God and Man Between Freedom and Salvation
This lecture discusses the relationship between human freedom and God’s will in salvation, explaining that God desires the salvation of all, but forces no one. In His love, He gave man the freedom to accept or reject, calling him to willingly participate in the path of salvation prepared through Christ.
First Axis — God’s Will and Human Salvation
God wants all to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. He arranged redemption, incarnation, and shed His blood for all. Yet, He does not impose salvation; He awaits man’s free acceptance. As St. Augustine said: “He who created you without you will not save you without you.”
Second Axis — The Means of Salvation God Provided
God placed before man many means for salvation: the Holy Bible as a light to his path, sermons and teachings, the Church with its sacraments and saints, the spiritual atmosphere, and the inner conscience that warns of right and wrong. He also gave reason as a guide, the visits of grace to awaken the heart, and life events permitted by divine providence to lead man to repentance and change.
Third Axis — Man’s Responsibility and Response
The problem is not that God has not worked, but that man does not respond. God knocks on the door but never forces it open; grace works in all, but some accept and others refuse. Whoever wishes to walk in God’s way will find every help from Him, while those who refuse lose the blessings prepared for them.
Fourth Axis — The New Nature and Spiritual Tools
Through baptism, man received a new nature inclined toward goodness, and the Holy Spirit dwells within him to guide and strengthen him. Yet, transformation happens only through human cooperation. God has given fasting, worship, sacraments, and the Word of God to strengthen the will and renew the heart.
Conclusion — The Call to Respond
The essential message is that God has prepared everything needed for man’s salvation, but awaits his free response. Therefore, each person must move and work for his own salvation, living a life of repentance and spiritual growth. God works in us, but we are responsible for responding to His divine work to attain salvation with awareness and love.
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