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How can a layperson be saved? (St Paisius Velichkovsky)


I advise you to read more diligently the Divine Scriptures and the teachings of our holy and God-bearing Fathers, who have been given by the grace of the Holy Spirit to understand the mysteries of the Kingdom of God, that is, the true meaning of Holy Scripture.

In their spiritually enlightened teachings you will find everything necessary for salvation. And I, a sinner, in my feeble mind, answer your question: the All-Merciful God accomplishes our salvation through the Orthodox faith, good works, and His grace. The Orthodox faith is that which is held by the one, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Eastern Church ; without this Orthodox faith, no one can be saved. Good works are the Gospel commandments, without the fulfillment of which, just as without faith, no one can be saved. The Orthodox faith without good works is dead, and good works without faith are also dead. Anyone who desires salvation must have both: Orthodox faith with good works, and good works with Orthodox faith. Then, with the help of God's grace, which facilitates his good works, he will be saved according to the word of Christ, who said: "Without Me you cannot do wrong." And one must know that Christ is the Savior, the True God.Our Lord, Who desires the salvation of all men, has established good works, that is, His saving Gospel commandments, as a law for all Orthodox Christians, both monks and laypeople living with wives and children. He demands of all Orthodox Christians the most diligent fulfillment of them, because His holy commandments do not require great physical labor, but only the good will of the soul: "for the yoke" of His holy commandments is "easy and the burden" of fulfilling them "light." Christ's holy commandments, with the help of God's grace, can easily be fulfilled by every Orthodox Christian, whatever their rank, gender, or age: old and young, healthy and infirm, provided they have the right disposition of heart. Therefore, those who transgress them and do not repent will be condemned, along with the demons, to eternal torment at the terrible Second Coming of Christ. The holy commandments of the Gospel, especially the most important ones, are so essential for salvation that if a person lacks even one, then salvation of the soul cannot be achieved. These are the commandments of love for God and neighbor, meekness and humility, peace with all and patience, forgiving one's neighbors from the heart, judging no one, harboring no hatred, loving one's enemies, giving alms to the best of one's ability, both spiritual and physical, and compelling oneself with all diligence to fulfill all the other commandments of Christ written in the Holy Gospel. And most of all, to love God with all one's heart, with all one's soul, with all one's strength, and with all one's mind, and one's neighbor as oneself, and, imitating the meekness of Christ, to struggle against the passion of anger even to the point of shedding blood. Living in peace with everyone is so necessary that the Lord deemed it necessary to repeat to His holy disciples and apostles more than once: "Peace be with you; peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you." And where the peace of Christ is, there is Christ Himself; and if there is no peace in the soul, then Christ is not there. Patience is also essential for salvation. Christ says: "In your patience possess ye your souls"; and one must endure not only for a certain time, but until death itself: "He that endureth to the end shall be saved." He that forgiveth his neighbor's sins with all his heart, God forgiveth them. He that condemneth not his neighbor shall not himself be condemned by God. And he that desireth salvation must guard all the other commandments of the Gospel as the apple of his eye. And humility, which is the foundation of all the commandments of the Gospel, is as necessary for salvation as breath is for life: just as without breath it is impossible to live, so without humility it is impossible to be saved. God's saints were saved in various ways, but without humility none of them were saved, nor is it possible. Therefore, whoever desires to be saved must wholeheartedly consider themselves before God a sinner, the most sinful of men, worse than any of God's creations. They must consider themselves dust and ashes, and in the secret of their hearts reproach themselves for everything, blaming themselves alone for every sin. Thus, fulfilling all the Gospel commandments in humility of heart, frequently praying to God with a contrite heart for the forgiveness of their sins,A person is granted God's mercy and forgiveness of sins, and God's grace visits him, and he is undoubtedly saved by God's mercy. Furthermore, an Orthodox Christian must also observe the Church commandments set forth in the book "Orthodox Confession." They are also necessary for salvation. The sacrament of repentance consists of repenting of one's sins before God, forsaking them, and firmly intending, with God's help, not to return to them. Then, before a spiritual father, as before God Himself, one confesses all one's sins and receives absolution from him. One must prepare oneself for the reception of the Divine Mysteries through fasting, compunction, sincere confession of sins, complete reconciliation with everyone, listening to the entire Church rule at the appointed time according to Christian custom, and approaching Holy Communion with fear and trembling, with faith and love, and with the worship due to the one God.


The most complete instruction on how to behave in the family, as well as on other Christian duties, can be found in the God-inspired writings of St. John Chrysostom and other holy men, reading their books with the fear of God and due attention.

Source: https://azbyka.ru/otechnik/Paisij_Velichkovskij/kak-mirjaninu-mozhno-spastis/