Everyone’s Savior

Are you saved? Orthodox Christians have been struggling over this question for years. We struggle not because we fear judgment. We struggle because confuse judgment with salvation. We are all saved and yet we are all judged.

Before you get upset that I am teaching ‘universal salvation’ take a moment and read what Saint Paul says to us today in his letter to Timothy. Jesus “is the savior of all men.” He did not say that Jesus was the savior of only the Orthodox, not even of only Christians, but all men.

Timothy, my son, the saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and suffer reproach, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things. Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Till I come, attend to the public reading of scripture, to preaching, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophetic utterance when the council of elders laid their hands upon you. Practice these duties, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress.

1^st Timothy 4.9-15

As is so often the case, we must consider the nuance of Scripture. Saint Paul also says, “especially for those who believe.” This is where judgment comes. God’s judgment will reveal whether we believe in Jesus. If we believe, our salvation will be heaven.

Saint Paul commanded that Timothy teach these things through the example of his life. The other day I was chatting about how much I love being Orthodox. I don’t see fasting and praying or participating in the Sacraments as limiting.

For me, the life of the Church is freeing because it guides to me to live as Christ desires for me to live. If I believe that Jesus is my savior, then the life of the Church shapes my heart to experience salvation as heaven. If not, then salvation is experienced as hell.

If we choose to live “in love, in faith, in purity,” then being saved by Jesus will reveal to others that life in Jesus is not limiting by freeing. If others see resentment and frustration in how we live our Orthodoxy, then life in Jesus is revealed as hell.

Judgement doesn’t determine if we are saved. Judgment determines if our salvation is heaven or hell. This is the confusing part. How can judgment be heaven? In basic terms, God ‘judges’ what our hearts reveal. Judgment reveals what we have chosen. It doesn’t choose for us.

Are you saved? The most popular Orthodox answer is, “We were saved. We are saved. We are being saved.” Salvation isn’t one dimensional, but in the context of today’s reading, salvation is for everyone. Everyone is saved from death.

Whether we experience being saved from death as heaven or hell, depends on if we believe. If we allow the life of the Church to shape how we live, we are more likely to experience being saved as heaven. When we focus on how we are limited by God, then being saved will be hell.