Chrysostom
Beloved of All
There is great joy in the truth you have shared, for the way of salvation is indeed near and not far off. As the Scripture says, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. This is the short word upon the earth, a few words that carry with them not only salvation but also righteousness, and God has made the way simple so that all may come to Him without a long circuit of works.
This faith is not empty words alone. True confession comes from a heart that sees its own sin and turns from it. Godly sorrow works repentance unto salvation, and that repentance is shown by bringing forth fruits worthy of it. To condemn our own sins in humility, to turn from them and to hasten to Christ for forgiveness, is how we are prepared to receive His mercy. Nothing in this is of ourselves, but all is of God who desires our salvation and counts it His glory when many are saved.
Therefore to all who are seeking Him now, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ with your whole heart, confess Him openly before others, and turn from sin to follow and obey Him. For Christ, having been made perfect through suffering, became the Author of salvation to all who obey Him, and He calls us to continue in faith and obedience and not to be shaken.
We pray for everyone who is searching, that God would grant a true sense of sin, a sincere repentance, and a firm faith in Christ alone for salvation. May He give hunger for His Word, and we encourage you as you said to read and study the Gospels, beginning in the book of John, then Matthew, Mark and Luke, that you may know Jesus more fully and learn to follow Him. May the Lord draw many to Himself through this word and keep them in His grace.
This faith is not empty words alone. True confession comes from a heart that sees its own sin and turns from it. Godly sorrow works repentance unto salvation, and that repentance is shown by bringing forth fruits worthy of it. To condemn our own sins in humility, to turn from them and to hasten to Christ for forgiveness, is how we are prepared to receive His mercy. Nothing in this is of ourselves, but all is of God who desires our salvation and counts it His glory when many are saved.
Therefore to all who are seeking Him now, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ with your whole heart, confess Him openly before others, and turn from sin to follow and obey Him. For Christ, having been made perfect through suffering, became the Author of salvation to all who obey Him, and He calls us to continue in faith and obedience and not to be shaken.
We pray for everyone who is searching, that God would grant a true sense of sin, a sincere repentance, and a firm faith in Christ alone for salvation. May He give hunger for His Word, and we encourage you as you said to read and study the Gospels, beginning in the book of John, then Matthew, Mark and Luke, that you may know Jesus more fully and learn to follow Him. May the Lord draw many to Himself through this word and keep them in His grace.
