Q&A Home > S > Salvation

• Are only Coptic Orthodox Christians going to Heaven?
• Are there different levels for non-Christians in heaven? What about those who may have thought of Christianity and lived a good righteous life, but for some reason(s) refused to become baptized?
• Can salvation be lost? Is it not the case of either having it or not having it? Our Lord Jesus Christ says that “I will give them eternal life and no one will snatch them out of my hands”, and “they are in my Father's hands” However, in the book of Hebrews, it says it is impossible for someone who had accepted our Lord Jesus Christ and tasted the heavenly gifts, when he falls to be restored.
• Does Salvation belong to all the people who died before Our Lord's crucifixion on the cross?
• Does the Orthodox Church have a stand on the salvation of Protestants? Can we say that people who believe that Jesus Christ came for our salvation will not be saved because we disagree with their dogma?
• From the book "The Ladder of Divine Ascent" by John Cassian, I read that part about repentance and how those monks were so afraid of death lest they wouldn't be saved. For example there was a monk on his death bed and the other monks gathered around him asking him if he was scared Ever since I feel like we can never be sure if we will be accepted; and that salvation won't happen.
• How does one achieve salvation? Is it by faith alone or by works alone or by both? The Holy Book of Ephesians 2:8-9 supports the first “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." The incident of the thief on the right side of the cross supports that too.
• How does this verse not prove the possibility of universal salvation? I try not to preach it in public but the conviction that Jesus might save all might cool my efforts to live righteously or witness about the gospel when asked and be prepared to explain the Scripture. Colossians 1:20: "and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross." How do we know what is meant by all things? I know it refers to human but how do we know if it means only a special people? Are there any verses before or after or somewhere else in the bible that sheds light on that? Also Psalm 22:29: "All the prosperous of the earth shall eat and worship; all those who go down to the dust shall bow before Him, Even he who cannot keep himself alive." We cannot know here if all might mean all who are redeemed.
• I don't know why you insist upon the idea of me being lost without eternal salvation unless I join a club or follow the rules of the club. Do you think God wants to join just this one exclusive club? What about the common everyday people who are not able understand what you're saying or never got a chance to hear what this is all about. Look to the earth and not the sky, if you want to survive. That's where God is, right here.
• I got baptized again to become Orthodox, although many people do not agree with this, as the Holy Bible teaches one baptism, my conscience was ok with it. However, I tend to feel that surely Orthodox are not the only ones who are being saved. What about our brothers and sisters in China and other communist countries, who are regularly tortured for following Jesus, although they are not Orthodox, and many other cases of very genuine believers leading spiritual lives of sacrifice for Jesus?
• In one of Your Grace's answers, Your Grace mentioned the requirements of Salvation are "Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist, and Confession". Does not that reduce Christianity down to a series of duties? There are many "believers" that have fulfilled all of these four duties; and yet lead terrible lives. Regarding Salvation by "good works" vs. grace; St. Paul states; "He saved us, NOT because of the righteous things we have done, but according to his mercy" (Titus 3:5). However, there are many other verses that tell us about the importance of good works and that "faith without works is dead". How do we reconcile all these verses?
• Is it correct to assume that God, knowing the heart and mind of each of his creation, gives everyone a fair chance to know Him? I am thinking of the jail guards who were fast asleep when the angel delivered Peter, and the Phillipain jailer, who ended up being saved together with his household.
• What will happen to the people who have died without hearing of Jesus Christ, the gospel, nor had the opportunity to accept Jesus Christ?