give to everyone according to his work" (Rev.
22: 12); while evil deeds will lead to perdition.
CHAPTER 4
THE SO CALLED
STAGES OF SALVATION
Salvation from tbe Ptnalty of si n.
Salvation from the domination of sin.
Salvation from the body of sin.
The danger of making definitions.
84
STAGES OF SALVATION
Serial
NO
Topic First Stage Secood Stage Third Stage
1 its concept attainment of working out perfection of
salvation salvation salvation
(salvation (salvation (salvation
attained) experienced) hoped for)
2 it blessings:
salvation the penalty of the domination the body of sin
from: sin of sin
{justification (sanctification) (glorification)
3 its time in a moment the whole life in a moment
4 supporting Lk. 7:48,50 Phil. 2:12 Phil. 3:20,21
verses Mk. 16:16 2 Cor. 7:1 1 Cor. 15:52
5 its factors the blood of the Spirit of the advent of
Christ Christ Christ
6 its means the sacraments of the sacraments of The advent of
Repentance & Unction& Christ
Baptism Eucharist (the second
coming)
7 Its conscious faith lawful st ruggle watching and
requirements waiting
85
A leaflet:
It is a leaflet distributed by mail and received by us through
some of our children. It has the Protestant spirit though an
attempt was made to give it an Orthodox covering which was
not effective.
The leaflet divides salvation into three stages:
a. Salvation attained: from the penalty of sin, and is
obtained in a moment.
b. Salvation experienced: saves from the domination of
sin, and takes the whole life.
c. Salvation hoped for: from the body of sin, and is
perfected in a moment.
They say that the salvation attained is achieved through
(justification), and that which we experience is achieved
through (sanctification), while the salvation hoped for is called
(glorification).
It is weD-known that the source of this classification is the
story of a Protestant pastor:
He was asked by some girl who addressed him very politely!
saying, 'Have you attained salvation, reverened priest?' The
priest answered her, 'I have attained salvation, I live salvation
and I will have salvation' This phrase became a guide to many
86
persons and hence came this classification into three stages:
salvation attained, salvation experienced and salvation hoped
for. We shall now see the meaning, the signficance and import
of all this.
Protestants say that the salvation attained in a moment
is obtained at the moment of accepting Christ as Redeemer
and Saviour i.e. at the moment of declaring faith.
You may notice that the print of the New Testament
distributed free of charge by the Gedeons contains at its end
a declaration to be signed by the person that he accepts Christ
a Redeemer and saviour!
Contradiction:
Though the leaflet on "the stage of salvation" mentioned
that the salvation attained from the penalty of sin is perfected
in a moment, however, to have an Orthodox appearance,
it mentioned among the requirements of this salvation
conscious faith and set as means for it the sacraments of
repentance and baptism.
It even stated, 'Thus any person has a blessed privilege
if he comes to Christ with a repenting heart and conscious
faith to gain the righteousness of Christ. A person can gain
this when he unites with Him in the likeness of His death
through baptism to rise with Him in newness of life (Rom.
6:3-5).' Therefore, they say, the Lord Christ said, "He who
believes and is baptized will be saved" (Mk. 16:16).
As we see the contradiction is apparent and the writer of
the leaflet falters between two opinions (1Kgs. 18:21), between
87
1 he protestant view and the Orthodox appearance. Here a
question comes to our minds and finds no answer; it is:
How can we achieve in a moment, repentance with all the
tuart, conscious faith and the sacrament of baptism at one
time?
To repent takes time, to have conscious faith needs time
md to be baptized takes time as well .. How can all this be
1 "rformed in a moment?
The pure protestants are frank with themselves; they say
1 hat the salvation attained was at the moment of accepting
I aith. But the protestants who try to disguise under Orthodox
Harment are not frank and thus fall in contradiction ....
Let us now discuss the stages of salvation as stated in the
leaflet:
J. The Word "Stages":
Just to speak about "stages" means that salvation cannot
he attained in a moment.
There are more than one stage, they are three and it is
unpossible that they all take place at one and the same
moment unless each of them takes one third of a moment!
1 his would be a sufficient reply for the author of the leaflet
but there is another point regarding the details of these stages
i.e.
One of these stages, namely sanctification, takes the whole
life!
88
Hence, salvation is not in a moment. Moreover, the author
mentions that after the whole life, there is still a salvation
hoped for which will take place on the second coming of
Christ. ..
2. Faith, Repentance and Moment
Faith is not a haphazard feeling nor repentance a mere
passing emotion for they certainly need time.
Faith and repentance need the act of the word and the act
of grace.
The need for the word or preaching is evident in the words
of the Lord, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the
nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things
that I have commanded you'' (Mt. 28:19,20), " . . preach the
gospel to every creature. He who believes and is bapitzed
will be saved'' (Mk. 16: 15,16). The ministry of the word is
obvious in the sermon delivered by St. peter the Apostle on
the day of Pentecost after which those who heard were cut
to the heart and believed. The apostles called them to repent
and be baptized (Acts 2:37 ,38). The same happened when
the Ethiopian eunuch believed. He was preached by St. Paul,
he believed and was baptized (Acts 8:35-38).
Through the ministry of the word, faith spread creeping
into the hearts of those who heard it till it became ripe and
was declared by them . But surely all this was not done in
a moment.
89
The same may be said of repentance as well. It does not
1111 upon the heart all of a sudden, in a moment. It needs
ll tching or other influences worked by grace within the heart
till a person repents ... Repentance then becomes one of (the
1 1ges of salvation)!
lollowing this introduction, we shall treat and examine each
ol these three stages:
ulvation from the Penalty of sin:
It ts the so called "salvation attained,, through justification
l11 moment! As the pamphlet explains, it is salvation from
I h penalty of sin; one of its factors is the blood of Christ;
II means are the sacraments of repentance and baptism; and
I requirement is faith. It finds evidence in the verses: "He
11 lw believes and is baptized will be saved'', (Mk. 16: 16) and,
) our sins are forgiven .. . Your faith has saved you, (Lk.
48 50).
U viously, the Lord Jesus Christ offered salvation by His
hi tod on the cross, but no one attained it. In fact, the
luncment of christ is samething different from the deserts
ltf this atonement
I here are many still who are not saved yet in spite of the
huly blood shed, and in spite of the atonement for the sins
11 the whole world (lJn. 2:2). That is because they did not
II the way leading to salvation. Regarding this way we
111 ntion the following verses for example:
I '' lie who believes and is baptized will be saved, (Mk.
16: 16).
90
2. and let every one of you be baptized in the namtf
of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38),
3. and be baptized, and wash away your sins" (Act\
22:16).
4. you repent you will all likewise perish" (I k
13:3,5).
From these verses, we conclude that there are three mauen
necessary for being saved from the penalty of sin and the
do not happen in a moment. They are: faith, repentance and
baptism.
Even salvation through these matters is only salvation from
the original sin and the actual sins committed before baptism
Regarding this original sin, the Bible states,
just as through one man sin entered the world, and death
through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all
sinned" (Rom. 5:12). Thus we have all become "dead Ill
trespasses" (Eph. 2:5). The fact is that we were in Ad am
and Eve when they were condemned to die ...
In baptism, the original sin and the sins previous to bapusm
are forgiven not those which shall be committed in the fulUI
after faith and baptism!
Salvation from the penalty of sin applies to the In
committed in the past , present and future.
Every sin committed after being baptized has a penalty and
a punishment which no one can escape except thrcmah
repentance.
91
I hi ccords with the words of the Lord "Unless you repent
1 111 will all likewise perish" (Lk. 13:3,5). How dare then a
1 1 on ny that he is saved from the punishment of sin at
I h moment of his conversion, at the moment of his
p numce or at the moment of his baptism?! Does not the
111 lion stands waiting for an answer; How to be saved from
Ill 1mnishment of sins committed after faith and baptism?
I h
I u h saved from the punishment of sin, a person needs
I 1 r.1cnt continually all his life for every sin he commits.
I f ad we sin everyday, and there is a punishment for our
lu vhlch needs repentance on our part.
I h tefore, to be saved from the punishment of sin in a
1111 nt is practically impossible for there is no person
l!lllble,
11
/f we say that we have no sin, we deceive
lves, and the truth is not in us" (1 Jn. 1:8), "For we
tumble in many things" (Jas. 3:2).
II w then can we be saved from such sins? St. John the
tic . ays, " .. if we walk in the light as He is in the light ...
1 confess our sins" (JJn. 1:7,9). In this case,
11
the blood
I 'itH Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin", is
fll/111 and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from
I 111mghteousness" (JJn. 1:7,9).
11, to confess our sins and walk in the light are two
1ulr ments necessary throughout our whole lives if we want
111 Ins to be forgiven and deserve to be cleansed of every
In hy the blood of Christ.
92
This, I mean continuous life of repentance, confessing sina
and walking in the light , remains with us all our life u.:;\ ,au."
repentance is not a momentary action but a life ...
Hence we seek salvation from the punishment of sin
our fife and take its path and do not say that we have attained
salvation in a moment!
He who can say that he is already saved is one who haa
no relation whatever with sin in the present, Sin has become
to him a past condition! On the other hand, a person who
believes that salvation from the punishment of sin takes the
whole life, in fact confesses implicity that he has not yet
escaped sin and accordingly is not yet saved from its
punishment ...
Committing sin and the punishment of sin are two
coinciding matters. So, since salvation from the domination
of sin takes the whole Hfe, then savlation from its punishment
takes the whole life as well.
Now we move to the next stage i.e.
Salvation from the Domination of Sin:
This point ought to be ignored as it does not fall within
the scope of our study because the author of the leaflet says
it takes the whole life. It is then against the . heresy of
"Salvation in a moment" and reveals contradictions. It is
called by them "the stage of sanctification" or "the stage
of perfection of salvation". They support their view by the
words of the Bible uwork out your own salvation with fear
93
ml 11embling" (Phil. 2:12); and also, "Let us cleanse
111 "lves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting
h lllncc;s in the fear of God" (2Cor. 7:1).
I hus they say! lawful struggle is a requirement and the
1 ' uncnts of Unction and Eucharist are the means.
Now, let us state some remarks:
I. The words "perfection of salvation" mean that salvation
uu yet perfected and its perfection takes the whole life ...
\\lute then is the meaning of "salvation in a moment"?
'. And if the starting stage is the attainment of salvation
I Ill h they say is achieved in a moment, would it be suitable
llltt one spends one's whole life in fear and trembling (Phil.
12)?
1 As for the words "justification, sanctification and
hutfication" mentioned in the said leaflet, we shall comment
111 I hem in a special part of this book.
1 he third stage is:
lvation from the body of sin:
lxplaining this point they said that the Lord promised to
ome at the end of this life to give the believers, who wait
lit advent illuminated bodies that resemble His glorious
I ody, tiFor our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also
tgerly wait for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will
tmnsform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His
lorious body" (Phil. 3:20,21; JCor. 15:52).
94
They say that this salvation is the one hoped for, w
the perfect salvation and salvation from the body of sin
call "glorification" and set as means for it the advent
Christ. Its requirements are watching and waiting and it
achieved in a moment.
My comments on all this include the following:
1. Does it not raise wonder that the salvation hoped f
is to get rid of this body and put on a spiritual one (1
15:52)!!
In fact putting on the spiritual body in the resurrecti
is just preliminary steps towards rejoicing ... when we s
be crowned with the crown of righteousness (2 Tim. 4:8
Then we shall be relieved of this hard struggle and enjoy
zye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into
heart of man" (/Cor. 2:9). We shall enjoy life with God
with His angels and saints in Heavenly Jerusalem where G
dwells with His people (Rev. 21:3). There we shall also
from the tre'- of life (Rev. 2:7), and from the hidden man
(Rev. 2: 17). We shall sit there with the Son on His
(Rev. 3:21) and restore the divine image we had had.
shall indeed enjoy all the blessings mentioned in the
and live in happiness and blessing.
This is the true great salvation we hope for, whereas putting
off the material body is just one of many negatives. We shall
get rid of the material as a whole, of this world, of sin and
death and grief resulting from it, and we shall get rid of all
diabolic wars and sin in general as the Revelation states,
95
/tf /c' be no more death, nor sorrow, nor and
\hall be no more pain" (Rev. 21:4). The who
l\rcd us would have been cast into the lake of ftre and
111 (Rev. 20: 10). We shall cast away
111
.md restore to our minds and hearts therr fust punty
1 unplicity which knew no sin ...
\\ hy then would we say that the salvation hoped for is
1 1 o put off the material body?!
Why did the writer of the leaflet call it the "body of
lu'"l
1 11 just to make rhyme with the ot?er salvation:
11111 the penalty of sin, from the dommatton of sm and
It hody of sin ... ! It is the same as in the
1
1\
1
1 ion attained, salvation experienced, and salvation hoped
I 1 .. 1
'' yi ng to explain theological matters keeping to rhyme or
111
d ornament has often trapped many in various dangerous
t h ological mistakes .. !
I low can we say that we put on the body of sin? Had this
lmly been a sin, God would not have created because He
11
Vl r creates anything evil. Moreover, had thts been
1
in, God would not have taken it in His incarnation for
1ur alvation? Had it been a sin, we would have not
11
1
bodies of saints nor would the bones of Elis.ha have rmsed
1 ,tc ad (2 Kgs. 13:21). Had this body been a sm, the
would not have said, " .. glorify God in your body '.n
, our spirit which are God's, (]Cor. 6:20). Our bodies - tf
98
of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we
are alive and remain shall be caught up together with t
in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we
always be with the Lord.,. (JThess. 4:15-17).
Those who remain alive until the coming of the Lord
are caught up in the clouds. will have their bodies
- in a moment into spiritual bodies.
The purpose is to make them able to meet the Lord .
the air that they may always be with Him. This is not pos
for the material bodies. This change also will make t
resemble the others who will be raised from the deaJ
spiritual bodies (lCor. 15:44,53).
Of course the writer of the pamphlet did not meat'
address it to those who will remain alive until the
of the Lord, who will be caught up to meet the Lord ifl
air!!
As for those who die now and will be raised on the
day and those who died before, the idea of getting riJ
the material body in a moment does not apply to
why for?
It is because there are two stages seperated by a space
time:
a) The first stage is putting off the material body
a person dies.
b) The second stage is putting on the spiritual bodY on
the day of resurrection.
99
t 111 het ween the two stages may be thousands or
ol years not just a moment!
"''"uent one gets rid o( the material body in death
1 11 1 hl moment of glorification they mean, nor has the
ol < hrist as a means for it.
'"' nHr, the verses (lCor. 15:52) and (Phil. 3:21) do not
tt lor they speak about the change that happens to
!111 lacs on the day of resurrection.
t h luusly also, the day of resurrection is not coming in
I h time between death and resurection is very long and
I 11 I why the whole creation groans waiting for it as the
I
I,, we know that the whole creation groans and labors
II /llfth pangs together until now. And not only they, but
tl\ J who have thefirstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves
1 111 wtthin ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the
/, mption of our body. For we were saved in this hope,
1 hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope
' what he sees? but if we hope for what we do not see,
11 we eargerly wait for it with perseverance" (Rom.
I )5),
II Is impossible that what we see and wait for with
I" ' nrance and hope takes place in a moment. Time is long
ltulrcd between our putting off of this body and putting on
I he ttl ritual illuminated body .
100
We conclude from all this that neither the reader of rht
leaflet nor any other person may attain the stage of
glorification which they speak of - in a moment.
I want at this point to give a general rule to be applied
to the stages of salvation included in the leaflet, it is:
The Danger of Making Definitions:
The definitions made in the stages of salvation ar
theologically unacceptable and the nhyming and langu
forms are not a proper theological measure ...
1. Take for example the definition of salvation from t
punishment of sin as: salvation attained in the past. It is
wrong definition because we live this salvation and hope for
We live it in the continuous repentance, the forgiver
gained and the deliverance from the punnishment. We al
hope to attain this salvation in the future, when we sra
in the presence of God on the awful Day of Judgment hopi
to hear from Him the words of forgiveness and salvaf
If such salvation is already attained what will happen on t
Day of Judgement? On that Day God "Will reward
according to his works, (Mt. 16:27; Rev. 22:12).
2. Salvation from the domination of sin is related to th
past, present and future and we cannot confine it to th
present.
However great the salvation we experience now from rh
domination of sin, it may not be compared with the salvar1n1
we hope to attain in eternity. For there we shall live h
101
onflict or struggle.
111 uu ness, sanctity and" v f ht
. ..,,, . 1 o ng eousness
I lh II lime we shall re" b u th
'll ecause .. e
1 j111 t 8) and there shalllve tte cro
1
'
1
1
.
4
)
111 ' !lungs have Passect be no mort 1
I
Clway" (Ret" _11ave no authority
11 rcrmty Satan and h
1

0
thro gh
. h
1
.
1
1
0
verc me u
I hi I he believers fort' e Ptrs wr W 'II d
.
11
t war. ar WI en
\ nkness to any intern :t WI not b
r II ly. i\J or e'<ternal
9
tion of sin is not
I hi I roves that release r J t )' 't
Jf tJO no 1ve 1 now
111 etrlr of the present ti'"" l)m the dom' H .
Jl, ence, 10 our
11h hut we shall live it in tL only far we ;e . 't
1
t t
{.;rJle spin ua s a e.
1 nt truggle we hope to e future as
. . this sul1 tbat he has been
uuUatr pomt Is that . in, in fact denies
111 saved of part Of the }ever deme 1 s . ,
. . r,4 renewmg man s
1111 ul the effectiveness l)mmatJon o'J
1!11 c , l)f baptism if
sist is far stronger
lr I I rue we still fight but P
1
..
' {' pst e says, .. now
' h tptt.sm before it. PO\\er to {, believed'' (Rom.
tlvat1on 1s nearer than 'lnus, the ap'j
I J \.;hen we jirsf
f the domination
hnve already been freen t t' . b t'
. " ra Ion m ap tsm
hen we attained the bl from somez.e f
1
.
e newness o 11 e
" wal of nature, and of regerfjl. this that our
1 1 h St. Paul the J\postl into trb
1
ndg ./ . . ht
et,d nv r,o Y OJ Sin m1g
II was crucified with , L\.no er be slaves of
11 away with, that we Ill, that the l"g
(l'um. 6.:5,4). no lol
102
J. Besides, as we have said before, confining the salvation
hoped for in getting rid of the material body is wrong ...
4. Theological need great accuracy of expression.
Even subsituting a V'Ord with another may lead to a
theological mistake artd following rhyming system in this
regard may be of gretlt danger.
s. The word "moment" also is wrong theologically as
well as linguistically; ft'r it is not right on the linguistic leve'
to give the term "moment" for a stage!
How can it be, speaking about the stages of salvation, to
say that there are three stages; the first takes a moment and
the last takes a while the medium stage takes the
whole life?!. Then it said that the three stages are entitled
"salvation in a
Throughout these stages, the writer of the leaflet forgets
the long preliminary steps .. Take for example the first stage
which they call "justitication" and say it depends on faith:
Can we ignore the stePS that led a person to faith such as
the ministry of the word, the action of the heart and the
struggle of the spirit to respond to the word?
