Justification and Sanctification – Disagreements with the Protestants

In this lecture His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains a theological dispute between the Orthodox tradition and some Protestant currents concerning justification and sanctification, clarifying points of methodological difference and how to receive the salvation of God.

Main idea

The Pope distinguishes between: (1) what Christ paid on the Cross — the price of redemption and the merits of the blood, and (2) the manner in which humans obtain these merits — the way of receiving that includes repentance, faith, and the sacraments (baptism, chrismation, communion with the Holy Spirit) and works produced by faith.

The other side (brief)

He explains that some Protestants teach justification as a gratuitous act of grace obtained by faith alone, and view sanctification as a later stage separate from justification, citing specific verses to support this.

The Coptic Orthodox clarification

The Pope affirms that salvation by the atonement and the blood is an indisputable truth, but obtaining the merits of the atonement is not by mere theoretic assent; rather the person needs active repentance, true faith, and participation in the sacraments in which the Holy Spirit works. He shows that Scripture does not attack works in general, but attacks: the outward works of the law separated from faith, human works separated from the mystery of atonement, and the righteous deeds of the nations without faith.

Role of the sacraments and the Holy Spirit

He emphasizes that the sacraments (baptism, Eucharist, confession, chrismation, priesthood…) are not merely human acts but works of the Holy Spirit, by which a person is granted practical participation in Christ’s salvation.

Wisdom in handling biblical texts

He warns against using a single verse apart from the whole Scripture; he calls for an integrated interpretation that unites texts about the atonement with texts about repentance, works, and final judgment.

Practical and spiritual exhortation

He calls believers to accept grace with an active response: do not deny the value of the blood and atonement, nor ignore the necessity of repentance, sacraments, and loving works that are the fruit of faith. Thus surrender to grace harmonizes with a fruitful life that yields peace and spiritual fruits.

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