Episode 22 —

Orthodoxy and Assurance of Salvation

What happens to assurance of salvation when you become Orthodox?

For many Protestants, this is one of the biggest obstacles to considering Orthodoxy. In this episode, I share why it was one of my biggest questions as well—and why I eventually realized that Orthodoxy isn't simply giving a different answer to assurance. It's asking a different question altogether.

We'll explore:

• Why assurance is the logical conclusion of a particular understanding of the Fall.
• How Calvinism and the Wesleyan tradition, despite their disagreements, share many of the same assumptions about original sin, the human will, and salvation.
• Why the Orthodox Church begins with union with Christ rather than guaranteed perseverance.
• The role of Baptism as an objective union with Christ—not merely a symbol of a prior experience.
• Why Christ's command to "abide in Me" becomes central to the Orthodox understanding of the Christian life.
• How the early Church Fathers, especially St. Cyril of Jerusalem, describe God's gracious initiative and man's genuine response.
• Why Ephesians 2 may be emphasizing humanity's bondage to sin, death, and the devil more than constructing a doctrine of total inability.
• Why assurance ultimately depends on where we place our confidence.

Rather than grounding assurance in ourselves, Orthodoxy directs our eyes to Christ—the One who united us to Himself, continually calls us to repentance, feeds us with His own Body and Blood, and remains faithful.

Scripture Discussed

• Genesis 1:31
• Matthew 16:24
• John 15:1–10
• Acts 2:38
• Romans 6:3–5
• Romans 11:22
• 1 Corinthians 10:12
• Galatians 3:27
• Colossians 1:21–23
• Ephesians 2:1–5

Historical Figures Mentioned

• St. Cyril of Jerusalem
• St. Augustine
• Martin Luther
• John Calvin
• John Wesley
• George Whitefield
• Charles H. Spurgeon
• Paul Washer
• James H. Brookes
• St. John Chrysostom

Mentioned Resources

• R.C. Sproul, The Pelagian Captivity of the Church
• The Westminster Confession of Faith (1646)
• The 1689 London Baptist Confession
• St. John Chrysostom's Paschal Homily

If this episode was helpful, please consider subscribing and sharing it with someone exploring Orthodoxy. If you have questions or topics you'd like me to cover in future episodes, I'd love to hear from you.

Christ is risen!