Regarding first which they say it is the salvation
attained in a moment through conscious faith, repentance
with all heart and baptism, we ask them:
Which Moment do they Mean?:
Is it the moment of faith? of repentance? or of baptism?
103
Baptism is not performed in a moment, nor repentace nor
1 uth achieved in a moment! How can the three be obtained
111 a moment?!!!
6. There remains in the leaflet a part concerning the baptism
ol children .. you can find my comment on it in the chapter
on baptism.
CHAPTER 5
I
SALVATION
IS
THE STORY OF THE
WHOLE LIFE
Salvation through faith, repentance and
baptism.
Salvation through repentance and holy
communion.
You are at war.
Do not be haughty, but fear.
Time of your sojourning.
He who endures at the end.
Salvation - at tbe last time.
CHAPTER 5
SALVATION
I
IS
THE STORY OF THE
WHOLE LIFE
Salvation through faith, repentance and
haptism.
Salvation through repentance and
communion.
You are at war
no not be haughty, but fear.
Time of your sojourning.
lie who endures at the end.
Salvation - at the last time.
106
SALVATION THROUGH
FAITH, REPENTANCE, AND BAPTISM
1. Brother, you were in be loins of Adam when be sinned,
when he was punished and when death found access to him.
So, you inherited all this, being part of him, was condemned
to die, sin entered into your nature and you lost the divine
image.
You became in need for salvation from this original serious
sin and from all its consequences and punishments.
It is the sin we are told of by the apostle, "Therefore, just
as through one man sin entered the world, and death through
sin, and thus death spread, to all men, because all sinned"
(Rom. 5:12).
But how have we been saved of this sin?
2. The story of salvation begins in the life of everyone by
faith, repentance and baptism as the Lord Jesus Christ said,
"He who believes and is baptized will be saved" (Mk. 16:16)
and as St. Peter the apostle said to the Jews on the day of
pentecost "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in
the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins .. . " (Acts
2:38).
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I Ins remission of sins includes the original sin and all actual
l11 s committed before baptism.
3. In baptism, we obtain salvation, forgiveness, washing
Mwny of our sins and regeneration:
In baptism we are buried with Christ (Col. 2: 12), we die
' t h Him and rise with Him in the newness of life (Rom.
( 1) , "Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with
1/un, that the body of sin might be done away with, that
,, ,-. should no longer be slaves of sin" (Rom. 6:6)
In baptism, we become children of God and members of
1 ltl body of Christ, and moreover as the apostle says, "For
(1\ many of you as you were baptized into Christ have put
fn rhrist" (Gal. 3:27). We died with Christ and rose with
I lint. Our old man, condemned to die, died and a new man
1ltcr the image of God rose ...
4. But we still sin after being baptized. Baptism renewed
uur nature but did not make us infallible. A person who is
l111ptized becomes a new man, yet still free, and through this
lrtedom he may sin.
We.do not deny that we sin after baptism, we sin every
d lY, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves,
(Iliff the truth is not in us" (1 Jn. 1:8).
1 'he gift of regeneration which we attained in baptism did
11111 take away the gift of freedom we have, being an image
'" God. This freedom elevates our value as human beings .. .
l'he nature we had in baptism is pure, yet liable to sin as
" t') the nature of Adam before the fall .. .
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s. We did

infallible. We did not obtain yet
the crown of 1eousness, which the Lord, the righteous
Judge, will us on that Day (2 Tim. 4:8).
However we sin after baptism, no doubt there is
a bt'teen a person who sins before his being
baptized, while!ill the life of wickedness, and
sins after beinltapttzed. The latter has the Holy Spmt to
rebuke him conscience to reprimand him. Sin to him
is something he refuses it and is able to overcome
it. ..
6. In the Holy unction (Holy Myron) (lJn.
2:20,27) the Holl'.Spmt in us and we become temples
of the Holy sfl; the Spmt of God (lCor. 3:16).
But the

within us does not force us to do good.
He does us by force from sinning, but rather
guides reprimands us when we sin. Still we
free, oasble of sinning if our free will deviates.
The point i
5
";e being baptized and after
having the Hai1Sptnt wtthm us, so we ask:
7. Do not sins committed after baptism have a
punishment? piliey not need salvation as well?
The Bible says, "For the wages of sin is death"
(Rom.
6
..
23
) _ .,rsin, there is no exception, "For we must
all appear befdlhe judgement seat of Christ, that each one
may receive tiJtiRings done in the body, according to what
he has done good or bad" (2 Cor. 5:10). We have
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also the words of the Lord Himself, "And behold, I am
coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to
everyone according to his work" (Rev. 22:12). And since there
is punishment for every sin we commit, then there is a
continuous need for salvation .. This comes by the following.
Salvation Through Repentance and Holy Communion:
8. You may insist saying, 'All my sins are carried by Christ
on the Cross!'.
But I ask you: which sins did Christ Carry on your behalf?
Very frankly I tell you that you have to know that Christ
carries only the sins that you repent for as He Himself said,
"unless you repent you will all likewise perish" (Lk. 13:3,5)
and the apostle says, "Or do you despise the riches of His
goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that
the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in
accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you
are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and
revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who
1
Will render
to each one according to his deeds" (Rom. 2:4-6).
9. It is evident then that through repentance also you attain
aalvadon
But repentance is not an action performed in a moment;
it continues throughout your whole life for every sin you
commit at any time all your long life. Not only through
repentance you attain salvation but also:
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10. When you partake of the body and blood of the Lord
you get salvation... '
In the divine Mass we say about the holy communion ..
[ .. given for us salvation, remission of sins and eternal life
for whoever partakes of it .. ]
this is based on the promises Of the Lord Jesus
Chnst when He said, uwhoever eats My flesh and drinks
My blood has eternal life ... He who eats My flesh and drinks
My blood abids in Me, and I in him, (Jn. 6:54,56).
. as we mentioned beftne, there is salvation attained
baptasm and salvation attained through repentance which
mcludes . the confession of sins, and through the holy
commumon.
We cannot say that we are truly saved as long as we sin
as long as there is a punishment waiting us, and as long
we need to repent everyday .. But we obtain salvation everyday
through repentance, our sins are washed away by the blood
then we sin again. '
ll. On earth, we are under examination and one is not
exa'?ined in moment or in a certain period of one's life.
Ones whole life till one's death is a period of examination.
Mere holy moments in the life of someone do not represent
his whole life, though these may be moments of repentance
or relation with God in prayer, contemplation and
servtce ... ! Man's life is changeable and inconstant ...
St. Peter the Apostle for example was in a moment very
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:rl'alous and attached to the Lord- to death. He said "Even
if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be... if I have to
tlte with You, I will not deny You!, (Mk. 14:29,31) ... Yet
orne hours later, he began to curse and swear saying he did
not know the Man and denied Him three times (Mt. 26:74,75).
Seeing that such a great apostle like St. Peter was fought
spiritually and fell, what would you say of yourself who
imagines you have attained salvation?!
You are at War:
It is an everlasting war that continues all your life .. And
os long as you are still at war, how can you declare its result
before the end?!
St. Paul the Apostle says about this war, "For we do not
wrestle against flesh and blood but against spiritual hosts of
wickedness .. ,, (Eph. 6:12}, "Therefore take up the whole
armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil
day, and having done all, to stand, (Eph. 6:13). The apostle
sums up all this very beautifully in the words:
War, armor, wrestling, withstanding and we need above
aU to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one (Eph. 6:16).
St. Peter also says about the same war, "Be sober, be
vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like
a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him,
steadfast in the faith, (JPet. 5:8,9). Obviously, be is speaking
to believers who are at war and need to be sober, to watch
and resist a violent enemy as St. Paul also warns us "You
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have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin" (Heb.
12:4).
War is still going on and the result decides your salvation.
Therefore the Lord Jesus Christ repeats the words uHe
who overcomes ... "seven times in the messages to the seven
churches in Asia (Rev. 2,3). May you then consider that you
have overcome though war has not ended yet! Wait till war
ends.
13. You may often imagine that you are already saved from
sin, but you return to the same sin or to another again!
You may often think you have become godly and righteous,
but you realize afterwards that, ua righteous man may fall
seven times and rise again" (Prov. 24:16). But how can he
rise? It is only through the work of grace, and the ministry
of reconciliation performed by the priesthood (2Cor. 5:18,20).
Nay, it is also through the sacraments of repentance and
Eucharist and through the care and help given by the church ...
Repentance may not only convert you from a sinner to
a repentant but also convert you to a saint. However, can
you consider that you have attained?! No, for war against
saints is more dangerous and harder!
If you think you have become a saint and are saved, Usten
then to what is said in the Revelation about the beast, "And
was granted to him to make war with the saints and to
evercome them" (Rev. 13:7). Do not those saints who are
overcome by the beast need salvation?!
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14. Many are the prayers made by saints asking for
salvation. f
dai
l rayers we make askmg or
Many also are the y p 1 has usave
. the words of the psa ms sue .
salvation, repeatmg , (P.
54
). "Purge me with
me, 0 God, by Your h I shall be whiter
d I shall be clean; "as , .
hyssop, an uR long shall I take counsel m my
than snow" (Ps. 51); . ow h t daily? How long will my
soul having sorrow m my ear
ene;,y be exalted over me?" (Ps. 13). .
th t ning our salvation
15. Since the spiritual war rea e . of the
continues the whole life, salvation then as the story
whole life.
Do not be Laugbty' but Fear:
uD not be haughty, but fear,
St. Paul the apostle I branches He may not
for if God did not spare t e goodn:.SS and severity
'ther Therefore const er
spare you e1 . . but toward you, goodness;
of God: on who_Jell, s:venty, Otherwise you also will be
if you contmue m Hts goo ness.
cut off. ,, (Rom. 11:20-22). . .
. do not continue, and m this
Then, it is possible that y;u t be haughty thinking that
case you will be cut off. So noll over but r;ther fear. The
ed and the matter IS a h t
you are sav . bile the haughty boast falsely t a
humble have this fear' w . 1 This boasting
d h t this salvatlon IS eterna .
they are saved an t : . hearts and consequently they lose
removes fear from t eu k them because of their pride and
caution. Grace also forsa es
they fall for they neglect the commandment,
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"Work out Your own I . .
(Phil. 2:12). sa vatlon With fear and trembling"
It means that salvation att . . .
sin and the sins . amed m baptism from the original
perfected. committed before baptism, needs to be
This takes the whole lif
e not a moment.
18. It is not based onl . .
and baptism but d Y 1 on recetvmg faith, on repentance
and fruits onfee s a so the fruit of faith (Jn. 15:5 6)
f
repentance (Mt 38) It d '
o grace, the comm . nee s the work
God's love and of the Holy Spirit (2Cor. 13:14)
(2Tim. 2:5, Heb.

love. (Jn. 15:9);

and resisting to bl .d)h, resthng agamst Satan (Eph. 6: 12)
oo s ed (Heb 124) Th
also necessary and th e sacraments are
ey are effective ...
Fear is also necessary h
condemnation... ' t at is fear to fall and fear of
19. St. John Crysostom I .
on (Phil. 2:12) saying, exp ams fear in his commentary
[The apostle does not onl .. .
"with trembling" wh h . Y says with fear" but added
St. Paul himself had degree much higher than fear ...
"lest when I hav . s ear and thus he said that he feared
' e preached to others I If '
disqualified" (I Cor.
9
:
27
). ' myse should become
. For if some temporal matters
With fear spiritual are not performed except
' matters rather need t
as there is such violent d
1
more ... As long
be salvation without .. great obstacles, how can there
"
---- - -------- - -
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St. John Chrysostom goes on to say:
[You have believed and done good works and are lifted
high .. be on your guard then. Have fear wherever you are ...
be carefullest you should fall for many are the spiritual evils
that try to encompass you (Eph. 6: 12)].
It is a good advice indeed by St. John Crysostom that many
obstacles are trying to encompass us. Thus we should work
out our salvation with fear and trembling.
20. You have to fear because you are still in the body,
many wars fight you to make you fall and you are threatened
to be cut off if you do not continue. You have to fear because
of your weak nature and the strength of your enemies. Fear
also helps you to be cautious, warry and humble and makes
you more attached to prayers to have help from high.
21. St. Peter the Apostle asserted the necessity of fear,
saying, "And if you call on the Father, who without partiality
j udges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves
throughout the time of your sojourning here in fear" (1 Pet.
1:17).
Yes, we have to walk in fear lest any one should lose his
crown (Rev. 3: 11 ), or have our names blotted out from the
Book of Life (Rev. 3:5, Ex. 32:33), lest our lampstand should
be removed from its place (Rev. 2:5), or be like the Galatians,
" Having begun in the Spirit ... made perfect by the flesh"!
(Gal. 3:3).
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22. We have to fear also because salvation is not an easy
matter to be attained as the apostle says,
"If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the
ungodly and the sinner appear" (JPet. 4:18).
The righteous is of course a believer because, "the just
shall live by faith" (Heb. 10:38). But if such a righteous
believer is scarcely saved, ought not an ordinary believer fear?!
23. Hence, if salvation is attained in a moment or if it
has been already attained what need would there be to fear?
The apostle says, "Now the just shall live by faith, but
if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him" (Heb.
10:38). There is then a probability that a believer falls and
God has no pleasure in him! This arouses fear indeed ..
24. Would anyone say now that a believer has been saved
and is sure of salvation? what can he say of him who draws
back after receiving faith?!
There are cases of apostasy mentioned in the Holy Bible
as I have explained in detail in my book "Salvation in the
Orthodox Concept". We can just say here that as long as
there is fear of apostasy, we should conduct ourselves
throughout the time of our sojourning here in fear as the
apostle says in (1 Pet. 1: 17).
Time of your Sojourning:
25. When the apostle said, "Conduct yourselves throughout
the time of your sojourning here in fear", he meant of course
that we should be careful to seek our salvation throughout
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our long sojourning on earth. Hence, the church always draws
our attention to the end of this life and how a person departs,
not how he begins his life as St. Paul the Apostle teaches
us regarding the saints whose example we ought to folio'":,
... . Whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their
conduct" (Heb. 13:7).
What do the words "the outcome of their conduct" mean
but that salvation takes the whole life till its end.
that we cannot judge before that end when the samts wtll
have perfected their faith.
26. Salvation is not just a beginning but a continuation
till the t.md.
It is not merely to move from death to life, but to continue
r . g . for you may begin in the Spirit but be made perfect
as the foolish Galatians had done (Gal. 3:3).
Salvation is not to become a saint .. , but to conti.nue being
a saint until you give up the spririt and depart m peace.
27. See what St. Paul the Apostle says about the Ephesians
as an example:
"To the saints who are in Ephesus" (Eph. 1:1).
However, he beseeches them to have a walk worthy of the
calling with which they were called (Eph. 4: 1) He a.sks them
also to walk circumspectly, not as fools but .as wtse
5 15) he explains to them the wiles of the devtls and advtses
them.saying "Put on the whole armor !hat you ':ay
be able to stand against the wiles of the devtl (Eph. 6.11).
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St. PauJ's words to the saints of Ephesus even raiSf wonder,
for he warns them against fornication, uncleanness
covetousness and foolish talking. "But fornication and all
uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among
you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish
talking ... (Eph. 5:3,4). It is then feared that even those saints
fall in such sins " .. for because of these things the wrath of
God comes upon the sons of disobedience" (Eph. 5:6, 7).
Therefore, saints do need weapons and are to fight and
be steadfast till their salvation is revealed in the last time
(lPet. 1:5).
28. Would anyone then dare to ask another before that
time saying, 'Are you saved, brother?' If a person is saved
in a certain moment recorded in his diary, why will there
be a struggle throughout the whole life? what can be said
of the wars that fight saints? How can saints be overcome
by the beast (Rev. 13:7)? How did three of the angels of the
seven churches fall (Rev. 2,3)? why do believers need God's
whole armor to be able to stand against the wiles of the devil
(Eph. 6)?
If anyone feels at any lime tbat be no more loves sin, let
bim be bumble and contrite for sin may retum witbln him
more violent and dreadful!
The devil is not asleep, nor has he yielded yet but he still
walks about like a roaring lion (lPet. 5:8,9). So, the whole
life of saints is a continuous struggle on earth "throughout
the time of their sojourning". This applies even to St. Paul
himself who was caught up to the third heaven and heard
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inexpressible words which it is not lawful for a man to utter
(lCor. 12:2,4).
29. Hear what St. Paul the Great Apostle says: "But I
discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when
1 have preached to others, . I myself should become
disqualified, (JCor. 9:27).
This humble saint did not say as some of the youth are
,
0
bold to say now, 'I have been saved in a moment' ~ u t
he said very humbly, "I press toward the goal f.or the pnze
of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus .. , "I press on,
that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also
laid hold of me, (Phil. 3:14,12).
30. He did not say these words about himself alone but
put them as a rule for us all even for the perfect and mature
among us, for he said, "'
" Therefore let us, as many as are mature have this m"!d,;
l ~ t us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mmd
(Phil. 3:15,16).
Now I advise you, who imagine that you are saved in .a
moment to wait a little and not make haste. .. Perhaps tt
was a m ~ m n t of grace that made you feel something spiritual
within you, so you imagined that the blessing of that moment
has become the nature of your life as a whole ... Therefore
"Do not be haughty, but fear, (Rom. 11:20). You have as
an example St. Timothy:
31. St. Timothy the disciple of St. Paul the Apostle as an
example of salvation:
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This saint was one of the distinguished men of faith. He
was well bred by his mother and grandmother (2Tim. 1 :5),
and. from his childhood he had known the Holy Scriptures
(2Ttm .. 3:15). After receiving faith he became a bishop, and
of St. Paul the Apostle in his wide-spread
mmtstry. St. Paul said of him in his first epistle to the
Corinthians, " . .for he does the work of the Lord, as I also
do, (JCor. 16:10).
However, St. Paul , being his teacher, advised him,
"Take hud to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in
them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those
who hear you" (I Tim. 4:16).
Consider then how a saint like Timothy the bishop the
preacher, the assistant of St. Paul the Apostle, who did the
of the Lord as St. Paul himself .. Timothy, a man of
needed also savlation; and needed to take heed of
h1mself so that he might be saved. He had also to continue
in that.
The Apostle set as precondition for the savlation of that
holy bishop St. Timothy to take heed to himself and to the
doctrine and continue in them to save hismelf .
He Who Endures to the End:
32. Since salvation is the story of the whole life, we have
to struggle continually and endure the wars and attacks of
the enemy ... But till when? The Lord says,
"He who endures to the end will be saved,, (MI. 10:22).
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1 his means that salvation cannot be attained in a moment
tnd that endurance has no time limit but till the end, which
111eans to the end of the life. That is because the love of many
''all grow cold (Mt. 24: 12) and a countless number will leave
1 heir first love (Rev. 2:4) and need to repent. ..
33. The time to receive the crown has not yet come for
we are still under examination and wBI continue in it the whole
life. The Lord says "Be faithful until death, and I will give
l'OU the crown of life, (Rev. 2:10) . The words "until death,
do not coincide with the word "moment,. At the same time,
huthfulness until death is a condition for receiving the crown
ol life ...
