His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains that God wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. God arranged redemption, incarnation, and shed His blood for every person, but He never forces anyone to be saved; He wants man to come freely and willingly with love.

Human Freedom and Responsibility
His Holiness emphasizes that although God created man without his participation, He does not wish to save him without his cooperation. Salvation requires man’s will to respond, for God does not intrude upon the heart but waits for acceptance. As Scripture says: “I have set before you life and death; choose life that you may live.”

Means of Salvation Prepared by God
He explains that God placed before man all the means that lead to salvation: the Holy Bible, preaching, the Church, pastors, and the saints. Also the inner voice of the conscience and the reason that distinguishes good from evil. God also sends moments of grace to awaken the heart and uses life’s events for repentance and reflection.

Grace of the Holy Spirit and the New Nature
God gave us the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to convict us of sin and guide us to all truth, and He gave us a new nature in baptism inclined toward goodness. Yet the problem is that we do not respond to God’s work in us, remaining unchanged without spiritual growth.

Human Negligence in Benefiting from Grace
The Pope points out that the fault lies not in God but in man, who refuses to benefit from all these graces. The Bible is before us, the Church is open, prayers and hymns are available, yet we do not move. God knocks, but we do not open.

A Call for Repentance and Renewal
His Holiness calls each person to examine themselves: Have you changed since last year? Has your mind been renewed and your heart purified? Spiritual life requires struggle, will, and effort, and God is ready to work with all who begin the path.

Spiritual Conclusion
Salvation is a cooperation between divine grace and human response. God provides every means, but man must walk in His way with free will. Whoever truly seeks God will find His grace, and whoever strives for goodness will find God’s support leading him to eternal life.

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