Repentance and salvation

…the Lord pities each individual and desires his salvation. What love toward sinners the Creator Himself must have had in order to become incarnate, to endure abuse, beatings, mockeries and death on the Cross for their salvation!

If we choose to respond to God's love for us with indifference, disbelief, unwillingness to fight with our sins, conscious transgression of the commandments, self-justification instead of tearful repentance, what awaits us? God's face will turn away from us. ‘With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you,’ (Mark 4:24), says the Lord.

If through our actions we reject God's love, the Lord will reject us. ‘I know ye not, depart from me into everlasting fire,’ (Matt 25:41). This is God's judgment, proclaimed already here on stubborn sinners who regard God's Word with contempt, who distort the Gospel in order to justify their sinfulness. Woe to them! Eternal torment, tears and gnashing of teeth await those who disdain God's love, who sell their Christian dignity for the filthy pleasures of this life, who prefer to do the devil's will.

A man will forever remain with the one whose will he fulfilled here on earth. One who was the devil's slave will remain so after death and will share in the dreadful fate of the demons.

...You have every opportunity, both internal and external, for repentance and salvation, which is so rare in this day and age. If you do not take advantage of this now, but keep putting off the work of salvation, you may easily fool yourself. We cannot be certain that tomorrow belongs to us. The Lord warns us all: be ready each minute, for you know not what day or what hour they will come for your soul (cf., Matt 24:44; Luke 12:40).

I strongly advise you: do not make excuses for yourself in any sin, no matter how small it seems. Every sin is a transgression of God's will, an indication of disloyalty to God. On the other hand: ‘One who loves Me,’ says the Lord, ‘keeps My commandments’ (John 14:15). For this reason, each sin committed should be cleansed with repentance.

Work upon your salvation. Try to free yourself of this world, which always was and will be an enemy of all things spiritual—even of God Himself.

‘The world will hate you,’ says the Lord (John 15:18). Who is this 'you'? Everyone who believes in Jesus Christ and tries to live by His holy commandments.

— Abbot Nikon (Vorobyev) 1894-1963