34. The Lord promised to give the crowns to him who
uvercomes, which matter is not determined now.
As long as you are in battle, you cannot say you are saved
hut only when war ends we shall be crowned as the song
ays ... But when will war end? It will end at the end of life
on the earth.
35. Do not judge before time and do not judge according
to moments for moments change.
What you attain in a moment, you may lose in another!
And what a dangerous change is that described by the divine
mspiration in (Gen. 8:22) "While the earth remains, ... and
cold and heat, and witner and summer, and day and night
shall not cease,! I wish that you would pray your flight may
not be in winter (Mt. 24:20).
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Do not say ' I was saved on such and such day' fixing the
date and time in hours and minutes! but rather pray that
God may keep you saved till the end of your life.
36. It is not sufficient to begin but you should continue.
The apostle says in this regard, " .. but toward you,
goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you
also will be cut off, (Rom. 11:22). This cannot be
demonstrated according to a certain moment but it is the story
of the whole life.
Suppose you repented in a moment! well .. but you will
not be saved unless you continue in this repentance and time
will prove this ...
Your life changed in a moment! well .. but you will not
be saved unless you continue changing into the better, till
the end ..
37. You experienced decisive moments in which you knew
God and realized how this present life is passing!.. well then
and very good.. But you have to continue.. Moments are
not a measure for your steadfastness ... !
Have you turned from a sinner to a saint! very well . but
you should keep your saintliness throughout your life and
have a walk worthy of the calling with which you were called
as the apostle advised the saints of Ephesus in (Eph. 4:1-3).
Even if you have gained some salvation through God's
action and through long struggle on your part (not in a
moment) besides practising the church sacraments and all
media of grace ... yet you should follow what the apostle says,
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"Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
(Fph. 4:1-3).
Salvation in indeed the story of the whole life ...
Salvation-in the Last Time:
38. Revealing salvation is not your concern you cannot say
a am saved' or say of another 'He is saved' .. It is God who
r veals this.
God reveals savlation because He is the Righteous Judge.
lie will say on the Last Day, "Come, you blessed of My
Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the
foundation of the world, (Mt. 25:34), or, "Depart from Me:
you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for ~ h e ~ e V l
and his angels, (Mt. 25:41). It is the Lord who will s1t on
1 he throne of His glory and divide the sheep from the goats
md the wheat from the tares... The apostle also says,
" . you, who are kept by the power of God through faith
{or salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (JPet. 1:5)
39. Since such salvation is not yet revealed and this. shall
he done on the mouth of God alone, we should not JUdge
before time nor reveal Gods' judgment not yet made.
This will take place on the Lords' Day, on the Last Day,
~ o the apostle punishing the sinner of Corinth said,
" .. that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus"
(/Cor. 5:5).
He did not say "now" because it is salvation "to b.e
revealed in the last times,. He said also, "Finally, there IS
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laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord,
the righteous judge, will give to me on that Day, and not
to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing"
(2Tim. 4:8).
Would you say now that you are saved! or wait till that
Day when the judgement will be revealed by the righteous
judge?
This will take place when war ends and you overcome ...
You will seek salvation all your life as St. Paul the great
apostle did, the man of revelations and miracles who was
caught up to the third heaven and who laboured more than
the other apostles. He said,
"I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ
Jesus has also laid hold of me" (Phil. 3:12).
We repeat that our life on the earth is all pressing on in
order to attain. This takes the whole life through hard
struggle .. which ends only by death. So, St. Paul the Apostle
did not say, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished
the race" except after he had said directly before it, "For
I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the
time of my departure is at hand" (2Tim. 4:7,6).
I fear when you say 'I am saved' or 'I trust' that you
slacken and be not careful because you think there is no need
for struggling since you trust that you will have everything!
Always remember the words of the apostle, "Therefore
let him who thinks he stands take heed leSt he fall" (I Cor.
10:12).
CHAPTER 6
OBJECTIONS
AND
REFUTATIONS
1. Forgiveness through the blood alone.
2. Sah at ion perfected. ,,
3. Why should you not say ' I am saved
4. An everlasting forgiveness. .
S. Concerning the effKtiveness of baptJsm.
~ On being washed in baptism. .
7
. Again on being washed In baptism.
8. Forgiveness through faith. .
9
, On forgiveness through baptism. . .
f6. Faith and rKeiving of the Holy Spmt.
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laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord,
the righteous judge, will give to me on that Day, and not
to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing,
(2Tim. 4:8).
Would you say now that you are saved! or wait till that
Day when the judgement will be revealed by the righteous
judge?
This will take place when war ends and you overcome ...
You will seek salvation all your life as St. Paul the great
apostle did, the man of revelations and miracles who was
caught up to the third heaven and who laboured more than
the other apostles. He said,
11/ press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ
Jesus has also laid hold of me" (Phil. 3:12).
We repeat that our life on the earth is all pressing on in
order to attain. This takes the whole life through hard
struggle .. which ends only by death. So, St. Paul the Apostle
did not say,
41
1 have fought the good fight, I have finished
the race" except after he had said directly before it,
11
For
I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the
time of my departure is at hand" (2Tim. 4:7,6).
I fear when you say 'I am saved' or 'I trust' that you
slacken and be not careful because you think there is no need
for struggling since you trust that you will have everything!
Always remember the words of the apostle,
let him who thinks he stands take heed leSt he fall" (1Cor.
10:12).
CHAPTER 6
OBJECTIONS
AND
REFUTATIONS
1. Forgiveness through the blood
2. Sahation perfected.
3. Why should you not say 'I am saved'?
4. An everlasting forgiveness.
S, Concerning the effectiveness of baptism.
6. On being washed In baptism.
7. Again on being washed in baptism.
8. Forgiveness through faith.
9, On forgiveness through baptislll
rti. Faith and receiving of the HolY Spirit.
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1. FORGIVENESS THROUGH THE
BLOOD ALONE
Objection:
Some say that sins are not forgiven through repentance
as repentance is limited whereas sin is unlimited. Baptism
also - according to them - does not give forgiveness of sins
but this is achieved only through tne Blood of Christ.
R' futation:
We do not deny at all that forgiveness is through the Blood.
It is the teaching of the Bible "without shedding of blood
there is no remission" (Heb. 9:22). But we receive this
remission offered by the Blood, through baptism and
repentance.
It is a biblical teaching not a personal point of view.
In this regard, St. Peter said to the Jews on the day of
Pentecost, .. Repent, and let every one of you be baptized
in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" (Acts
2:38).
As for repentance, the Lord Jesus Christ said, .... unless
you repent you will all likewise perish" (Lk. 13:3,5). The
127
apostles also said concerning the acceptance of the gentiles
into faith, "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles
repentance to life" (Acts 11:18).
It is true that repentance and baptism are limited but they
make a person worthy of the unlimited atonement of the
Blood.
As the father apostles connected between repentance and
life (Acts 11: 18) the Lord Jesus Christ likewise connected
between baptism and salvation in His words, "He who
believes and is baptized will be saved" (Mk. 16:16). We do
not seperate between the Blood on one side, and repentance
and baptism on the other side.
Both are based on the Blood and without the Blood they
have no effectiveness. However they are the documents
necessary for paying the deserts of the Blood. They make
a person worthy of the remission offered by the Blood.
f
128
2. SALVATION PERFECTED
Objection:
Some say that the salvation perfected on the cross from
the condemnation of sin is everlasting.
Refutation:
The part to be done by the Lord Christ in salvation has
been perfected on the cross, This is true, but man has to
try to attain such salvation offered on the cross; for there
are conditions for this ...
The part of the Lord Christ has been perfected but what
about our part?
There is a human role we should perform because God
does not impose savlation on us but we attain it with our
free will through the means laid down by God Himself, among
which are the following:
1. Faith: through faith as a first step we attain the salvation
perfected on the cross.
The Lord Jesus Christ says,
11
/f you do not believe that
I am He, you will die in your sins" (Jn. 8:24), and aJ.so,
u that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have
everlasting life" (Jn. 3:16).
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Hence we say that salvation is perfected but only a believer
may attain it. Therefore St. Paul and Silas said to the
J>hilippian Jailer, uBelieve on the Lord Jesus Christ and you
will be saved, you and your household" (Acts 16:31). They
dtd not say to him 'Rejoice for you are saved whether you
believe or not!'
2. Baptism: Salvation is perfected but we attain it only
through baptism:
The Lord teaches us, "He who believes and is baptized
will be saved" (Mk. 16:16). Can a person rejoice falsely and
say he is saved though he did not believe or get baptized!
3. Repentance: Salvation is perfected but unless we repent
we shall perish (Lk. 13:3).
Though salvation is perfected, Annas and Caiaphas were
not saved. Alexander the coppersmith also was not saved but
the Lord will repay him according to his works (2Tim. 4: 14),
neither Simon the sorcerer- (Acts 8), nor Ananias and Sapphira
were saved (Acts 5). The t'licolaitans (Rev. 2:15), Jezebel (Rev.
2:20) and Babylon the great were not also saved.
4. Salvation is perfected means that the Lord Jesus Christ
has opened the gates of salvation before those who believe,
repent and are baptized and who walk according to the Spirit,
not according to the flesh (Rom. 8:1), who live in the
communion of the Holy Spirit (2Cor. 13: 14) and who have
the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22). So, St. Paul the Apostle
says, "To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to
be saints" (Rom. 1:7), "For now our salvation is nearer than
when we first believed" (Rom. 13:11).
130
5. The apostle rebukes us for such perfected salvation
saying,
"How shall we escape if we negelect so great a salvation"
(Heb. 2:3).
How shall we be worthy of the salvation? how can we
receive it? how can we attain it? how can we continue in
it and not lose it?
Hence, we should not say that salvation is perfected and
stand away of it!
6. If salvation is perfected and the matter is all over, why
did St. Paul the Apostle say to his disciple St. Timothy:
"Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in
them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those
who hear you" (1 Tim. 4: 16).
7. If salvation is perfected and the matter is all over, why
did the Jews ask the apostle on the day of Pentecost, 'Men
and brethren', .. What .sha/1 we do" (Acts 2:37) and why did
Saul of Tarsus ask the Lord .. Lord, what do you Want me
to do?" (Acts 9:6)?
Then, there is a part to be done by man. There is an action
that msut be done by man to attain that salvation and
continue in it. However, a thing to be regretted, most of the
Protestants ignore this human role which includes faith
'
repentance, baptism and good works though it is not all
human but God has an apparent part in it ...
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8. H salvation is perfected, why do we wait and hope for it?
It is of this salvation that St. Paul the Apostle said, .. For
our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait
for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Phil. 3:20),and "For
we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope;
for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope
for what we do not see, then we eagerly wait for it with
perseverance" (Rom. 8:24,25).
St. Peter also said of this,
"Who are kept by the power of God through faith for
salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (JPet. 1:5).
9. If salvation is perfected, why did the Lord Christ say,
.. /am the wine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me ...
bears much fruit. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast
out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and
throw them into the fire and they are burned" (ln. 15:5,6).
John Baptist made the same warning saying,
"Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is
cut down and thrown into the fire" (Mt. 3:10).
10. If salvation is perfected, why is it said,
"Conduct yourselves throughout the time of your
sojourning here in fear" (JPet. 1:17).
"Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling"
(Phil. 2:12).
11. Some say that the atonement of Christ has satisfied
the divine justice:
132
This is true regarding the role of Christ, but for our part
we should have a relation with such atonement that satisfied
the divine justice, we should behave in a way that makes us
worthy of such atonement.
12. If salvation is perfected, why do we say in our prayer,
"And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone
who is indebted to us''?
So, there are sins and trespasses that need forgiveness, and
we ask for this forgiveness in every prayer according to the
teaching of Christ (Mt. 5:12).
3. \\'HY SHOULD YOU NOT SAY
'I AM SAVED'?
t )bjection:
133
They say, 'If the Orthodox believe that they are saved
1hrough baptism, why do not any of them say, 'I am already
aved'?.
ncfutation:
That is because baptism delivers us from the sins committed
hcfore it from the whether original or actual sins. There
ll'mains before us a long way to struggle and resist through
11 till we are saved.
Salvation from past sins alone is not sufficient .. You may
~ saved through repentance from some sins you committed
In the past, but you cannot say that you are saved in general ..
What about the present with its weaknesses and wars? and
what about the future?
We have to fight throughout the rest of our life the good
fight and finish the race (2Tim. 4:7) putting before us the
words of the apostle, uconduct yourselves throughout the
lime of your sojourning here in fear,. (1 Pet. 1:17).
134
If it happens that God keeps us for some time
sinning, we have to remember the words,
"Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed
he fall" (1 Cor. 10:12).
4. AN EVERLASTING FORGIVENESS
Objection:
They say that the atoning death on the cross gave an
everlasting forgiveness and deliverance from the punishment
of sin.
Refutation:
It is true the Lord Jesus Christ in His atoning death offered
us a treasure of foriven'!ss which we take from every time
we practise the sacrament of repentance. It is not logical that
on the day of our receiving faith or baptism God gives us
forgiveness for all sins which we may commit in the future.
But it is logical tbat any sin we faD into needs repentance
in order to be forgiven and needs deliverance from its
condemnation.
If we repent and confess and not return to sin, we shall
how forgiveness through repentance by the deserts of the
Blood of Christ.
135
rhere is no deliverance from tbe condemnation of sin
without repentance.
[t is also written, "For we must all appear before the
1
udgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things
./one, whether good or bad" (2 Cor. 5:10).
5. CONCERNING THE EFFECTIVENESS
OF
Objection:
It is frequently mentioned in the books of the Plymouth
Brethren that:
Baptism has no effectiveness whatever; it is mere declaration
of faith or revelation of faith!!
Refutation:
This is not a biblical teaching, for the Bible spoke
profoundly about the effectiveness of baptism and never
mentioned that it is a declaration of faith. There is not even
one verse that says so, while many verses speak about the
effectiveness of baptism among which are the following:
#
136
1. Baptism and salvation:
Its effectiveness in this regard is obvious in the words of
the Lord Jesus Christ - glory be to Him, "He who believes
and is baptized will be saved" (Mk. 16:16).
2. Baptism and washing away of sins:
After the meeting of Saul of Tarsus with the Lord Jesus
Christ, Ananias of Damascus said to him, "Brother Saul ...
why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away
your sins" (Acts 22:16). This means that though Saul met
with Christ, believed and was elected by the Lord, he still
needed to wash away his sins in baptism.
3. Baptism and forgiveness of sins:
This is evident in the words of St. Peter the Apostle to
the Jews on the day of Pentecost, "Repent, and let every
one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins ... " (Acts 2:38).
4. Baptism and new birth:
This appears in the words of the Lord Christ to "licodemus,
"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water
and the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God" (Jn. 3:5).
The same was referred to by St. Paul the Apostle when
he said, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done,
but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing
of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit" (Tit. 3:5).
--- -- -- - -- --- - --
137
, llaptism is burial with Christ, rising with Him and
alritual circumcision:
We read this in the epistle of St. Paul to the Colossians,
''In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision
made without hands by putting off the body of the sins of
fltt' flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him
, baptism, in which you also were raised with Him ... And
1ou, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision
of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having
forgiven you all trespasses ... ,, (Col. 2:11-13).
Burial with Christ and rising with Him in baptism is
mentioned also in (Rom. 6) as we shall state now:
6. Baptism gives renewation, for through it we walk in
"newness of life".
In the epistle to the Romans, St. paul says, ~ ~ r do you
not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ
Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried
with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was
raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we
also should walk in newness of life .. . knowing this, that our
old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might
be done away with ... , (Rom. 6:3-6) .
Here we quote the words of Awad Samaan, the famous
Plymouth writer:
[By descending into water, we declare the death of Christ
and by coming out of water, we declare our rising]
138
We comment that the Bible did not say that baptism
just a declaration of our death with Christ and our
up, but it is stated that we died with Christ, rose up
Him, were buried with Him in baptism and our old m
was crucified with Him .
Texts are obvious and express, they may not be changed
or wrongly interpreted just to support a human point of view
concerning baptism. It is a real death with Christ, rising up
of a new man in newness of life and not mere delaration
of resurrection. This finds proof in other verses of the Bible:
7. In baptism we put on Christ:
Truly, how beautiful, how profound and wonderful the
words of St. Paul the apostle on baptism are:
"For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have
put on Christ" (Gal. 1:27).
Is there more effectiveness for baptism than this? Or would
we ignore the verse, deny it or interpret it according to our
own views to confirm human thoughts against the bilical
concept of baptism?!
We have reviwed above the holy texts and they are clear
concerning the effectiveness of baptism. There is not even
one verse that it is just a declaration of faith! ..
"He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" (Mt. 13:9,43).
139
tt. ON BEING WASHED IN BAPTISM
c ,hjcction:
I hey say that baptism washes only the bodies but has no
I teet on the soul!.
lhfutation:
I. It was never stated in the Bible that baptism is for the
washing of the body!
St. Peter the Apostle replies to this point speaking
lhe symbol of the ark; he says, "While the ark was bemg
wepared, in which a few, that is eight were saved
through water. There is also an antitype whtch now saves
11
s namely baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh,
the answer of a good conscience toward God), through
the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (JPet.
3
:
20

21
).
2. The phrase (not the removal of the filth of the
Is a reply to the phrase (baptism washes only the bodies).
The words "saves us, show that we are saved through
baptism as the Lord said in (Mk. 16:16). The same finds reply
in the words of Ananias of Damascus to Saul of Tarsus after
his conversion.
140
3. "Why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized and
away yours sins" (Acts 22:16).
It is evidently clear that the washing of the body is
washing away of the sins but the washing away of sins
a washing of the spirit, purification, cleansing, justi ...... Lv
and renewal of it. This finds support in the words of St. Paul:
4. "He saved us, through the washing of regeneration
renewing of the Holy Spirit" (Tit. 3:5).
S. The washing of the body alone may be true if the baptism
is of water only but it is of water and the Spirit.
Therefore the Lord Jesus Christ said, "Unless one is born
of water and the Spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God"
(Jn. 3:5). It is not just plain water in which people are dipped
in but it contains the oil of the holy chrism, the
anomtment of the Holy Spirit (IJn. 2:20,27). Through
prayers, water takes a new nature so that any person born
of it may be born of water and of the Spirit.
6. If baptism had been just for the washing of the body,
St. Peter the Apostle would not have asked the Jews to be
baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).
Washing the body alone does not give remission of sins.
7. If baptism had been for the washing of the body only,
the Lord Jesus Christ would not have made it a means for
salvation as He said in (Mk. 16:16).
Washing the body alone does not save a person!
we conclude that the objection of the Plymouth Brethren does
141
uot coincide at all with the teaching of the Lord and the holy
1p0 ties as included in the Holy Bible.
It 1s a thing to be regretted to find that some people ignore
lh verses of the Bible and offer their own views instead or
mploy the verses to serve their views!
7. AGAIN ON BEING WASHED
IN BAPTISM
( )bjection:
They say it is the Blood, not baptism, that washes away
ins because it is stated in the Revelation about the Lord Jesus
hrist "To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins
in His own blood." (Rev. 1:5).
Refutation:
We do not deny at all that we are washed from our sins
by the blood of Christ but this is done in baptism .
