Is the Orthodox Church the True Church and Necessary for Salvation?

The question of whether the Orthodox Church is the true Church of Christ has been a topic of debate only since the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. Even today, with so many forms of Christianity in the United States, some members of the Orthodox Church are asking this question.  

The True Church: The Orthodox Church holds the belief that it is the authentic and genuine continuation of the original apostolic community established by Christ and the apostles. Participation in the Church is understood to be necessary for salvation. This view disagrees with the view of some Christians who believe in the “invisible church” and that a believer can be saved outside the Church. The Orthodox view is ancient, unchanging, grounded in the concepts of apostolic succession, sacraments, and the Church as the mystical body of Christ.

Apostolic Succession - Historical Continuity: Central to the Orthodox belief, Orthodox Christians affirm that the apostles received direct authority from Christ and passed on this authority to their successors through the laying on of hands in the sacrament of ordination. The uninterrupted lineage of bishops in the Orthodox Church, traced back to the original apostles, is seen as a guarantee of the Church's continuity, authenticity, and preservation of apostolic teaching. There never was a time since the time of the Apostles that the Orthodox Church did not exist. The Epistles of Saint Paul are all addressed places of the Orthodox Church. Even the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem is an Orthodox Church. This can be claimed by the Roman Catholic Church but unfortunately there was a schism that occurred in 1054 when the Roman church separated from the other churches that are now called the Orthodox Church. The term “Orthodox”  means the correct belief. Since that time the Orthodox Church has remained true to the Apostolic teachings.

Sacramental life: Moreover, the Orthodox Church regards the sacraments, such as Baptism, Chrismation, and Holy Communion, as essential for salvation. They believe that these sacraments are valid and effective only within the context of the Orthodox Church, which they see as the appointed vehicle through which the Holy Spirit, God’s grace, is transmitted to the faithful. Thus, active participation in the sacramental life of the Orthodox Church is considered essential for spiritual growth, requiring the cooperation of human will and the Holy Spirit. 

The Body of Christ: In Orthodox theology, the Church is viewed as the mystical body of Christ. Christ is seen as the head of the Church, and believers are considered members of His Body. This understanding emphasizes the profound unity between Christ and His Church and it underscores the significance of being part of the Church for participating in Christ's salvific work. The Church is seen as the visible manifestation of God's kingdom on earth, and through active membership in the Church, believers commune with Christ and partake in His divine life.

Necessary for Salvation: While recognizing the possibility of salvation outside the visible boundaries of the Orthodox Church in extraordinary circumstances (such as through God's mercy or the concept of "economy"), Orthodox theology upholds the belief that being a member of the Orthodox Church provides the most complete and direct access to the saving work of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Support of Orthodox view in Scripture: In Ephesians 1:22-23 Paul describes the Church as the Body of Christ, interpreted to mean that the fullness of Christ’s presence is found within the Church, emphasizing the visible manifestation of the Church. In Acts 2:42 we observe the early Christian community’s devotion to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread (Holy Communion), and prayer. Orthodox believers see these elements foundational to the life in the Church. Also in 1 Timothy 3:15, Saint Paul refers to the Church as the “pillar and bulwark of the truth.” Orthodox see this affirming the Church’s role as guardian and proclaimer of apostolic tradition.

Support from Church Fathers and Others: The belief in the visible unity of the Church is expressed in the Nicene Creed, formulated at the Council of Nicea in 325, which affirms belief in "one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church." St. Cyprian of Carthage (d. 258) emphasized the importance of unity and communion within the Church, stating that one cannot have God as Father without having the Church as Mother. Also, Metropolitan Kallistos Ware, a prominent Orthodox theologian and author, in his book "The Orthodox Church," emphasizes the unique role of the Orthodox Church as the guardian of the apostolic tradition and the fullness of the sacraments. He upholds the belief that full participation in the life of the Orthodox Church is necessary for the salvation and sanctification of believers.

Protestant view of the ‘invisible church”: In contrast, some Protestant traditions, have a concept of “the invisible church” or “invisible body of believers.” This emerged from the Reformation as a response to perceived corruption in the Roman Catholic Church that included using indulgences improperly and profiting from the sale of relics among other corrupt practices (The Orthodox Church was not involved in these issues.). Protestants began to question the authority and value of the visible Church and its authority. This led to a belief that the Church of Christ is not limited to any visible organization or institution, but consists of true believers, who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s not important which church they belong to or even if they belong to a church.  Because of this concept of an “invisible church” most Protestants do not believe salvation is  based on membership in a church, but is based only on faith. 

Protestants have a different interpretation of passages like Ephesians 1:22-23 that speaks of Christ being the head of the Church, and  the Church as His body. Protestants may interpret this as indicating that the Church consists of all believers united with Christ spiritually, regardless of visible denominational or institutional affiliations, while Orthodox interpret this as the visible manifestation of the Church as the mystical body of believers united with Christ who acts within the Church. They may also point to Matthew 18:20 where Jesus says, "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them," viewing this as evidence that the true Church exists wherever believers gather in the name of Jesus, even in small and informal gatherings. Orthodox interpret this verse as affirming the reality of Christ’s presence in the midst of believers when they gather in His name, irrespective of the size of the gathering, also a reminder of the significance of communal worship and the presence of Christ within the Church. Additionally may also use John 10:16 where Jesus speaks about having other sheep who are not of the same fold but who will also listen to His voice, seeing this as referring to believers outside a particular visible denomination, suggesting the existence of an inclusive, unseen unity among all true believers.  Orthodox understand this as a declaration of the inclusive nature of Christ’s work and His intention to gather believers from various backgrounds and circumstances into a unified community in His Church which is under the guidance of one shepherd, Jesus Christ.

The Orthodox Church, The One True Church: The Orthodox claim to be the “one true Church” and the belief that salvation is closely tied to being a member of it, rest on  understanding of Holy Tradition and Scripture, the foundation of apostolic succession, the sacraments and  the understanding of the visible Church as the mystical Body of Christ. In contrast to other Christian traditions who acknowledge the possibility of salvation outside the Orthodox Church, the Orthodox Church upholds the central role of the Church in salvation through members active participation in its sacramental life and spiritual disciplines.

When questioned by other non-Orthodox believers about this belief, Orthodox should carefully out of respect and love tell them that it is the known and proven way for salvation, but we know God is love and all merciful. Without proper dialog it will sound like an arrogant claim. If they are interested in the Orthodox view, then it is appropriate to give them the full story and invite then to learn more about this True Apostolic faith.