Prologue in Sermons: May 10

Answer to Simple Folk on the Question: What Must One Do to Be Saved?

May 10

(A Word on Spiritual Benefit)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Many ask: “What must we do to be saved?” How should this question be answered? It seems that one may answer in two ways. One may answer at length, on the basis of Scripture, for the Savior Himself said: “Search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life” (John 5:39). But one may also answer briefly, because not all are capable of fully grasping the essence of the teaching that leads to salvation, and not all, by their condition and upbringing, are able to understand the Scriptures. Here, for example, is a model of a brief and simple teaching on salvation, taken from the Prologue, from a word on spiritual benefit.

You ask: what should you do to be saved? Here is your answer — act thus: “By mercy to the poor purchase for yourself mercy from God; by humility, eternal glory; by purity and chastity, a crown; by meekness, entrance into paradise; by prayer, life with the Angels. Purchase for yourself rest through labor, communion with God through prayerful vigilance, enjoyment of eternal blessings through fasting and thirst. Possess spiritual discernment; raise your mind to God, but also bring it down low, reflecting that sooner or later we shall all return to the earth. Attend to the reading of divine books, grieve over your sins, speak only the truth, open your lips often for prayer, stretch forth your hands in giving to the poor, restrain your heart from anger, preserve purity in the body and temperance in food, bend your knees in worship before God. If you preserve these things, then you shall be a child of light, a son of the Heavenly Kingdom, an heir of eternal joy, and a citizen of the heavenly Jerusalem.”

Here, brethren, is instruction both simple and brief, yet containing much within itself and always able to make the simple wise unto salvation. Offer similar instructions yourselves whenever there arises an opportunity to speak about salvation with babes in Christ. For simple people, who do not know the power of the Scriptures, such instructions are sufficient at first. Give them what they are able to receive. When you converse with such people, first of all do not forget that you have already attained a certain spiritual maturity, while they are infants; you may perhaps have received from God five talents, while they have one; you are strong, while they are weak. Therefore one must deal with them as with children. Avoid, then, refined and elaborate arguments in speaking with them, but speak simply, clearly, and intelligibly. In this way you will sooner bring spiritual benefit to simple folk than by reasonings inaccessible to their plain understanding. Amen.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.