When a believer washes away his sins in baptism according
to the Bible (Acts 22:16) he is in fact washed in the blood
of Christ . Both are the same as in baptism; he dies with Christ
and is buried with Him.
It is the Lord's will that your washing in the blood be
performed in the washing of baptism.
142
you should deny the verse that says, "Arise and
be wash away your sins" (Acts 22:16) and other
verses 1mplymg the same meaning.
. do they behave so, depending on one verse alone and
any other verses that complete the meaning? This
IS not the biblical truth; for half facts are not facts!
. In repentance as well, a person is washed from his sins
m the blood of Christ.
Wo.uld the Plymouth Brethren object also to the
effectiveness of repentance regarding washing away of sins
and say that we are only washed from our sins in the blood?!
Baptism takes its effectiveness from the deserts of the blood
and also takes from the deserts of the blood. The
Chnst1an life as a whole is based on the Blood of Christ and
grace, likewise, grants us from the deserts of the blood.
Would we then deny the effectiveness of baaptism
repentance and grace,and sing "washed in the Holy Blood";
Would we ignore the verses that speak about forgiveness!
Blood is the basis, while baptism, repetance and grace are
mere means. The blood is the redeeming divine action offered
us, while baptism and repentance are human actions required
so that may deserve the blood given for us.
To make it obvious, we simply say,
We are washed from our sins by the blood of Christ in
baptism. '
143
fhe same may be said about repentance and confession
wd also about Eurcharist.
However, the Plymouth Brethren and their followers give
mother objection regarding forgiveness
8. FORGIVENESS THROUGH FAITH
Objection:
They say that forgiveness is granted through faith as the
Lord says,
"... that they may receive forgiveness of sins... by faith
in Me" (Acts 26:18); and also the father apostles say, "To
Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever
believes in Him will receive remission of sins" (Acts 10:43).
Refutation:
Of course when dealing with non-believers, concentration
should be laid on faith because the baptism of a non-believer
is wrong and even if he repents without believing on Christ,
he will not be forgiven, without the blood.
The two verses they use i.e. (Acts 26:18 and 10:43) were
said about the acceptance of the gentiles into faith. They had
to be preached faith before speaking to them about the creed
and doctrines.
144
Faith was the first step that led them to forgiveness.
However deep their repentance might be, they were
with the words of the Lord Christ, "If you do not
that I am He, you will die in your sins" (ln. 8:24) . But If
they believed, their repentance would be effective .. .
If those gentiles believed, their faith would lead them to
baptism and forgiveness.
Take as an example Saul of Tarsus from the Jews not from
the gentiles:
He met with the Lord Jesus Christ on the way
and spoke to Him face to face. He believed and srud,
what do you me to do?" (Acts 9:6) The Lord sent htm to
Ananias who said to him, "Brother Saul. .. why are
waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sms
(Acts 22:16).
If the sins of Saul were forgiven by faith, what need there
was for baptism to wash them away?!
Is not this a proof that Saul's sins, though he believed,
. b t ' ?
remained waiting to be washed away m ap Ism
"He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" (Lk. 14:3
I'd like to say to the Plymouth Breth ern: Put beside
verses on fogiveness though faith, the verses. on
though baptism. They are many, among whtch we
(Acts 2:38 and 22: 16). Put also the verses on repentance
as (Lk. 13:3,5 and Acts 11:18) and do not follow the
145
of using one single verse seperate from others because this
does not form a doctrine.
I'd like also to whisper in your ear a frank word:
You say that forgiveness is only through the Blood and
not through baptism nor repentance! Why do you say now
that forgiveness is through faith?!
Truly, forgiveness is through the Blood, while faith,
baptism and repentance are mere means but they are necessary
for forgiveness . We can put before us also the words of the
Lord, "Forgive, and you will be forgiven" (Lk. 6:37), "If
you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your
Father forgive you your trespasses" (Mt. 6:15). The last two
verses may be put within the scope of repentance but we
mention them just to give more details.
If a person believes but does not forgive his brother, would
he be forgiven?!
Do you not agree with me that only whole facts are the
right thing?
Truly, it is the blood that is the price of salvation, not
haptism or repentance or even faith because salvation is a
I rce gift as the Bible says, "Being justified freely by His grace
through the redemption ... " (Rom. 3:24), and "Without
\ltedding of blood there is no remission" (Heb. 9:22).
l lowever, faith, baptism and repentance are essential means
fur obtaining the deserts of the blood without which we do
nul benefit of the blood of Christ which is capable of forgiving
lhc sins of the whole world.
146
Look, here is the blood of Christ befo
p f re us capable
un every sin but the apostle refers to the condT
?f he says, "But if we walk in the li ht :,.:o;;;
we !ellowship with one and the
. " esus Chnst HIS Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 Jn
1. 7), 'I! we confess our sins, He is faithful andJ.USt t fi . .
us our sms and to l fi o org1ve
1:9) c eanse us rom aO unrighteousness" (JJn.
Then, forgiveness is through
conditions for such forgiveness
baptism and repentance .
the blood but there are
among which are faith
'
in the conditions also are: to forgive others to walk
1 e and to confess our sins as the Bible Th
atter pomts may be included WI.thi e
n repentance.
147
J. ON FORGIVENESS THROUGH BAPTISM
Objection:
Forgiveness through baptism is turned from an internal
feeling of repentance and faith into an outer action.
Refutation:
This may be true if baptism were without faith and without
repentance! But we require that the person to be baptized
have to declare his refusal of the devil (repentance) and to
confess faith .. If the person to be baptized is a child, one
of his parents will do so on his behalf ..
This is what St. Peter the Apostle did towards the Jews
who believed and were cut to the heart. he said to them after
they believed, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized
in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" (Acts
2:38.
Thus, the three were required to obtain forgiveness i.e.
faith, repentance and baptism.
148
10. FAITH AND RECEIVING OF THE
HOLY SPIRIT
Objection:
. As they try to do away with the sacrament of b .
Its effectiveness, they try likewise to do
sacrament of the holy Unction. WI t e
They say faith is a means for the coming down of
thhe Spmt depending on the words of the Lord ttc.r
w o believes in Me th S . ' ne
. . -as e cnpture has said out of h . h
WI/I /low nvers of living water. But this R k IS
:z: Spirit, those believing in Him
Holy Spirit was not yet given .. . ., (Jn. 7:38,39) Th
the Apostle in
h . . ' avmg e 1eved, you were sealed w "th
t e Holy Spirit of promise" (Eph. 1:13). I
Refutation:
h The. Holy Spirit is not received by a believer as soon as
buftt as a second after he believes .. This step
w a er a long penod.
The by the Plymouth Bretheren refers
same meanmg as It is stated "But th. R k to the
the Spirit, those in Zim e :::
1
:
the Holy spmt was not yet given" (Jn. 7:39). , fi
149
It means that those believers did not receive the Holy Spirit
ts soon as they believed but were to receive Him afterwards ...
When did they receive the Holy Spirit? ... They received
Him on the day of Pentecost with the father apostles or after
that with many other believers.
The Holy Spirit is a gift from God to a believer after his
believing and his being baptized. Therefore St. Peter the
Apostle said to the Jews who believed on the day of Pentecost,
"Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name
of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive
the gift of the Hbly Spirit" (Act 2:38).
Hence, faith, repentance and baptism arepreliminary to
the receiving of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit was given in the early apostolic era by the
laying on of the hands of the apostles, then He was given
through the Holy Unction as St. John the Apostle explained
in his first epistle, "But you have an anointing from the holy
One, (JJn. 2:20), "But the anointing which you have recieved
from Him abides in you" (JJn. 2:27).
The Acts give us two examples that demonstrate that the
Holy Spirit was not received with the declaration of faith
but as a completely separate gift that may be given after some
time. These two examples are: The belief of the Samaritans
(Acts 8) and that of the Ephesians (Acts 19).
a. Regarding Samaritans, it is said, "Now when the apostles
who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the
word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when
150
they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive
the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them.
They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Then they laid hands on them and they received the Holy
Spirit .. (Acts 8:14-17).
Those who believed and were baptized, no one of tilem
received the Holy spirit but they received Him by the laying
of the bands of the apostles afterwards.
b. As for the Ephesians, St. Paul the Apostle asked them,
"Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? .. They
answered him, "We have not so much as heard whether there
is a Holy Spirit .. (Acts 19:2). They were baptized into John's
baptism ... So, "they were baptized in the name of the Lord
Jesus And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit
came upon them .. (Acts 19:5,6).
They believed and in spite of this did not know that there
is tbe Holy Spirit and their faith did not give them the Spirit
as the Plymouth Brethren pretend!
So, they were first baptized, then received the Holy Spirit
by the laying on of the hands of St. Paul the Apostle. To
them, faith was seperate from baptism and from the receiving
of the Spirit ...
Faith is just a prepartion for receiving the Spirit. But no
one receives the Spirit except him who believes and is baptized.
When the apostle said, " .. having believed, you were sealed
with the Holy Spirit of promise .. (Eph. 1:13), he meant that
faith prepared them to be sealed with the spirit.
CHAPTER 7
WERE THOSE SAVED
IN A MOMENT?
- The tax-c JtJector
- The lost son.
- Zaccbaeus.
- The Philipp ian jailer.
-The bandit on the Lord's
right hand.
150
they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive
the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them.
They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Then they laid hands on them and they received the Holy
Spirit'' (Acts
Those who telieved and were baptized, no one of tiJem
received the Holy spirit but they received Him by the laying
of the hands of the aposdes afterwards.
b. As for the Ephesians, St. Paul the Apostle asked them,
"Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?, They
answered him, "We have not so much as heard whether there
is a Holy Spirit, (Acts 19:2). They were baptized into John's
baptism ... So, "they were baptized in the name of the Lord
Jesus And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit
came upon them, (Acts 19:5,6).
They believed and in spite of this did not know that there
is the Holy Spirit and their faith did not give them the Spirit ..
as the Plymouth Brethren pretend!
So, they were first baptized, then received the Holy Spirit
by the laying on of the hands of St. Paul the Apostle. To
them, faith was seperate from baptism and from the receiving
of the Spirit. ..
Faith is just a prepartion for receiving the Spirit. But no
one recdves the Spirit except him who L"elieves and is baptized.
When the apostle said, .. having believed, you were sealed
with the Holy Spirit of promise, (Eph. 1:13), he meant that
faith prepared them to be sealed with the spirit.
CHAPTER 7
WERE THOSE SAVED
IN A MOMENT?
- The tax-r Jdector
- The lost son.
- Zacchaeus.
- The Philipp ian jailer.
-The bandit on the Lord's
right hand.
152
A LEAFLET THAT CARRIES NO
SIGNATURE
Some Protestant showed me a Protestant leaflet entitled
"The heresy of salvation in moment", but within it is a
defence of this heresy. It ends with the words [Then, salvation
in a moment is an assured fact]!
I knew that the title given the leaflet was meant to give
it an orthodox outer appearance that may encourage the
Orthodox to read it thinking it is the work of their church?
while it includes an unorthodox teaching!!!
I am not going here to condemn this way of publishing
or to show how far it is spiritual or true in the faith (I Tim.
1 :2) ... But I shall treat the subject itself and discuss its main
points.
So I shall review the examples mentioned by the writer of
the leaflet successively beginning with the parables of the
tu-coUector and the lost son to see if each of them was saved
in a moment.
Another Aim Behind the two Parables:
The Lord Jesus Christ was not after explaining the doctrine
of salvation in these two parables but in one of them He
153
lt speaking about the importance of hull'\ility and ill the
"her about the importance of repentance.
n o then our Protestant brethren b -:it ilnd
' ? t Utuu y
h'llentance causes for salvation seeang ._at there iS no
uuntion in both parables about faith, redembtion, atotteJJlent
ur the blood of Christ! For each of the examPles bas
1
mother objective.
Why then do they use the texts of Bible in other
uccasions and what is the occasion of of
WAS THE TAX-COIJLECTO\t SAVl:V
IN A MOMENT?
St. Luke the Evangelist says in this about
"Also He spoke this parable to some who in
themselves that they were righteous, and des/)ised other: Two
men went up to the temple to pray, one a /)harisee Qntl the
other a tax collector ... " (Lk. 18:9,
1
0). ettded
with the words, " . .for everyone who exalts himself will be
abased, and he who humbles himself will be exalted''
Concentration in parable is laid
0
l\ the
between pride and humility or between and
humiliating oneself.. The parable how a is
abased and condemned through pnde anq exalting hifllSelf
and how is he justified through and pewtence.
However' the Protestant brethren, \Vho declare that
justification comes through faith alone, cot\centrate here on
154
the words "This man went down to his house justified rat
than the other" (Lk. 18:14), which words were said aho
the tax collector because of his humbleness and penitcnl:
Does this mean that they beUeve justification comes l'nru,u
humbleness?!
Humbleness is an action, penitence is also an action, a
confessing sin is likewise an action ... Would we say that 1
tax collector was saved through his works (actions)? whe
is the role of the grace here? where is the role of the bl
the atonement and redemption, for there is no mention
any of them here?!!
The words, "This man went down to his house justifil
rather than the other" simply mean that the Lord accept
the repentance of the humble and penitent in heart and refuse
the boasting of the proud. .. or mean that God exalts tho
humble and abase those who exalt themselves as the parable
concludes (Lk. 18:14).
Hence, we see that the Lord did not give this parable to
explain by it the question of salvation or to confirm that
salvation may be attained in a moment.
On the other hand, this parable includes two Orthodox
concepts:
The fli'St is confessing sins, and the second is the attachment
to the temp!e (i.e. the church).
The tax-collector went to the Lord's house, to confess his
sins and that he was not worthy. He stood afar off, would
155
ull so much as raise his eyes:a. to heaven, beat his breast and
onfessed his lins. He did nC)t claim any rights as some do!
hut rather asled for mercy in humility feeling he did not
dtserve anything ...
Here, some ttould commen-. that the tax collector was saved
without 1bapth111 or holy COJIInmunion!
We reply tlat in this pai'Silble it was impossible to speak
bout tile chllrch sacramelll ts because they were not yet
t lablisbed. 1be church sac ... ament are based on the blood
of Chris.t which at that t i l l l ~ was not yet sbtd!!
Baptism is <1eath with Christ and rising up with Him (Rom.
6: t,S), and when the Lord Said this parable He was not yet
I nd. So, the tax collector could not have said along with
th apostle, ''Buried with Him in baptism" (Col. 2:12). The
nme may be Said regarding the other sacrament for all are
b sed on the deserts of the blood of Christ. ..
Another JX)int is that the Objective of this parable was not
10 speak about the sacraments.
The objective was to rebuke those, "who trusted in
tlttmselves that they were righteous, and despised others".
However, we shall return to the main question and give
m answer t() it. The question is:
Can we cotaclude from the said parable that the tax collector
Uained salvation in a m01nent?
The penitence, humiliation and confession of the tax
collector anct his asking for mercy made him deserve
156
forgiveness as any of the similar cases in the Old Testament
But he was to wait like them for the blood of Christ to .
the wages of sin. pay
. If s.uch a h.umiliated, penitent and confessing tax collector
.n of Christ, he had to declare his faith in the
cructfted Lord Jesus Christ as soon as the Chruch had
been established after the redemption and coming down f
the Spirit. He had also to be baptised to the
of sms tf ever he wanted to gain salvation (Acts 2:38).
Thus, we cannot say that he was saved in a moment because
"Without shedding of blood there is no remission"
9:22). ,, .
such a tax-collector had lived and died before the
.of the Lord Jesus Christ, he would have waited
m Hades till the Lord brought him out with Adam th
propl' ets and the other saints. Thus also we cannot say'
he was saved in a moment. ..
WAS THE LOST SON SAVED IN
A MOMENT?
The objective of the parable of the tax collector was
humbleness not salvation (Lk. 18:9), likewise, the parable
of the lost son and even the whole chapter was about
repentance (Lk. 15), not salvation.
T?e and scribes murmured because the Lord
Chnst recetved tax collectors and sinners (Lk. 15:1 ,2), so the
Lord gave them three parables on the repentance of sinners.
-
-
157
llwse parables are the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost
1111,.. They speak about the Lord seeking sinners to restore
lhclll into faith and His acceptance of those who return of
I hese are stories about repentance, not doctrinal rules for
11111vatlon .
llowever, the story of the lost son contains profound
11 mbols ...
I et us now contemplate on this parable and examine
1 as included in it. ..
J'he son experienced decisive moments in which he sat to
lumself, examined his own condition and destiny and decided
111 repent ...
These were certainly holy moments, decisive moments but
nut moments of salvation because salvation cannot be attained
In a moment or in moments!
To sit to oneself is something different from deciding one's
w.ly and from repentance ... Salvation still is something greater
1 han all this .. Here the difference between the Orthodox views
tnd the Protestant views appears to be profound and obvious.
According to the protestant view: salvation is just an
ndividual relation between man and God, So, they think it
\:lD be attained in a moment.
According to the Orthodox view: the church plays a role
In salvation as it is entrusted with the gifts of the Holy Spirit
In the holy sacraments.
.. .....,
f
158
Therefore priests have a part to do, seeing they are
of God (Tit. 1 :7). So, salvation is not attained in a
The lost son sat to himself, reivewed his bad condition
decided to repent .. However, those decisive holy
were not moments of salvation... why?
First: because he was still in a far country away from
Father and His bosom, and away from the bouse of the F
which is the church . Salvation was not to be attained
from the Father ..
The son knew this and knew how important it was, so
said, ttl will arise and go to my father, and will say to
Father, I have sinned' "{Lk. 15:18) .. Artd he arose and
to his Father ..
His return to the Father's bouse means his return to
church.. In fact, salvation is only attained in the
house. So the servants had a part in the story, for
repesent the priests.
The father said to his servants, uBring out the best
and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and
on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it,
let us eat and be merry" The father said this before
jor this my son was dead and is alive again; he was
and is found" (Lk. 15:22-24).
What symbols and rituals do these details refer to?
on of tbe best robe refers to baptism and to
If the parable is to be taken about non-believers,
on of the best robe will refer to baptism. We can say
159
lh lo<tt son represents the gentiles who are estranged from
td In a far land while the elder son represents the Jews ...
J'ulling on of the best robe reminds us of the words of
th tpostle, ttFor as many of you as were baptized into Christ
Ill' put on Christ" {Gal. 3:27).
II the parable is to be taken about believers, the best robe
Ill re-fer to ttthe righteous acts of the saints" {Rev. 19:8;
1 de 16:10; Eph. 6,14) we notice that righteousness in
(I t k. 16) came after baptism and chrism: uy washed you
'" w ter" i.e. baptism, "I anointed you with oil" i.e. the
lutly chrism, then III clothed you ... " {Ezek. 16:9,10).
s for eating from the killed fatted calf, it refers to
I m dtarist.
1 n the parable of the lost son, this took place after
1 p ntance, confession and contrition of heart ... after he said,
1 ather, I have sinned ... and am no longer worthy to be
.tiled your son" ...
We notice also that the fatted calf was killed and served
hy the servants of the Father i.e. the men of Priesthood who
h td a part in the story.
