John 1:12: "Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
Romans 8:14-15: "For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’
In examining John 1:12, two pivotal concepts emerge: “belief” and “right”. Belief evolves from a basic acceptance of Scripture to a deeper, transformative faith, characterized by the integration of the Holy Spirit in one's life through Baptism and the purification of the heart. This mature belief aligns our will with God's and deepens our trust in the guidance of the Holy Spirit. St Theophylact (9th century), a 9th-century commentator, notes that while receiving Christ through faith is a start, the full realization of becoming God's children often culminates only in the resurrection, where the fullness of adoption is attained.
He writes:
“Why did the Evangelist not say that He made them sons of God, but only that He gave them power (the right) to become sons of God?
Listen, and I will tell you. To guard the purity of the soul and body, it is not enough to be baptized. We must also zealously exert ourselves to preserve unspotted the image of adoption imprinted on us in the font…
Furthermore, even if we receive the grace of adoption through Baptism, we will receive the completion and perfection of this grace only in the resurrection, when we hope to acquire the fullness of adoption. As Paul says, "Even we are waiting for the adoption [Rom. 8:23]." For all these reasons then, the Evangelist did not say, "As many as received Him, He made them sons of God," but instead, to them gave He power to become sons of God, that is, to acquire this grace in the age to come.”
Romans 8:14-15 introduces the concept of being 'led by the Spirit', implying a state of Theosis, where faith matures to a point of conscious obedience to the Spirit's guidance from within. Saint Theodoret of Cyrus (5th century) echoes this by noting that not all baptized Christians automatically enjoy the full benefits of this spiritual adoption.
Orthodox Christians view Baptism as the commencement of a journey towards Theosis, marked by an active cooperation with God's grace, ongoing repentance, and robust participation in the sacraments. This journey is integral to the life of the Church community. It's a transformative process, not a guarantee of salvation. To fully grasp this concept, one must understand the broader Orthodox perspective on salvation, which includes:
Theosis (Deification): A process of becoming more like God through grace, participating in His divine nature.
Synergy: An active cooperation between God's grace and human free will.
Mystery of Salvation: An acknowledgment of the profound mystery surrounding the nature of God and the process of salvation.
No Assurance of Salvation: A cautious approach towards the certainty of salvation, emphasizing hope and effort.
Eucharistic and Sacramental Life: The essential role of sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Confession, in the journey towards Theosis.
Continual Repentance and Spiritual Struggle: Emphasis on ongoing repentance and ascetic practices as means to participate in God's grace.
Community and Tradition: Understanding salvation within the context of the Church community and tradition.
This understanding underscores the dynamic and communal nature of Orthodox spirituality, where salvation is a journey, not just a destination.
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