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Steven Kovacevich
Apostolic Christianity and the 23,000 Western Churches

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  • 9. Man: His Creation, Vocation and Failure.
    • 14.
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14.

 The textbook quotes Revelation 3:20 in demonstrating the Orthodox teaching of synergy. Write out that verse, and also write out the textbook's explanation of that verse.

            Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in (Rev 3:20).

 

The textbook explains:

 

God knocks, but waits for man to open the door — He does not break it down. The grace of God invites all but compels none. In the words of John Chrysostom: “God never draws anyone to Himself by force and violence. He wishes all men to be saved, but forces no one.” “It is for God to grant His grace,” said St. Cyril of Jerusalem (+386); “your task is to accept that grace and to guard it.” But it must not be imagined that because a man accepts and guards God's grace, he thereby earns merit. God's gifts are always free gifts, and man can never have any claims upon his Maker. But man, while he cannot merit salvation, must certainly work for it, since “faith without works is dead” (James 2:17).

 




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