1 he killing of the calf meant the shedding of blood. This
t minds us of the words of the apostle, uwithout shedding
of blood there is nor remission" {Heb. 9:22).
It was not possible for the lost son to have salvation before
llllng the fatted calf, shedding the blood and eating of it
r
f
160
The ring on his hand symbolizes that he was a son,
that his soul had become a bride of Christ.
The sandals on his feet refer to keeping of
commandments (Eph. 6:15).
Thus, we find that the story of the lost son included:
a. Coming to oneself, blaming oneself,
confession and humiliation.
b. The return to the church, the Father's house and t
Father's bosom.
C. Baptism and righteousness.
d. Eating of the Eucharist and keeping the commandments.
.,. . The service done by the servants of the father i.e. the
men of priesthood.
Obviously, all this was not performed in a rnoment "He
who has ears to hear, let him hear!,. (Mt. 13:9).
161
\\'AS ZACCHAEUS SAVED IN A MOMENT?
1 he story of Zacchaeus resembles that of the Philippian
jtllrr with respect to the words, "Today salvation has come
,,, this house, (Lk. 19:9). But there are more details tn the
1111 y of Zacchaeus that could not have taken place in a
woment.
Though !he word "today" does not mean "moment'', yet
w shall go into the details of the story to see what they
ll(nify ..
fhe story tells us that Zacchaeus sought to see Jesus Cluist..
11 tells us about his wish, his simplicity, how he up
lnlo a sycamore tree to see Him and how the Lord
him, "make haste and come down, for today I musr stay
11t your house, Zacchaeus made haste, came down and
1 cceived the Lord joyfully. But in spite of all this the Lord
did not say to him "Today salvation has come to this lzo'<se ....
Then when the Lord came to the house of Zacchaeus, the
people murmured saying "He has gone to be a guest with
a man who is a sinner, (Lk. 19:7).
Though it is obvious that the meeting beside the sycalnore
tree, the feelings that preceded it, the calling and the toing
to the house.. all this was not done in a moment, yet the
162
Lord bad not yet said "Today salvation has come to
house".. This was only said after the repentance
Zaccbaeous and after be bad confessed and decided to
to everyone what be bad taken from him Do aJI this
under the words "in a moment"?!
However we have three remarks on the words
salvation has come to this house.,: The first concerning
words uto this house., .. The people in the house could
have been saved in a moment after the repentance of
of them ... But rather the repentance of one was the oeg;mn1n
of a relation with the Lord that led to their salvation ..
could not have been achieved in a moment.
The second remark is that we cannot speak about
church sacraments in relation to this example because
were not yet established. The third remark is that Latccnael
was only saved after the crucniXion of the Lord O.rist Dec::aaq
without shedding of blood there is no remission (Heb.
The words of the Lord are mere promise of salvation
declaration that that house deserved the salvation which
be offered after some time on the cross ... Zacchaeus and
household received at that time a deed which they recei
only after the crucifixion of Christ and on certain
They must have been baptized and washed away their si
as Ananias advised Saul of Tarsus (Acts 22: 16). In fact,
deserve salvation is a thing different from attaining it. ..
Hence, it is impossible to say that Zacchaeus attai
salvation in a moment.
163
I u say that someone bad attained salvation the
I tlh lllxion of Christ is an express doing away with the
llut Crlne of salvation through the blood which our Protestant
,.,.,chren believe in!
It good to have this belief but it is rather better to apply
I lliOperly.
I i Ot right to hold to one of the verses of the
t & n Is, t t d In
I li eral way because uthe letter kil as. It IS s a e .
or 3:6). We should put beside a verse the nght theological
tnc pt of it. Otherwise literal treatment of a text would lead
1 t(l shallowness.
"l{e who has ears to hear, let him hear!" (Mt. 11:15).
AS THE PHILIPPIAN JAILER SAVED
IN A MOMENT?
In the story of the philippian jailer' Paul and Silas. said
lum uBelieve on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you Will be
;, d, and your household, (Acts 16:31).
Uld the faith of the jailer save his household in a moment?
llteologically and practically speaking, it is impossible to
Chat this happened in a moment.
Uut the faith of a person may lead to the salvation of
h msehold if this encourages them to believe and follow his
1 ps. Then his faith is c_9nsidered the first step that leads
1 ) nlvation after some time.
166
of Christ on the cross... That is because the wages of
is death 6:23). It was necessary for Christ to die
in order that the bandit might be saved
It is known that the Lord Jesus Christ remained on
cross for about two hours after uttering His promise to
bandit because that promise was the second word of the
words uttered by the Lord on the cross.
He may have uttered it at the first hour of the three
He spent on the cross from the sixth hour to the ninth ..
was the bandit saved immediately after the death of
The answer is:
2. The bandit bad to die with Christ in order to be
And his death with Christ is considered a baptism in
deepest meaning.
For what is baptism? The apostle says, uor do you
know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ
were baptized into His death? Therefore we were ouried
Him through baptism into death. ,, (Rom. 6:3); and also,
if we have been united together in the likeness of His
certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurT'eclzon.
knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him,
the body of sin might be done away with ... " (Rom. 6:5,
It is obvious that the bandit was actually crucified wi
Christ and die with Him a real death and not just uin t
likeness of His death". Hence the death of the bandit
an ideal baptism, a model of any other baptism.
167
lluw dare then any one say that the bandit was not
11 d11 . .
ho had this great blessing with Chrtst IS
p r o;on w S p u1 the Apostle
in an ideal position. Perhaps t. a .
lubl._dly h .d "/have been crucified With
h I It very much, so e sat
{\( (Gal. 2:20).
t in the whole world who
I ht only one among the sam. s . of course the bandit
" tty this in word and meanmg IS
lltlll was on the Lord's right hand. . .
f f they did not dte wtth
I hl saintly they were considered
h st actually but te
1 h.we died with Him. .
b li d and were martyred before bemg
I hose who e eve . d b tized the baptism of blood
I lpllzed in water are constdere. ap
mg that they died with Htm.
k
hen did the bandit gain this baptism
llere we may as w
111c1 die on the cross?
. l that the Lord Christ died at the
It is stated m the .s k. 15:33-37; Lk. 33:44-46).
1
unlh hour (Mt. 27 .45-50 M
. ht down from the cross at
fhe body of Chnst the Apostle says, "When
lite. eleventh hour, for St. 7'' d St Mark says "Now
" (Mt 275 /. an
vening ha.d come it was the Preparation Day,
when evemng had come, S bbath, (Mk. 42); St. Luke says
'hat is, the day before the a t on and the Sabbath drew
tlso, " That day was the Prepahra I , "Because it was the
u!ar" (Lk. 23:54); and St. Jo n says,
168
Prepartion that the bodies should not remain on
cross on the Sabbath ... (Jn. 19:3).
When the body of Christ was brought down, the
bandits were not yet dead, so the soldiers broke their
uBut when they came to Jesus and saw that He was
they did not break His (Jn. 19:33).
Then, we conclude that the bandJt died after the
hour i.e. after two hours of the death of Christ.
be attained salvation only at that time after his death
took place nearly four hours after the divine promise
admitting him into Paradise.
Thus, the bandit was not saved in a moment, nor dJd
enter Paradise immediately after the dJvine promJse but
hours after.
This proves that the bandit was not saved in a ........... L ...
nor without baptism. There remains the third objecti
concerning the church and priesthood to be discussed;
The bandit attained salvation through Christ, the head
the Cbruch and the chief high priest who represented
at that time when neither the Christian priesthood nor
church have Bet yet been established .
CHAPTER 8
DO THESE VERSES PROVE
111
_.._,
THAT SALVATION MAY BE
ATTAINED IN A MOMENT?
(ln. 1:12) "As many as received Hi , '
(Is. 45:22) "Look to Me, and sav d .he
( lets 17:30, Heb. 3:8) verses mcludl g
word "today"
6 2 R 13:11) "now" (1Cor. : , om.
f
168
Prepartion Day, that the bodies should not remain on
cross on the Sabbath ... ,, (Jn. 19:3).
When the body of Christ was brought down, the t
bandits were not yet dead, so the soldiers broke their
uBut when they came to Jesus and saw that He was
dead, they did not break His legs,, (Jn. 19:33).
Then, we conclude that the bandit died after the eleven
hour i.e. after two hours of the death of Christ.
be attained salvation only at that time after his death
took place nearly four hours after the divine promise
admitting him into Paradise.
Thus, the bandit was not saved in a moment, nor did
enter Paradise immediately after the divine promise but
hours after.
This proves that the bandit was not saved in a moment,
nor without baptism. There remains the third obj
concerning the church and priesthood to be discussed:
The bandit attained salvation through Christ, the bead
the Cbrucb and the chief high priest who represented church
at that time when neither the Christian priesthood nor the
church have Bot yet been established ...
CHAPTER 8
DO THESE VERSES PROVE
THAT SALVATION MAY BE
ATTAINED IN A MOMENT?
ed Hi " , , "As many as rece1v
(111. and be sav d'
5 22) "Look to , h
4 : H b 38) verses includl g e
(.1cts 17:30 , e
" d '""
wnrd to aJ '' "now"
(1Cor. 6:2, Rom.
170
l. MERELY TO ACCEPT CHRIST
Misunderstanding and its Danger:
Those who declare that salvation may be attained in a
moment, make it depend on accepting Christ! According to
them 't
' I IS enough for you, in order to attain' salvation to
accept Christ as Redeemer and Savior' and the matter i; all
over!!
. Acceptance according to their own point of view-as is stated
m book entitled "Discipleship" -is to believe that you are
; smner and you deserve to die, and believe that Christ died
or you and to accept Him as a Redeemer and Savior ...
. such acceptance-they say- a person gains
renewal, regeneration from high and remission
o sms and he moves from death to life!!
It means that a person bt . . . .
f
. o aJns JUstification renewal
orgaveness and salv .. : ' '
auon as soon as be accepts Cb . t I
words, without baptism, church, sacrame::s.
pnest ood!
of them, all this is attained-without mediation
f
t el upon acceptance. Hence rose the heresy
o sa vahon m a moment. ..
171
In their magazine (The Spring) or in Arabic (AI Yanboua)
ucd in January 1978, they say: Suffice you to look at Christ
111 1 he Cross, the soldier piercing Him with the spear and
"" will be justified at the moment!
llow strange! Just to look at Him, without repenting,
1 unfessing or being absolved or partaking of the Eucharist. ..
lu'l by accepting Christ you are saved! Thus completely
tholishing the church and the holy sacraments ... !
l'he only means of salvation becomes: Have you accepted
c 'hrlst as Redeemer and savior?!
It is a well known expression borrowed from the
llnorthodox who concentrate on acceptance alone .. It is
uoteworthy that the Bible print distributed by the Gideons
1ndudes at the end a declaration of accepting Christ as
Rtdeemer and Savior. A person has to sign it as if such
h.laration is alone sufficient to give him salvation .. . !
They support their view with the words,
'But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right
to become children of God ... " (Jn. 1:12).
l hus, they believe that the regeneration is achieved as soon
a person accepts Christ!
lhfutation:
tet us see what the verse (Jn. 1: 12) signifies and what
r lation it has to becoming children of God .. Does it prove
1
' alvation in a moment"i' .
We notice first regarding those who received Him that:
172
It is not said 'tbey become children of God" but '
them He gave the right to become " It . tb
means at
were only given tbe right but bow did they actuaJJ
chlldren? Undoubtedly through rebirth from high f Y
and tbe Spirit (Jn. 3:3,5). ' rom
.This is what the Lord metnioned while s k.
Nicodemus, for He said assureA'
1
pea mg
. b uly, say to you
Z?e orn of water and the Spirit he cannot e,;ter
is"! (Jn. 3:5). Hence, without baptism there
Those who believe that rebirth takes pl .
accepti Ch (. ace JUSt upon
ng nst I.e. believing on Him) in fact d b .
and move away from the Orthodox ;reed. eny aptlsm
Another point concerning the same verse is:
What is tbe meanin f "
tb
g
0
as many as received Him"? Wb
are ey who received Him?
0
Certainly those wbo received u J
. un, a so received and
accepted HIS teaching ..
His teaching does not say "Just believe" b t "J:Ie
who believes a d b . u says 17.1
n IS aptlzed will be saved" (Mk. 16:16).
If you had only believed but was not baptized seeing that
you would not have followed the
of God... or . . . ou do not deserve to become a child
accepts Christ, should accept His Bible Hs
urc ; His stewards, the stewards of the mysteries of

173
111d all the holy sacraments He left us as means of salvation.
ALceptance is not a mere feeling .. .
Did Saul of Tarsus attain salvation in a moment as soon
ns he accepted Christ?! No, but the Lord sent him to tbe
daurch and the church ordered him to be baptized and wash
&away his sins (Acts 22:16). It means his sins remained after
he accepted Christ waiting for baptism to wash them away ...
Also the Jews who believed on th day of Pentecost, were
lhey saved at the moment they were cut to the heart? No,
hut the Church said to them on the mouth of St. Peter the
Apostle, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in
the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" (Acts
1:38).
What can we say of the salvation of Cornelius and the
a-:thiopian eunuch?
Were they saved as soon as they accepted Christ as
Redeemer and Savior without baptism, sacraments or
priesthood... in a moment?!
To accept the Lord, to believe in Him and to know Him
are only steps preliminary to salvation ... while salvation is
the story of the whole life.
Salvation is the story of faith, repentance and baptism;
the story of obedience, sanctity, communion of the Holy
Spirit, effectiveness of the divine sacraments, the work of
grace with the human will, steadfastness in love and keeping
of the commandment and withstanding diabolic wars.
174
Each of those who received Him asked, "Lord, what do
You want me to do?" as did Saul of Tarsus. The Jews who
accepted the Lord on the day of Pentecost did the same.
asked the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do
(Acts. 2:37).
This shows that there is something to be done after
acceptance.
Cornelius did not become a child of God immediately after
his accepting Christ, but the angel ordered him to- go to the
church and send for Peter the Apostle to tell him what he
had to do (Acts 10:6).
The Ethiopian eunuch as well did not become a child of
God as soon as he accepted the Lord though he believed with
all his heart (Acts 8:37) ... But only when he was baptized,
he went on his way rejoicing. This raises the question, 'why
did he wish earnestly to be baptized?' ...
Concentration on accepting Christ-as Redeemer was only
done by the apostles in calling non-believers because it is the
only way for salvation.
But why do they publish leaflets to call beiJevers to accept
Christ as Redeemer and Savior? Do they not believe yet that
He is the Savior?!
Have not the believers who receive the leaflets accepted
yet Christ-as their Redeemer? Those who follow this way in
preaching the word of God do not really discriminate between
believers and non-believers!
175
. th leaflet be published by a group
c >r what does tt mean :t aouth of the Coptic Orthodox
who call (Th . Y cce t Christ to be saved
( lu uch) calling behevers JUSt to a P mention of the
. rfe without even any
Mml to attam the ne": 1 that is in the Lord Jesus
raments and the nghteousness
( lu ist?
176
1. ''LOOK (TURN) TO ME, AND BE SAVED'
(Is. 45:11)
Among the verses on which those who declare that salvation
may be attained in a moment depend is the verse said by
the Lord in Isaiah "Look Turn to Me, and be saved, all you
ends of the ef!rth!, (Is. 45:22). They lay stress on the word
"Look (TurnF' and say that this verse proves that salvation
is attained at that trun (look) i.e. in a moment!! But does
the verse mean so?
The answer is that the verse bas no relation whatever with
the subject of salvation in a moment. But it calls for stopping
the worship of idols and returning to God's worship ..
I wish whoever quotes from the Bible texts, to be careful
about what he quotes to know the accasion on which the
verse was said? and to whom? and not cut the text out or
include it seperate from other verses ...
A true theologian, or a true believer does not try to subject
verses to his own concepts bot subject himself to the concept
of verses.
Now, let us explain the verses quoted from Isaiah in the
light of the following facts:
A The rest of the verse. Why did not he mention it complete?
B The rest of the chapter including the verse (Is. 45) . .
(' The contents of the chapters 43 to 48 of Isaiah.
We find that all these chapters call people to forsake the_,
gods.
They all call for the worship of the true God alone and .
thsregarding other gods. We find repeated in them the words
uf the Lord, "/, am the Lord, and besides Me there is no
wvior", "/ am the Lord, and there is no other", "/ am,
and there is no one else besides Me" "Before Me there was
110 God formed, nor shall there be after Me".
In these chaptes, God asserts that salvation is only through
I lim. So they had to tum to Him alone not to other strange
KOds are idols .. He says, "Look to Me, and be saved, all
you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no
(Is. 45:22).
This verse is preceded by another which carries the same
meaning, "Have not I, the Lord? And there is no other
beiseds Me, a Just God and a Savior, there is none besides
Me" (Is. 45:21) Then He followed it with the words, "Look
to Me, and be saved".
Is it not strange to hold to part of the verse and leave out
the rest of the verse, what precedes and what follows it giving
it a special meaning desired by the writer!
God's message here is 'Look (trun) to Me, not to other
gods and you will be saved .. because I am God and no other .
I am the Savior not anyone else'.
f
178
Or, in otber words turn your hearts towards Me.. not
towards idols.
If we read the whole chapter we shall come by other words
of the Lord that confirm the meaning, H that you may know
that/, the Lord, who call you by your name .. (Is. 45:3);
H though you have not known Me. I am the Lord and there
is no other. There is no God besides Me. I will gird you,
though you have not known Me" (45:4,5); H that they may
know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is
none besides me. I am the Lord and there is no other" (45:6);
HI, the Lord, do all these things" (45:7); HI, the Lord, have
created it" (45:8), HJ have made the earth and created man
on it. It was /-My hands that stretched out the heavens,
and all their host .. , (45:12); HGod .. and there is no other .. ,
(45:14).
Having asserted tbat He is alone God, tbe Lord speaks
about savlation and bow it is through Him alone. He says,
HBut Israel shall be saved by the Lord with an everlasting
salvation" (Is. 45:17); HJ am the Lord, and there is no other,
(45:18); HI, the Lord .. (45:19); HThey have no knowledge,
who carry the wood of their carved image, and pray to a
god that cannot save" (45:20), HHave not/, the Lord? And
there is no other God besides Me, a Just God and a Savior,
there is none besides Me. Look to Me, and be saved ... ,
(45:21,22).
It is a caD to forsake the worsbJp of idols and believe in
God alone.
And of course Israel did not -in a moment- forsake the
worship of idols and turn to God to be saved .
This was only achieved through great efforts on the
nf the prophets and through blows from God, :
was their falling in captivity. God delivered Israel to t e an s
. . to affl1. ct them then He suffered them long
of theu enemtes ' h d 1
until they looked to Him and gave their backs tot e 1 o s ...
Even those who turned to God to be saved, were not saved
h h the blood of Christ which was shed 800 years except t roug
after that time.
They died in hope as the other fathers and waited ...
They did not attain salvation merely with a or in a
moment.
All they have attained was a promise of salvation.
nl ed wben they believed and forsook the They were o Y sav
worship of idols.
Tbey were saved only when the fulness of time bad come.
