The truth about us

All of mankind and each individual is in a fallen and deeply corrupt state. Alone, man is incapable of purifying himself. He is unable to achieve salvation, or to become worthy of the Heavenly Kingdom. The purification is done by Jesus Christ, Who came into the world for that very purpose. But only those are purified who believe in Christ and recognize their own corruption or, as we are accustomed to say, their sinfulness. Thus the Lord says, For I am not come to call the righteous (i.e., those who consider themselves to be righteous and good), but sinners to repentance (Matt 9:13). He comes to those who have seen their own corruption, sinfulness, and inability to change themselves for the better. He comes to those who not only turn to the Lord Jesus Christ for help, but beg the Lord for mercy; to those who cry for healing of their festering wounds, their soul's malady—and for entry into the Heavenly Kingdom. They ask this not in return for any good deeds they may have done, but trusting entirely in God's mercy.

He who follows properly the spiritual pathway begins to see in himself more and more sins, until finally he sees himself completely immersed in sin. Through his spiritual eyes he perceives his leprous soul. He feels with his whole heart that he is dirt and filth, that he is unworthy even to call out the name of God. Like the publican, unable to raise his eyes, he cries out with pain of heart, God, have mercy on me, a sinner. When a person maintains his soul in such a spiritual state for a long time, he finally emerges from it absolved, like the publican.

If a person considers himself to be good, however, and his sins, even serious ones, an accident—which occurred not so much through his own fault but due to external circumstances, other people or demons—he is deceiving himself. Such a state is one of manifest or hidden prelest (spiritual deception), and may the Lord protect us all from this.

In order to follow the correct path, a person must pay heed to himself; he must compare his deeds, words, thoughts, attachments, etc., to the commandments of Christ. On no account is he to justify himself, rather he must strive to improve himself as much as possible, without blaming or accusing others. He must repent before the Lord, humbling himself before God and his fellow man. Then the Lord will gradually reveal to such a man his fallen state, his un-repayable debt. One owed five hundred pence, the other fifty, but regardless of the amount, neither had means to repay it (Luke 7:41). It was necessary for the Lord in His mercy to forgive them both. Therefore, no one is so righteous that he has no need of the mercy of our Savior.

How great is the wisdom of God! An outright sinner can more readily humble himself, come to God and achieve salvation, than one who is superficially righteous. This is why the Lord Jesus Christ said that publicans and sinners will enter the Kingdom of God before many of those who are only outwardly righteous (Matt 12:31).

Through God's great wisdom, sins and demons can contribute to man's humility, and through that—to his salvation. This is why the Lord commanded not to pluck the tares from the wheat (Matt 13:25); without the tares it would have been easy for pride to spring up, and God opposes pride. Pride and high-mindedness only lead to perdition.

What can we conclude from all that has been said?
Come to know yourself, your weakness and sinfulness; do not judge anyone, do not justify yourself, but humble yourself, and in due time the Lord will then uplift you.

— Abbot Nikon (Vorobyev) 1894-1963
This post and the three earlier ones are excerpts from
Letters to Spiritual Children, published by Nikodemos Orthodox Publication Society