Saved?
I once followed the tenets of those who believed that the “eternal security” promised in Holy Scripture hinged on a one-time declaration of belief in the Lord Jesus Christ. Let is be said here that I do not have a tinge of doubt about eternal salvation hinging on faith in Christ. It’s the “now what” that I am interested in. (I’m “saved,” OK, great, now what?) These days, I understand salvation to be more akin to deliverance, and speaks about a continual faithfulness to walk in the path of Christ Jesus as outlined in Scripture and instructed by the Church. This salvation has an eternal component, one which I understand little about. Indeed, I focus more on the “internal security”of the peace of Christ, being delivered from evil, living a prayerful life in hope of the Resurrection.
Here are a few brief instructions for salvation for those who are wondering what the Orthodox believe to be the path of salvation:
1) Get baptized and received into the Orthodox Church through Holy Chrismation (anointing).
2) Attend services whenever they are held
3) Confess your sins and receive Holy Communion.
4) Believe in Christ & the Holy Trinity and live your life accordingly.
5) Pray, pray, pray. Say this Orthodox morning prayer daily: “My most merciful and all-merciful God, O Lord Jesus Christ! In Thy great love, Thou didst come down and become flesh in order to save all. Again, I pray Thee, save me by Grace! If Thou shouldst save me because of my deeds, it would not be a gift, but merely a duty. Truly, Thou aboundest in graciousness and art inexpressibly merciful! Thou hast said, O my Christ: “He who believes in me shall live and never see death”. If faith in Thee saves the desperate, behold: I believe! Save me, for Thou art my God and my Maker. May my faith replace my deeds, O my God, for Thou wilt find no deeds to justify me. May my faith be sufficient for all. May it answer for me; may it justify me; may it make me a partaker of Thine eternal glory; and may Satan not seize me, O Word, and boast that He has torn me from Thy hand and fold. O Christ my Savior: save me whether I want it or not! Come quickly, hurry, for I perish! Thou art my God from my mother’s womb. Grant, O Lord, that I may now love Thee as once I loved sin, and that I may labor for Thee without laziness as once I labored for Satan the deceiver. Even more, I will labor for Thee, my Lord and God Jesus Christ, all the days of my life, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.”
In the end, however, it’s up to God whether we are saved eternally. The best I can focus on is getting saved daily…