Not just by a look, but after long generations HHe
has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches .
f
Ill( I
3. VERSES INCLUDING THE WORJ)
(TODAY) AND (NOW)
Verses:
Those who declare that salvation
moment support their . b may be attained in
1 "B VIew Y the following verses:
. ehold, now is the accepted t
day of salvation" (.'"C 6. lme; behold, now is
.& or. .2).
2. "Now it is high time to a
our salvation is nearer than h wake out of sleep, /or now
83:11). w en we first believed" (Rom.
J. "Today if you will hear n
hearts" (Heb. 3:8). IS VOice, do not harden your
4 "T. I
ru :,Y, these times of i n
now commands all men g orance God overlooked, but
. 5 "14 everywhere to repent" (Acts 1730)
oday salvation has c .
In all these verses, thiS house" (Lk. 19:9)
and "now". n es on the words "today"
The word "Today":
. It is quJte evident that the u
of the word ''moment'' fort: of the word implies aboUsbing
regarding time. ey are completely contradicting
181
tuuin cause for our refutation of the heresy of salvation
ltlllllCnt is the impossibility of performing all the church
1 uncnt s necessary for salvation in a moment. .. It is
, for a person to believe and be baptized in a
''" nt, or to repent, confess and get absolution and partake
I 1 he holy communion in a moment. Practically, this is
II nee, the word implies an express denial of
lh importance of sacraments, priesthood and church in
tl vation.
So, the verses including the word Htoday" brings the debate
111 an end because believing and practising the sacraments
111 be done on a day ...
In one day, one can believe and be baptized ... One can
.tlso repent, confess and partake on the same day and thus
the church carries out its part and the sacraments necessary
for salvation are performed through the ministry of
priesthood .. .
On one day, Philip preached the eunuch, so the eunuch
blieved and was baptized (Acts 8).
On one day, Cornelius sent for St. Peter the Apostle, heard
his preaching, believed and was baptized, he and all who were
present (Act 10).
However, we shall try to understand together the meaning
of the verses they quoted to support their view:
"Now is the accepted time Now is the day of salvation"
(1 Cor. 6:1).
182
The phrases "Now is the time, and "Now is the day"
do not mean at all 'Now is a moment' .. He did not say 'Now
is the moment of salvation' or 'Now is the accepted
moment' ... However, we say:
The word "Now" here means not to delay or postpone ..
It does not mean that they were saved in a moment because
the apostle sent his epistle to "the church of God which is
at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia, (2Cor.
1:1). He was not speaking to non-believers nor did he speak
to them about faith, redemption or baptism.
He spoke to them about repentance and how they ought
not to postpone it .
Repentance is acceptable now and at any time, for God
says, "The one who comes to Me I will by no means cast
out" (Jn. 6:37) .. And St. Paul was speaking to them, in a
previous epistle, about the divisions among them (I Cor. 3:3)
and described them as carnal (l Cor. 3:1,4). Then he rebuked
them, condemned the sinner and judged him (lCor. 5:1-5).
He ordered them "Put away from yourselves that wicked
person" (1 Cor. 5:13). He blamed them also for resorting
to courts of law (I Cor. 6:1,5) and for many other sins ... In
the second epistle which we treat here, the apostle forgave
the sinner he previously condemned (2Cor. 2:7) saying,
"Now I rejoice, not that you were made so"y, but that
your sorrow led to repentance . For godly sorrow produces
repentance to salvation" (2Cor. 7:9,10).
183
He was then speaking to them about repentance and
f m the1r sins which matter ought not to be
,alvatiOn ro ' ' . d
d So it was the accepted time for 1t an to get nd
day was much better, was a salvation ..
Does all this have any thing to do salvatiOn m momeQt
though the apostle did not use this phrase at all ...
He was calling them for saying, "Be
., d t God" (.1Cor 520). So havmg been affected,
reconc1.e o
they ought not to postpone repentance for that was an
accepted time ...
The same was intended by the apostle when he said,
"Now it is high time to awake out of sleep".
Spiritual vigil is required at any time and it is ?ot right
d I
't for it is necessary now.. But what relation there
to e ay 1 ,
is between vigils and salvation ID a moment.
A person who awakes seeks to be saved as the lost son
did. When he came to himself he thought what would he
do and he decided, "/ will arise and go to. my father and
.
11
t hlm I have sinned agamst heaven and
w1 say o ,
before you' ,, (Lk. 15:17,18).
A ak
ess then is foDowed by other steps. So, the apostle
w en . h . 'tual "''"'
explained to them what would they do ID sue spm ''5U
H
d "Now it is high time to awake out of sleep,
esru, k d
Therefore let us cast off the works of dar ness, an us
the ar
mor oif light. Let us walk properly, as m the
put on
1
. t' d
day, not in revelry and drunkennes, not m lcen wusness an
184
lewdness, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus
Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, tofu/fill its lusts"
(Rom. 13:11-14).
The aposde in this part laid down' before them a spiritual
program which perhaps needed spiritual struggle and time.
It was not then a speech about salvation in a moment.
He was speaking to believers, so, in the same verse he said,
~ ~ o w it is high time to awake out of sleep, for now our
salvation is nearer than when we first believed" (Rom. 13:11).
It is abvious then that they were believers and they had
accepted Christ as Redeemer and Saviour ... But at that time
they were stumbling in their sins and needed to repent.
Repentance was not to be postponed but it had to be at that
same time .. Their salvation from their sins through repentance
was at that time easier than at the time when they accepted
faith ...
The same calling was addressed by the apostle to the
Hebrews regarding repentance:
"Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your
hearts" (Heb. 3:7,8).
He was not speaking about salvation in a moment but he
called them to open their hearts for God and to repent. They
had to respond to God's work within them lest His wrath
should fall on them as had happened to their fathers in the
wilderness (Heb. 3:8-10).
They apostle described straying from God and not
185
responding to His voice as heart-hardness .. So, he said to
them, "Today... do not harden your hearts" ...
I wonder what relation there is between this verse and
salvation in a moment!
What relation in there also between this and the following
verse:
"God .. now commands all men everywhere to repent".
"Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now
commands all men everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30).
Does it mean, to call people to repent, that they are to
be saved in a moment. He calls them now but they may
respond or not... Those who respond may take some time
to get rid of their sins, it may be gradual. They may also
repent but fall again... However in their repentance God
overlooks the times of ignorance ...
God calls people now to repent but does this mean that
they will be saved in a moment just because there is the word
unow"?!
Even if it is so . . ! the words of the apostle are, "God ..
now commands", not 'people are now saved' ...
Even the words 'Now are saved' do not mean in a
moment ...
Yet, we may not mix up the words "repentance" and
11
Salvation" for there are differences which we shall explain
in the next chapter entitled "Concepts".
186
"Today salvation has come".
The words "Today salvation has come to this house" (Lk.
19:9) were said by the Lord about Zacchaeus and his
household. They are explained in chapt!r 7 under the title
"Was Zachaeus saved in a moment" page 161.
Besides, the word "Today' ' has no relation to the subject
as we have explained.
Repentance and Salvation:
The other verses (including the same words) are all about
repentance not salvation.
Repentance is in fact a small part of the subject of
salvation, and those who say that salvation rnay be attained
in a moment cannot say that repentance means this. The verses
did not include any mention of faith, blood, redemption,
atonement or baptism. So, theY do not pertain to salvation
and have no relation to our subject ..
CHAPTERt 9

CONCEPTS
Mixin& up and
Mi:dn& up !lange and salvatiion.
Blessed IDOIII;ts not moments
salvation.
Forgiveness the crucifixion.
Faith and
Justification sanctification.
To answer 'ih oae
is not
Which are meantT!
186
"Today salvation has come".
The words uToday salvation has come to this house (Lk.
19:9) were said by the Lord about Zacchaeus and hi1
household. They are explained in c h p t ~ r 7 under the title
"Was Zachaeus saved in a moment " page 161.
Besides, the word "Today" has no relation to the subject
as we have explained.
Repentance and Salvation:
The other verses (including the same words) are all about
repentance not salvation.
Repentance is in fact a small part of the subject of
salvation, and those who say that salvation may be attained
in a moment cannot say that repentance means this. The verses
did not include any mention of faith, blood, redemption,
atonement or baptism. So, they do not pertain to salvation
and have no relation to our subject..
CHAPTER 9
THEOLOGICAL
CONCEPTS
Mixing up repentance and salvation.
Mixing up change and salvation.
Blessed moments not moments of
salvation.
Forgiv;ness before the crucifixion.
l'altb and salvation.
Justification and sanctification.
To answer witb one verse
Is not sufficient.
Which moments are meant?!
188
MIXING UP REPENTANCE AND
SALVATION
1. Many people mix up repentance and salvation, and so
when one repents and his life is changed they say he is saved.
He himself says;'I am saved' and records the date in his diary.
He may be inivited to come to the pulpit and tell his experience
or the story of his salvation so that others may benefit .. !
2. This may be incomplete repentance i.e. repentance over
a certain sin that he is tired of or over the main sin in his life.
It may be the outstanding sin in his life which makes him
feel out of the scope of God's children. It may be adultery,
drinking wine, gambling, stealing... etc.. and when he is
affected in his heart and repents stopping such dreadful sin,
he thinks he is saved and tells the people so!
3. But though he is saved of such sin, he may have other
sins!
He may be overcome by anger for example, love of praise
and vain glory, some tongue sins or being not acute in his
conduct. .. etc ... Yet he says 'I am saved' just because he
stopped drinking, gambling or falling in adultery!
189
4. Here comes to my mind a story I read in a book:
The author was speaking about the possibility of attaining
salvation in a moment and he mentioned a story told by some
known priest about a person addicted to smoking. When that
person came to himself and found that he was wasting his
power and health, he decided to stop smoking ... He threw
away the cigarette packet saying 'away, without return'.
That person who repented said, 'And since that moment
1 never returned to smoking. The author considered this a
proof of the possibility of salvation in a moment? Or a proof
of salvation in a moment from the love of sin!!
The strange thing is that the said author repeated the same
story twice in his book as if it were a strong evidence! I
wonder if salvation according to him lies in stopping smoking?
Or salvation from the love of sin is just to stop smoking?
That person may have other sins which need strong
resistance, to blood (Heb. 12:4) and need great help from
the grace ...
Many persons got rid of such sins and told their experience
but in a moment they fell in the sin of anger and rage and
could not get rid of that ..
Even if they get rid of anger, there may be other sins and
other weak points in their lives .. , for everyone has points
to be reformed in his life.
5. They themselves say that ''sactification'' takes the whole
life ... ! would we then consider stopping smoking an evidence
190
of salvation in a moment?! or include it under j
or sanctification?! Does this take from the deserts of the
and redemption? How and when is it included?
6. Salvation has a broad meaning, and repentace is j
part of it or one of the means leading to it.
We should not therefore speak about repentance,
complete or partial, while we speak about salvation. There
are other things pertaining to salvation that must be
mentioned such as as faith, baptism, blood, atonement and
redemption besides other matters like the act of grace or the
Holy Spirit regarding salvation.. Or is it right to consider
giving up one sin, salvation .. !
7. The concept of salvation ought to be obvious in its broad
mf anJng .
It is the salvation which the Lord worked and still works
for ... It is salvation for which we strive with all our power
and with the help of grace to attain after we had tasted part
of it and we put before us the words of the apostle, uwork
out your own salvation with/ear and trembling" (Phil. 2:12) ..
It is the salvation for which, ..,we do not wrestle against
flesh and blood, but against principalities . . against spiritual
hosts of wickedness" (Eph. 6:12); and for which we need
the whole armor of God,that we may be ablF to withstand
and to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one ... (Eph.
6:13,16).
191
. f one or more sins, for
8. It is not the positive side
I his is the negative SI e an
which place is not here... .
h
' d salvation is a broad subject and
But as we ave sat , .
rtpentance represents only part of It .. .
Repentance also is a broad subject, It has the
of it; contrite repentant heart as anot er P :
of heart . rt dislike of sin as a fourth part,
Kiving sm as a absolution are other elements of
confessmg, . an h h t kes part by helping a person
l epentance m which the c . urc a
to repent and have forgiveness. .
It is evident that all these elements do not take place m
a moment.
He who bas ears to bear' let him bear.
. be the wide concept
This talk about the difference tween us to another
of salvation and the concept of repentance leads
. . "
similar topiC, I.e.
192
MIXING UP CHANGE AND SALVATION
1. I read in a book a paragraph which says, 'When
the king was anointed by Samuel the Prophet, Samuel said
to him, "The Spirit of the Lord will come upon you .. and
be turned into another man" (1 Sam. 10:6). The same
happened to Saul in a moment, for the Bible says, "And
so it was, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel,
that God gave him another heart" (1 Sam. w?at
the Bible says, "when he had turned his back which thmg
does not take time'.
In fact 1 cannot find in this story an evidence of
in a moment but rather an evidence of the opos1te
King Saul actually changed, and in a moment. God
him another heart and worked within him, so he VLJ .......... .
among the prophets and the people exclaimed in ast1:>rulm
h t
?"
"Is Saul also among the Prop e s. .
This actually happened but what was Sauls' end?
2 This Saul who changed in a moment, upon who
Spirlt of the Lord Came and who prophesied never
salvation, but perished!
His life ended a tragic end as the divine revelati
us, "But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul,
193
distressing spirit from the Lord troubled him" (1Sam. 16:14).
He needed David to play on the harp for him that he may
become well "And the Lord regretted that He had made Saul
King over Israel" (1Sam. 15:35). And when Samuel the
Prophet mourned for Saul, the Lord said to him, "How long
will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him ... ?"
(JSam. 16:1).
Indeed, change is something different from salvation .. We
ought not to take a speech about change as concerning
salvation.
King Saul was not saved though he changed, the Spirit of
the Lord came upon him, had the gift of phrophesying and
had the holy anointing by Samuel the Prophet!! He perished
at the end. Therefore the Bible does not lay stress on the
changes that happen to the saints, nor call this salvation but
it is stated, "Considering the outcome of their conduct" (Heb.
13:7).
4. How easy it is to find that a change for better is followed
hy a change to worse .. The life of man is always changeable
an d what is important is how his days of sojourning in this
world end.
Hence, the example of King Saul in his quick change does
n ,I serve the heresy of salvation in a moment but disproves
II ompletely.
'h same may be said regarding change due to repentance
u though it takes place in a moment .. . !
194
5. A person may change in a moment from a sinner into
a repentant! But this does not mean that he is saved, for
he may lose his repentance.
His repentance may turn him from death to life! then he
returns to death again if he does not continue in repentance
or if he returns to sin because the wages of sin is death (Rom.
6:23).
But, repentance may be very strong and the work of grace
very strong ...
6. In this case a sinner turns, by repentance, into a saint
and again may lose his saintliness and fall. Thus he cannot
be said to have been saved in a moment!
We shall let aside the point that the word "saint" was given
in the Bible to all believers as st. Paul the Apostle said, "Greet
every saint in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:21); " ... being watchful
to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the
saints" (Eph. 6:18). He also addressed his epistles to, "To
all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with thl
bishops and deacons" (Phil. 1:1); "to the church of God.
with all the saints who are in all Achaia" (2Cor. 1:1), '
the saints .. who are in Colosse" (Col. 1:2)(See also Phil. 4
Heb. 13:24; 1Cor. 1:2; 2Cor. 13:13).
Notwithstanding this, we say: how many of the saints
fall and lose the first step in their life that turned thena
saints and needed to repent anew and change again ...
David the Prophet was a saint, but he fell and
repentance and tears. Samson was a saint and of the
195
of faith (Heb. 11 :32) but he fell and needed repentance to
be saved. Solomon was a saint, he talked many times with
God and God appeared to him in Gibeon and gave him a
wise and understanding heart so that there had not been
anyone like him before nor arose anyone like him after (lKgs.
3:5-12). Then God reappeared to Solomon after dedicating
the Temple and told him that He had heard his prayer (lKgs.
9:2,3) .. But, in spite of all this Solomon fell (1Kgs. 11 :4)
and needed repentance.
The time is lacking to mention the saints listed in the
history who fell and needed repentance to be saved such as
Jacob the Striver; Moses the anchorite; Baeisa .. and many
others.
Then, to attain saintliness is one thing and to attain
salvation is another different thing ... for saintliness may be
easily lost as man is always changeable.
7. In other words, a person may change from a sinner to
11 saint but is not saved yet, for he needs to be steadfast in
nintliness not just turn to it ..
fhe apostle says in this regard, Therefore, having these
I'' omises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness
f the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God"
<'or. 7:1); and " .. so that He may establish your hearts
lumeless in holiness" (JThess. 3:13).
H. So, we say that salvation is the life story in which a
non experiences faith, repentance, baptism and
nteds to be steadfast.
196
A person changes from one condition to another, but he
has to be steadfast in the best condition he attains and not
think that mere change is salvation . ..
9. Some may change and are saved but not at the time
of their changing.
An example is Saul of Tarsus whose heart changed from
a persecutor of the church to a believer and then a chosen
vessel of the Lord (Acts 9). However, he was not saved at
the moment he met the Lord or at the moment of change.
The Lord sent him to Ananias who addressed him,
Saul... why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash
away your sins, (Acts 22:16) ...
This shows that his sins were not yet washed away till that
time, only when he was baptized he was washed away of them
and was saved (Mk. 16:16).
So, the time of change is not the time of salvation. Beside1
many persons need a long time to change .
10. There are many changes in one's life but not every
change is salvation .. You may be affected by a sermon o
a certain reading and something changes in your life or
whole life changes but such change is not salvation .. ..
\
Perhaps a certain psalm or verse changes your life,
certain miracle changes your life into repentance or per
into consecration ....
11. But consecration is one thing, and salvation Is
different thing.
197
A single verse heard by St. Anthony changed his life, so
he went and sold all his property giving everything to the
poor and he entered into the life of monasticism ... Would
anyone dare say that St. Anthony attained salvation the
moment he heard the verse and was changed?!
It is actual change indeed but monasticism is something
different from salvation.
We should not consider every change salvation!
12. St. Augustine likewise sat to himself in spiritual
contemplation and this led him to repentance and changed
his life. It was a decisive historical confrontation, yet he did
not obtain salvation at that time .. He read a book about the
li fe of St. Anthony and was much affected by it. . However,
this also and the change that followed was not salvation for
him but just a step on the way.
To confront oneself is important and may lead to a change
nr to striving for repentance but all of this is mere steps
towards God.
Such steps are not salvation but they lead to it.
l'his confrontation may give you a power from God and
Mt lll'C to help you in your life .. It may end with interior
olution to repent. All this is good and useful, yet it is not
Mlvntion but mere media.. . Thus, saints used to sit to
hemselves or go deep within themselves. Yet they did not
lhun salvation at Such moment but were given a gift and
I
198
Some of those who changed and gained salvation through
faith, repentance and baptism had an opposite change and
fell away.
There are many examples of such falling away in the Bible
among which are: The story of Demas, one of the assistants
of St. Paul the Apostle (Col. 4: 14). St. Paul even mentioned
him once before St. Lk. (Philem. 24). Yet even this changed
and fell away as St. Paul tells us " .. for Demas has forsaken
me, having loved this present world, (2Tim. 4:10).
Others like Demas were mentioned by the apostle in (Phil.
3:18), "For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and
now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the
cross of Christ".
Falling away is a proof given to those who put the word
"change" in place of the word "salvation". How easy it is
for a person to change in a moment from a sinner into u
repentant or even into a saint and turn from darkness to light
and from death to life, gaining power . .. but what after?
Such a person may change to the opposite again and ma
perish also at the end!
199
BLESSED MOMENTS
NOT MOMENTS OF SALVATION
1. Undoubtedly, in the life of every one there are blessed
moments:
These may be blessed or holy moments;
Decisive moments;
Glorified moments;
Moments of change in thought and decisions;
Moments of promises to God,
Moments of repentance or reconciliation with God;
or Moments of contemplation.
But none of them may be described as salvation.
I shall try here to give examples of these or of some of
tlwm:
? . The moment when St. Anthony looked at the corpse
tl his father and said, [where is your greatness, your power
nd authority?! You have departed from this world against
0111 will .. but I, shall leave it with my own will, before they
t lug me out by force].
lr was a moment of asceticism, a decisive moment but not
moment of salvation. We cannot say that St. Anthony
Halvation at that moment.
200
He becomes in a spiritual state that makes him feel in the
Kingdom of heavens as the Lord said, "For indeed. the
Kingdom of God is within you, (Lk. 17:21) .
The visit of grace is a holy moment but not a moment
of salvation.
In such a visit, one enjoys God, feels His presence, and
feels His work within one.. But such a moment does not
continue.. It is just a taste of the Kingdom and after tha
a person returnes to his original state or perhaps to a little
better state, but never continues in such kingdom all his life ...
7. As we explained before, a person may experience
moments of repentance or change but they are not moments
of salvation.
A person may feel the necessity to repent now and not
to postpone at all. This happened to St. Augustine and to
the lost son .. but repentance is not salvation yet.. It is just
an element that needs steps afterwards. A person may also
falj away and return to sin after his repentance. The devil
may also leave a person but "until an opportune time, (Lk.
4:13), then return to tempt him.
A certain psalm may change tbe life of a person and
attaches him to God Then a temptation may cast him away
afterwards. Thus he may pass by many changes until he rests
in God's bosom, but not in a moment!
8. Also, a person may experience moments of promises
to God. He becomes in such a spiritual state that he gives
Ot
We can rather say that it was a blessed moment, a uhiu1 111
ul contemplation in which St. Anthony became awuro ol lh
prishability of this world and laid down for us the he tutllul
.angelic way ...
3. Likewise, the moments in which the lost son
lumself amidst the swine in the far country, became aw"
of his bad condition and decided to repent and return In h 11
l1llhers house ...
They were decisive moments which changed the lift ur thr
lc1st son and made him return to his father's house. Due thnr,
wlls not among them a moment of salvation for that w11
Impossible in a far country!
4. It was also a blessed moment, that in which St. August inc
.1t to himself as well as the hours when he was affected hy
the story he read about St. Anthony ... Yet none of thc111
w.ls a moment of salvation.
He was not saved while reading about St. Anthony!
5. Again a person may experience moments of repentance
111 which he feels hatred towards sin or thinks that love of
111 has been completely removed from his heart and he no
1110re longs for it-whether it is sin in general pr a certain sin ...
But none of these moments is a moment of salvation.
It is a moment of repentance, not salvation and it is so
nsy for him to return to sin again though he felt that love
ul sin has been removed from his heart.
6. A person may also experience holy moments in which
h enjoys the visit of grace and hears God's voice in his heart.
202
promises to God and say, "Accept, I pray, the free will
offerings of my mouth, 0 Lord" (Ps. 119:108). But many
are the promises which a person gives but breaks as I say
in one of my poems.
[Many times I promised
God, but did not fulfill the promise.
I wish, for fear of my weakness
I had not promised].
In fact, if the heart is convinced, you can reach an
agreement with God in a moment if you want. ..
However to hold an agreement or to promise is one thing
and to carry out your promise is another different thing. You
may make an agreement or promise in a moment, then break
it in other moments.
9. There are also holy moments that may lead to faith.
Certainly it was a holy moment full of blessing in which St.
Mark sat with Inianus the shoe-mender to mend his shoes
But the moement of mending the shoes was not the
of his salvation but the beginning of a long talk through wh
Inianus believed and was baptized. This was not of
done in a moment.
However, it was a holy blessed moment, the beginn
a spiritual course in which this shoe-mender was convl
of the falsity of paganism and was convinced of the c
faith. It is impossible to say that such faith took
a moment.
203
10. A person may experience moments of internal spiritual
action.
They may be moments of prayer, talk or wrestling with
God in which a person says to Him, 0 Lord, I return to
you after a long time of sojourning away from you. I want
to be always with You ... I want to sit to You, reconcile with
You, under any conditions'.
It is a beautiful prayer and a wish for reconciliation but
not a moment of salvation.
Many obstacles may hinder such reconciliation, and a
person may face practical hindrances, internal or external wars
till he attains reconciliation and keeps steadfast in it .. . Indeed
a person may easily reconcile with God then makes Him angry
.tgain.
11. Among the holy moments is the moment of forgiveness.
At the moment the Lord Jesus Christ gave Himself on the
r nss, He offered a general forgiveness. That is on His part,
hut on the part of people, they did not attain forgiveness
I I hat moment. Everyone benefited of it seperately or among
vroup through the ministry of the word and preaching, after
It ncssing miracles and wonders, after explanation and
mvincing and after they believed, repented and were
ptucd. No one attained forgiveness in a moment.
I ht re is a difference between God's action perfected in
nmment and the action done by a person.
t l11d is able to forgive in a moment, but to deserve such
I\ tncss, you may need a long struggle and a long time.
204
However, God in some cases forgave, then punished.
One of the outstanding examples for this is the story
the indebted servant whom his master left ten
talents. But when another servant could not pay a hundred
denarii he owed him, he threw him into prison. Thereupon
the Bible says,
"Then his master, after he had called him, said to him,
'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you
begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on
your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you? And his master
was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should
pay all that was due to him. ' So, My heavenly Father also
will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive
his brother his trespasses" (Mt. 18:24-35).
Lastly we say that there is a glorified moment that equals
a whole life ...
Such a moment is that in which Moses and Elijah stood
with the Lord Christ on the mount of transfiguration ... Such
also are the moments of revelation in which John the Beloved
saw God's throne and the heavenly hosts. Such also is the
moment in which Jacob the Partiarch saw a ladder reachina
from earth to heavens and the angels coming up and down
it, or the moment in which Moses stood before the bush or
before the divided sea ...
'fhey are all glorified moments but not moments of
salvation.
205
In conclusion we say that we should not take any sentence
including the word "moment" as an evidence of salvation
in a moment!! Every word or phrase has its meaning and
usage which may have no relation at all with the subject of
salvation.
Every word in the theological sphere needs deep unders-
tanding because every word differs completely from the other.
He who has ears to hear let him hear (Lk. 14:35).
206
FORGIVENESS BEFORE THE CRUCIFIXION
The Protestant Brethren concentrate - in regard to
salvation - on some verses by which they want to prove that
forgiveness is given in a moment, without interference of the
church, without the sacraments or priesthood! What are those
verses that we may understand them?
Verses we have to understand:
1. The words of the Lord to the paralytic, u your sins
are forgiven you" (Mk. 2:5).
2. The words of the Lord to the sinful woman, "Your sins
are forgiven,, (Lk. 7:48) .
3. The words of the Lord about Zacchaeus, "Today
salvation has come to this house" (Lk. 19:9).
4. The words of the Lord about the tax-collector, '
man went down to his house justified rather than the othtr
(Lk. 18:14).
The rule is to understand the holy texts in the light of
proper theological concept lest there should be
contradiction between texts and established
concepts. What then are the theological rules we
207
observe in order to have a proper understanding of such
verses?
The first rule is, "Without shedding of blood there is no
remission" (Heb. 9:22). This rule is the basis of redemption
according to all views.
Such remission was given when the Lord Christ shed His
blood on the cross for us after "He had on Him the iniquity
of us all" (/sa. 53:6). Thus He took away the sin of the world
and died as atonement for the whole world (Jn. 1:29, lJn.
2:2).
Here, we come out with another theological rule which is:
No one attained salvation before the crucifixion of Christ,
not even the fathers and prophets.
St. Paul the Apostle tells us about all the heroes of faith
whether fathers or prophets, "These all died in faith, not
having received the promises, but having seen them ajar off
were assured of them, embraced them .. " (Heb. 11:13).
All the fathers and prophets waited in hades in hope but
did not attain salvation until Christ transmitted them to
larndlse after His crucifixion. When Christ died and paid
the wages of sin which in death (Rom. 6:23), "He descended
lflo the lower parts of the earth", "He led captivity captive"
ph. 4:9,8). Then "He went and preached to the spirits in
lwn" (!Pet. 3:19). Thus He gave the salvation which, "the
J J ~ t t s have inquired and searched diligently" (I Pet. 1:10);
h snlvation no one attained except through the blood
'lu i11t who indeed, "was foreordained before the
208
foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times
for you'' (JPet. 1:20).
Hence, whoever proclaims that there was salvation and
forgiveness before the crucifixion of Christ, in fact denies
the doctrine of Redemption and announces that Christ's
incarnation was in vain and for no aim!
We say that if the Lord was to give salvation and
forgiveness by a word, without blood and redemption, why
then was there incarnation, crucifixion, passions and
Golgotha? where would be the divine justice?
Indeed God can do everything and can give forgiveness
by a word .. but He does not do this sacrificing His justice!
God's justice requires the payment of the price of sin, which
is death. This death took place on the cross. Therefore any
forgiveness was postponed till redemption was perfected on
the cross .. Then, how can we understand any forgiveness given
before the crucifixion?
Any forgiveness given before the crucifixion is merely 1
promise or a deed of forgiveness. But forgiveness itself wal
given when Christ died on the cross.
On the cross, the Lord forgave the sin of the
the sins of the sinful woman, and the sins of Zacchaeus
the tax-collector. On the cross also, on the cross
forgiveness was given to all those who had a promise
deed of forgiveness in the Old Testament through tho
offering and the tresspass offering or the burnt offerinat
the words of the priests and prophets.
209
Thus salvation from sin was not given in a moment to the
paralytic, the sinful woman, the tax collector, Zaccbaeus and
others ...
They only had a deed of forgiveness but forgiveness itself
was attained on the cross.
They deserved forgiveness by the word of Christ which
word is in fact a divine license and a divine grace ... However,
there is a difference between deserving forgiveness and
attaining it.
If the paralytic, the tax collector or Zacchaeus had died
before the crucifixion of Christ, he would have waited in
Hades till Christ transmitted him to Paradise according to
I lis promise after the crucifixion and redemption.
Another point or another theological concept to add is:
If those who heard the promise of forgiveness had lived
1111 the foundation of the church and the sacraments, they
\\ maid have had to be baptized and practise the other gifts
;I fhe church sacraments according to the Lord's words, "He
tlw believes and is baptized will be saved" (Mk 16:16); and,
I trless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His
loocl, you have no life in you" (Jn. 6:53).
H ing forgiven by the Lord before His crucifixion, does
I llll'l m that they break the teaching He entrusted to them
11 lie said, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the
baptizing them ... teaching them to observe all things
I have commanded you'' (Mt. 28:19,20).
When those were promised forgiveness, the church
sacraments were not yet established and they were not required
to be baptized because baptism is death with christ (Rom.
6:3,4) and He had not yet died ...
The church sacraments were established on the deserts of
the blood of Christ; that blood was not yet shed at that time ..
There was no need then to speak about those sacraments and
require that they be practised before they existed ...
Should anyone comment that in all the previous examples,
there was not mention of the church, the priesthood and the
sacraments, we would say there was no need for that!!. We
add that there was no mention also of redemption, blood,
atonement and believing on Christ as Redeemer and Savior ..
was not this also necessary?!
FAITH AND SALVATION
No one argues regarding the necessity of faith for salvation.
All agree that whoever does not believe, will perish. The Lord
Jesus Christ says, "He who does not believe will be
condemned" (Mk. 16:16). It is stated also in the Bible, "He
who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not
believe is condemned already, because he has not believed
m the name of the only begotten Son of God" (Jn. 3:18)
(See also Jn. 3:36). There is no need to mention all the verses
on faith because the necessity of faith is not disputed.
But an unacceptable matter is the teaching that salvation
I uttained through faith alone without any regard to other
1 rctnlrements taught by the Lord Christ Himself!
11 is the Lord Christ who said, He who believes and is
'l'fi'l.ed will be saved" (Mk. 16:16). He did not say He
lw bl'lieves is saved", deleting baptism. He also said about
11/unce, "Unless your repent you will all likewise perish"
11:3,5) About works, the Lord also said, Not everyone
fl Jays to Me 'Lord, Lord', shall enter the Kingdom of
', 11. but he who does the will of My Father in heaven"
J 1).
hy Uum do they concentrate on faith alone regarding
...... u., lacnoring baptism, repentance and works, which are
212
aJI mentioned in the teaching of Christ?! Partaldng also
the flesh and blood of Christ is among His teaching (Jn. v .,.,._
It is a kind of extremism to be enthusiastic for somethi
and consider it everything while anything else is nothing .
Faith is important, baptism is also important, repentance
as well and any other requirements have their importance
likewise .. Why then denial of everything and insisting on the
phrase 'Just believe' while the Bible sets many other things
besides faith ...
We lay stress on faith, only when we preach non-believers ...
The father apostles did the same when they preached the
gospel to non believers, seeing that any good works they did
without believing cannot save them. They had to believe in
redemption and in Christ as Redeemer and savior.
Such faith was tl)e frist step that led to other steps which
are part of the Christian faith.
The apostles could not have told non believers about
baptism and its necessity for salvation. But, when they
believed, they spoke to them about that and baptized them.
They could not have begun talk with non believers about
partaking of the flesh and blood of Christ, but they had to
believe first in Christ and in His sacrifice on the cross, then
the apostles would tell them about the flesh and blood of
Christ ... This is the logical sequence of teaching.
They talked to the Philippian jailer first about believing
in Christ as the way for salvation ... When he believed, they
213
talked to him about baptism, then baptized him and all his
household (Acts 16:30-33).
The talk of the apostles about faith did not abolish the
1mportance of the Chruch, for faith is received through the
chruch.
How did faith reach the world? Is it not through the
church? Is it not through the teachers who spread faith
through the whole world? Those teachers are first the
apostles, then the bishops and priests and then teachers m
the church in our generation.
St. Paul the Apostle says in this Tegard, whoever calls
upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall
they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how
shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And
how shall tlley hear without a preacher? And how shall they
preach? unless they are sent?" (Rom. 10:13-15) .
What is to be said then of those who received faith through
the church wishing to be saved, but when they believed, they
denied the importance of the church for salvation!
There remains a point concerning the relation of faith to
baptism:
Some sects prevent children from being baptized under the
pretext that they still do not have conscious faith. They wait
till they grow up in order to be baptized!
What is the end of those children who do not receive
. h?l
baptism, nor faith .. Would we leave them to pens
214
There is a long chapter in my book "Comparative
Theology'' about baptism of children, I advise you to read.
Here, I say that nothing hinders the baptism of children.
We baptize them according to the faith of their parents so
that they may be saved as the firstborn children were saved
because of the faith of their parents who put the blood of
the passover on their doors (Ex. 12). We remember also the
children saved while crossing the Red Sea through the faith
of their parents, and those circumcised on the eighth day of
their birth (Gen. 17), which was a symbol of baptism (Col.
2:11, 12). This was also due to the faith of their parents.
We baptize children to ensure for them salvation "Unless
one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the
Kingdom of God" (Jn. 3:5; Mk. 16:16). Through baptism
they enter into church and receive faith since their early years.
There they experience living faith not just mental faith.
But if we prevent children from baptism, and from the
membership of the church, from taking part in its life and
enjoying the action of the-Holy Spirit in its sacraments,
in fact deprive them of the practical faith which
experience only through practising and through life in t
church ... !
Those who object to the baptism of children ask, '
if a child grows up and does not believe or deviates?'
We reply that teaching him faith is the responsibility
his parents and the church. If he rejects faith when he
up, he is considered as any one who draws back (Heb.
215
But we would have performed our duty towards him and
did not deprive him of the means of salvation; and at the
same time we did not force him to anything against his free
will ...
Here, I'd like to note the following regarding "conscious
faith":
Are all grown-ups spiritually and mentally mature, and the
expression "conscious faith" applies to them? Are not there
many grown ups who do not have such consciousness or
maturity and do not even know except simple things about
faith, not grasping much of the depths and facts of faith?
What are the measures of such conscious faith?
How far does it apply to the social classes that need a long
I ime to attain such consciousness and perhaps do not attain
It at all ... ! But in spite of this they get baptized, seeing that
I hl'Y are old enough .. though regarding knowledge they are
I ht same like the young .. ! Can we prevent those also from
h lng baptized? Or why do we concentrate on children while
I h I .ord Christ said concerning them, .. Let the little children
'"''' to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the
lnstlom of heaven" (Mt. 19:14).
216
JUSTIFICATION OR SANCTIFICATION
They say, 'When we speak about salvation in a moment,
we mean justification not sanctification, for sanctification
takes one's whole life .. '
We answer them that we are speaking here about salvation
~ in general and not referring to justification or sanctification.
If you mean only justification, you should speak definitely
and say 'We mean justification in a moment, not salvation
in a moment'.
Yet if you mean by justification deliverance from the
original sin and sins committed before baptism, not the
righteousness that is in the Lord Christ (Gal. 3:27); if so,
we ask the following question:
Is this justification also given in a moment?
Seeing that faith and baptism are a must according to the
words of the Lord Jesus Christ, uHe who believes and is
baptized will be saved, (Mk. 16:16) .. and repentance is
necessary according to the words of St. Peter the Apostle
on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38), how then do the three:
faith, repentance and baptism take place in a moment?
Hence, this justification also cannot in any way take place
in a moment
217
If we say that it takes place at (the moment of baptism),
we disregard faith and repentance which ought to precede
haptism.
If we say that it t k ~ s place at (the moment of believing),
we disregard baptism and repentace ...
Besides,. neither faith nor baptism takes places in a moment
tl S we have previously explained on page 102.
--
--
--
-
--
218
TO ANSWER WITH ONE VERSE
IS NOT SUFFICIENT
Some used, in theological matters, to give a question that
requires one verse as an answer. They try to convince .the
(simple) and ignorant that this is the teaching of the Btble
or it is truly biblical...
Among those are the Adventists who did the same in their
book "God Speaks", and many other writers of leaflets and
books contradicting doctrines. We say to those:
A single verse - in disputed matters - is not sufficient, nor
does it give the biblical truth. This is 11 rovided by i v i n ~ all
the verses pertaining to the subject, to have a complete v1ew,
[See my book "Salvation in the Orthodox Concept"
th title "The danger of using one single verse"] Here, I
give some examples to show that it is wrong to answer
one verse:
1. Suppose someone asked you how one is to be born of
Can you answer with this verse, "If you know thai
is righteous, you know that everyone who
righteousness is born of Him" (JJn. 2:29)!! Does. thia
alone give us a bibbical teaching that a person IS
219
God when he practises righteousness! what about faith and
baptism!!
Or can you answer the same question with the verse that
says, "Of His own will He brought us forth by the word
of truth" (las. 1:17) Thus rebirth takes place just by the word
of truth without any mention of acceptance, faith, baptism
and repentance .. . !
You should rather state all the verses on rebirth when
answering the said question
Take for example the words of the Lord Jesus Christ
'
"Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter
the Kingdom of God" (Jn. 3:5); and also, " . . but according
to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of
tegeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit" (Tit. 3:5).
2. Suppose that someone asked you what acceptable religion
before God .
Can you answer him with one single verse which is, "Pure
md undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to
' lw orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself
mpotted from the world" (Jas. 1:27). Does this verse
P csent the biblical truth without speaking about proper
II h'/
11 n inly you will not do this, why then use the same way
lh one verse in other places to support your views?!
If Hmneone asked you how a sinner may be tranHftrrrd
dr.afh to Ufe .. .
220
Can you confine your answer to one verse alone, that verse
said by St. John the Beloved, "We know that we have passed
from death to life, because we love the brethren" (JJn. 3:14).
Does this verse alone express the teaching of the Bible and
the truth regarding passing from death to life without giving
any hint of redemption, atonement, crucifixion, repentance,
faith and baptism?
No one agrees to do so, but we should give other verses
relating to the subject such as, "Even when we were dead
in trespasses,(He) made us alive together with Christ" (Eph.
2:5); you, being dead in your trespasses ... He has made
alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,
having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was
against us ... having nailed it to the cross" (Col. 2:13,/4),
... buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised
with Him" (Col. 2:12).
11
Therefore we were buried with Him
through baptism into death, that }u.st as Christ was raised
from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also
should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united
together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall
be in the likeness of His resurrection" (Rom. 6:4)).
4. Likewise if anyone asked you how to be saved.
Can you put before him one verse only such as, "Take
heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for
in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear
you .. (1 Tim. 4: 16)?
Is this verse alone a sufficient answer for how to be saved?
221
f
h baptism
1 1
.md without any mention of the blood, rut or
1 guess you refuse this, and you are right.
. u/fyou
The same applies if you give another smgle verse, .
I'Onfess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe m
heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you Wl e
,aved" (Rom. 10:9).
It is a verse of tbe Bible, but alone is not !
'lhould put beside it the verse, "He who believes an lS
baptized will be saved" (Mk. 16:16)
1
.. while the ark was
Or put beside it another verse a so, d
being prepared in which a few, that is, eight souls, were save
. which now saves
through water. There is also an antltype ...
liS, namely baptism" (JPet. 3:20,21).
Thus the biblical truth is shown completely our
, f
1
ng certain verses
\ on science does not blame us or concea 1 ff
hy which we conceal parts of the truth so that we may o er
uur own concept not the concept of the Bible!!
b
ssed and cannot
A question that makes me always em ara
lind an answer to, is:
Those brethren who say they proclaim the teaching of
Bable and defend the biblical truth, why do not they mlenhtlon
h
? h do they concea t em
rhese verses beside the ot ers. w Y . ll?
1
mtentionally? Are not these verses of the Btble as we .
111st inquire ...
222
WHICH MOMENTS
Those who speak about salvation in a moment hesitate
sometimes which moment is a moment of salvation and when
does it occur?
1 Is it the moment of believing? or the moment of
?
accepting the Lord Christ as Redeemer and SaVIor
But we must take into consideration that faith does not
occur in a moment but it is the outcome of the work of. grace
and ministry of the word which perhaps takes a Ionge time.
2. Or is it the moment of baptism? Yet we know
baptism has certain rituals that may not be performed m
moment!
3. Is it the moment of repentance? But repentance
not come upon a person in a moment. It is rather a
convinced of spiritual life and getting rid of the love of
and all this is not born in a moment!
4. Or is it the moment of the coming of the mind
consciousness? or the moment of the beaming of
darkness? But all this comes gradually. Some people
recognize it or rather did not recognize its depths .. l
223
5. Is it the turning moment regarding thoughts, decisions
and conduct as some would say. But no one turns in a
moment in his thought, else he is described as emotional or
shallow who turns easily to the opposite ...
6. Or is it the moment when the effectiveness of baptism
burst out as people say. Even if this expression is true, it
occurs gradually and may take the whole life ...
7. Or is it the moment of recognizing? as in the case of
St. Peter when he recognized the Lord while he was fishing
after the Resurrection (Jn. 21 :7), or the disciples of Emmaus
when their eyes opened and knew that it was Christ speaking
to them (Lk. 24:31) or the moment Jacob awoke from his
'tlc.cp after seeing the heavenly ladder and said, "Surely the
I ord is in this place, and I did not know of it" (Gen. 28:16).
!'hough all these cases have no relation whatsoever to
tlvntion, for Peter was not saved at that time, nor the
B t I pies of Emmaus nor even Jacob ... yet this did not occur
11 1 ndden, in a moment. This is obvious from the story
I th disciples of Emmaus (Lk. 24:31,32,35).
llowtver, all such suppositions concerning the meaning of
It moment" shows uncertainity of belief in it. This
m I tnt cs also that it is imposed forcibly, then an
IH tnlion or a justification is sought for it. It means that
I uo c.stablished theological rule in this regard.
h lh n do they hold to the idea of the "moment" and
r I, In vnin, to find an interpretation for it or try to
out of their place to support this view and kceJ')
rttllllliJ nway? Why for. .1
1
CHAPTER 10
ELECTION
The believers and the elect.
Did God choose certain people?.
Option in the hand of mao. ("
Objections and refutations.
f
226
THE BELIEVERS AND THE L F ~ ~
The idea of "Salvation in a moment" is based on
thought that a believer is saved the moment he believe
cannot perish afterwards. This thought of 1 he
perishability of a believer is a mixing up of the
"believers" and "elect" as if they were one word!
But we say that though all the elect are believers, y t
all believers are elect because a believer may fall aw1y
perish ..
In this last case, it cannot be said that a believer i!l
at the moment he believes but is saved if he continues In
all his life. A believer is not in a constant condition
may pass by times of weakness or slackness or times of
and break down and may also draw back from faith 11
Bible say, .. Now the just shall live by faith; but 1/ an
draws back, My soul has no pleasure in Him, (Heb. 10
This verse demonstrates that a believer may draw
The stories about drawing back from faith are multipe
example of these is Demas (2Tim. 4: 10); another c
is those of whom St. Paul said, "For many walk, oj
I have told you often, and now tell you even weepin}l,
, they are the enemies of the cross of Christ" (Phil. r
227
u c nlso many prophesies about drawing back from
h 1111 h ' these mentioned in (1 Tim 4:2, 2Thess. 2:3). An
1
pl ,f tailing away also is the branch that bears no fruit,
111 111d thrown into the fire (Jn. 15:6). The aposlte warns
11 1 1 hs \..lying, " .. toward you, goodness if you continue
1/h s:oodness" (Rom. 11:22).
1 h 1 1rd Jesus Christ said to St. Peter, "Satan has asked
toll, thai he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed
t 011, that your faith should not fail" (Lk. 22:31,32). It
11111 thuf his faith was liable to faill It is indeed a lesson
lltu who think they are saved in a moment and have
uuong the elect i.e. they would not fall away ... !
now discuss the subject of the elect in the light of
h 11 due "election" mean according to those who believe
tee It l)ucs it mean that God has chosen certain people to
t J&hlcous and gain Paradise! And if so what merit do they
u y lltas (;od also chosen others to be wicked and go to
IMth 1 And what evil did they do to deserve this? In this
"t would have the right to say:
1 1 lct'flon in this sense is partiality to the righteous and
It I", slnn to the wicked.
1 ,, h" it from God, for "There is no partiality with Him"
IJII fl , V); "But in every nation whoever fears Him and. works
lu ruuness is accepted by Him, (Acts. 10:35). It IS also
228
written, "Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall
be saved" (Rom. 10:13).
The apostle laid down a rule that:
2. God loves all and, "desires all men to be saved
and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (lTim. 2:4).
God sent His Only son to the world because He loved the
whole world. He gave His son that believes in Him
should not perish" (Jn. 3:16). Thus He was an atonement,
propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also
for the whole world" (1Jn. 2:2).
God does not want anyone to perish as He said,
11
I have
no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked
turn from his way and live" (Ezek. 33:11).
3. Even if God condemned a sinner to death, but that sinner
turned from his sin and repented, God would turn from His
judgement and let the sinner live and not die.
The Lord Himself said, .. Again, when I say to the wicked,
#you shall surely die' if he turns from his sin and does what
is lawful and right ... He shall surely live; he shall not die"
(Ezek. 33:14-16); instant I speak concerning a nation
and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and
to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns
from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to
bring upon it" (Jer. 18:7,8). That was what God did
concerning Nineveh (Jon. 3).
229
4. If there is election, why are the commandments set? why
the holy scriptures, tbe prophets, the apostles and the
w rning?
Why did the Lord ptt in His church .. some evangelists,
and some pastors and teachers ... for the work of ministry,
Jur the edifying of the body of Christ" (Eph. 4:11,12). What
n cd there would be for those and what is the use of their
work if the elect are known and the rejected are known? ..
why did God send some to do the ministry of reconciliation
uch as St. Paul the Apostle who said, (God) has given
liS the ministry of reconciliation... Therefore we ore
ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through
tH; we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God"
(1Cor. 5:18-20).
s. If there is electiCJil, why does the devil try hard?
Why does the devil try hard to tempt the righteous since
he is an elect and willtlver draw back or perish. He is finally
ved, what is the use then of fighting him? Why does the
de il try hard to make the unelect fall smce they are rejected
n consequently will surely perish without being fought?!
(). What is the use of the whole armor of God mentioned
hy the apostle in Epb. 6?
What use there is of fighting since there are elect and
ri.'JCCted whose destiny is well known?
1 suppose we can say expressly:
The doctrine of election makes the sinners desperate and
the righteous slacken!!
230
1. Besides, what is the role of grace towards who peristes?
what is its responsibility?
As long as election is invitable, imposed by God, according
to His will, what can grace do? Anything will be in vain ... !
8. If there is election, what is the meaning of the reward
and punishment? what relation does this have to God's justice,
love and goodness?
How can it be that God chooses someone for punishment,
then punishes him? where is the justice in this case? where
is love, if God choases some people to be eternally tormented?
according to His option?! Does this conform with God's
goodness: to choose some people to be wicked?! Far be it
from God to do so ...
9. This principle of election does not conform with the
freedom of will .
God created man free, made him choose his own destiny
as it is stated in Deuteronomy, "See, I have set before you
today life and good, death and evil .. . I have set before you
life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life that
both you and your descendants may live" (Deut. 30:15, 19)
10. So, God bas put option in the hand of man.
231
OPTION IN THE HAND OF MAN
Man can be among the elect or not.
. If he becomes away from the elect, it means that through
Ius conduct, he has no wish to be elect ...
Hear the Lord blaming Jerusalem saying, "0 Jerusalem,
ltrusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those
who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your
fu/dren together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings,
lmt you were not willing/ See! Your house is left to you
lit 'iolate , (Mt. 23:37,38).
I he that God wants, but people are not willing.
!i lruction then ts not due to God's will but to the refusal
man of God's good will.
I he Lord here rebukes the Jews who refused Him saying,
.,111 you are not willing to come to Me that you may have
" (Jn. 5:40).
I II 1 the cause mentioned by the Lord for condemning
I I cd, not that God rejected them and did not choose
11 hut , "This is the condemnation, that the light has come
"''' world, and men loved darkness rather than light,
11 /lu/r deeds were evil" (Jn. 3:19).
232
11. The light did not reject them, but they rejechd llalll
The Bible states in this regard concerning the 1 J
Christ, "He came to His own, and His own did not ,.,.... ., ....
Him. But as many as received Him, to them //(' gm
right to become children of God, even to those who ,,,.,j,
in His name'' (Jn. 1:11,12). Thus we see that acccplll
refusal came from man not from God.
God stands at the door and knocks. Man may open or n
He says to all people, "If anyone hears My voice and
door, I will come in to him and dine with him'' (N
3:20). If anyone opens ... anyone ... the opportunity is 1&1
to all people .. .
2. God gives the choice and it depends on man' w
The Lord says, "lf anyone desires to come after }.1
him deny himself, and take up his cross .. (Mt. /6:24)
you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and gh
the poor .. " (Mt. 19:21) "lf anyone desires to come afttr M
let him deny himself. .. For whoever desires to save Ill\ 1
will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will
it" (Lk. 9:23,24) ...
13. In the previous verses there is man's will and acllo
fit for it ...
God shows the way leading to the choice but man J f
to choose it or not. The way may be difficult anc no
can walk in it if for example a person refuses to deny 1 u 1
and take up his cross, or refuses to give what he has to (
233
1 , 1 cl uses to lose his life in order to save i it, or refuses
1l 1luough the narrow gate leading to (Mt. 7:14) ..
I 1 w are faced with a terrifying verse:
/Itt. wt-dding is ready, but those who were invited were
t 11 urthy" (Mt. 22:8).
1 uppose that this verse expresses truly ththe subject of
11 Hl : The wedding is ready, the Lord His servants
II those who were invited but they refuse a and the Bible
"But they made light of it and went ways, one
Ill own farm, another to his business ... , (Mt. 22:3-5).
1 vcn "were not willing to come" (Mt. .. Can we
1 h n that God chose certain people for e life or
hcmld rather say:
1 nd Invited all people to the wedding but so._ me "were not
1 ,, to come", Therefore tbe Lord says to tlthe sick, "Do
tWill to be made well?" (Jn. 5:6).
11 1s man himself who decides his own in life .. ,
t llltl y depends on his works. Therefore apostle says,
1 11 who sows to his flesh will of t!Jt.,e flesh reap
llfJflon, but he who sows to the Spirit wilfi.L of the Spirit
\trlasting life" (Gal. 6:8) ...
1uld a person who sows to his flesh dare say 'God did
234
OBJECTIONS AND REFUTATIONS
I. There is an objection that God chose Jacob and refused
Esau while still in their mother's womb, "Two nations are
in your womb... the older shall serve the younger" (Gen.
25:23). It is expressly stated, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau
I have hated" (Rom. 9:12,13).
Undoubtedly this choice was based on God's foreknowledge.
He knew how Jacob would be with his free will and how
Esau would be 'jornicator or profane person" (He b. 12: 16)
and that he would despise his birthright and sell it for stew
of lentils (Gen. 25:34). However, in all this, God did not
lead Esau to the way of perdition nor did He force Jacob
to do good. The choice is only based on God's foreknowledge
as St. Paul the Apostle explains,
"For whom he foreknew, He also predestined" (Rom.
8:29).
God knows what will His creation do in future with their
free will, and how they will behave. Thereupon, He chooses
the right person for the proper work .. and may give him gifts
to assist him as He did for John the Baptist, Jeremiah the
prophet and Jacob whom He chose from the mothers' wombs
and gave gifts ...
235
However, there are some persons whom God gave gifts
but they perished
Even the devil had gifts and began well as an archangel..
hut he led himself to perdition. God did not choose him for
evil but he turned himself to a devil.. Judas was among the
1 welve: he was entrusted with the money box and sat near
the Lord at the table . . but he betrayed Him and perished.!
The chance was given to all but some perished by their
own will though they had the chance and choice ...
2. They establish their objection on the words, '' .. things
which God hils prepared/or those who love Him" (]Cor. 2:9).
It is well that the verse says, "for those who love Him"
not }or those whom He loves'.. It means that God has
prepared for those eternal happiness because of the holy
feelings in their hearts towards God whom they love ...
3. They support their objection by the words of the apostle,
"it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of
God who shows mercy" (Rom. 9: 16).
This verse reminds us of a similar verse which says, "I
planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then
neither he who plants is any thing nor he who waters, but
God who gives the increase" (lCor. 3:6,7). But of o u r ~ e
God does not increase nothingness but increases what IS
planted and watered ... The same applies to the said verse,
"It is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of
God who shows mercy".
236
But to whom God shows mercy? God shows mercy to
who wills and him who runs. It means then that man'
alone is not sufficient nor his running without God's
exactly as planting and watering alone are not
without God giving the increase
The verse then does not mean t hat God refuses a holy
or a whole running and shows mercy to a person who d
not will or run. Certainly not; but God's work with as I
the most important so that no one may boast of his work
4. They argue by giving the verse, ''Will the thing jormll
say to him who formed it, ' why have you made me likl
this?' " (Rom. 9:20).
Of course man cannot say to his Creator, 'why have you
made me like this?' He may have gifts or not. .. it is the same
and this does not affect his eternity and his salvation . ..
He may be a vessel for dishonor on the earth but in eternity
it differs as lazarus the poor. But being a vessel for dishono
does not mean to be a vessel for wickedness because the Great
Potter never makes vessels for wickedness and eviL God 1
not the source of evil.
5. However, God often made some people vessels for
honour on the earth, but they changed their own destiny
finally or for some time.
The Spirit of the Lord came upon Saul the Benjamite and
he prophesied and became another man (I Sam. 10). He was
anointed with the holy oil by Samuel the prophet, but he
turned himself by his own will into a vessel for dishonor when
237
t t1 vluted from God. So the Spirit of tile Lord departed
l11u1 hint (lSam. 16).
It,,, m as well was a vessel for honollr, He prophesied
1 ut the Lord Jesus Christ and he washonoured by the
~ htt (Num. 22-24), but he turned himseu into a vessel for
IIHhnnor when he deviated and taught Balak to put a
ll11nhling block before the children of l1rael (Rev. 2:14).
N unson was a vessel for honor; the SPirit of the Lord came
tqmn him and led him (Jud. 13), but he changed himself into
, vc .,el for dishonor for some time whenhe lost his honor
11111 broke his vow (Jud. 16). Yet he retul'!led to be a vessel
t
1
u honor and was counted among thelllen of faith (Heb.
II : l 2).
, Let them be elect as they think hllt I wish they would
1 tc:n to the words of the apostle, ''Thtrtfore, brethren, be
' ' ~ ' ~ ' more diligent to make your calling end election sure"
t J I ~ t 1:10).
239
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
The story of this book ........................ .............. .......... 5
Introduction.
The importance of doctrine and teaching it 7
'HAPTER 1:
The heresy of salvation in a moment.
Its history and its danger .............. .................................... . 13
'HAPTER 2:
Baptism and repentance.
Their necessity for salvation and the role of the
church
.........
29
CHAPTER 3:
Works and their position in the subject of
salvation. .......................... ................................................... 67
CHAPTER 4:
The so-called stages of salvation. ....... .............. H 1
240
CHAPTER 5:
Salvation is the story of the whole life. .............. 10.5
CHAPTER 6:
Objections and refutations ............................... ................... 12.5
CHAPTER 7:
Were they saved in a moment?. ............. ..................... 151
CHAPTER 8:
Do these verses prove that salvation may be
attained in a moment?. .......................................................... 169
CHAPTER 9:
Theological concepts.
..............................................................
187
CHAPTER 10:
Election. .................................................................................................. 225
+++