THEOSISGregory the Great
The righteous will find salvation, for it is through the purity of his actions that he will be delivered, as stated in Job 22:30. This assertion, which we currently observe, if connected to the rewards in the eternal kingdom, is affirmed by the herald of truth, for it is written that God renders to each person according to his deeds (Romans 2:6). At the Last Judgment, humanity's salvation relies on the righteousness of the Eternal Judge, whose mercy protects the innocent from sinful actions. However, if we assert that an individual can solely rely on his own merits to maintain purity, this perspective is flawed; without Divine Grace guiding him away from transgression, it is unlikely that anyone will be found deserving of the reward.
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For this reason, it is declared by the voice of Moses, “And no man in himself is innocent before Thee” (Exodus 34:7). Accordingly, through heavenly grace, an initial transformation occurs within us as if by our efforts alone, followed by an alignment of our will with that goodness that grace now aids us in achieving. Yet, the goodness we receive through grace is acknowledged at the Last Judgment as though it originated solely from our actions.
Concerning this divine grace that empowers our innocence, Paul further affirms, “But by the grace of God, I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15:10). He elaborates on the relationship between our free will and grace, noting that “his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain, but I laboured more than they all.” Acknowledging his lack of merit in himself, he states, “not I”; yet, recognizing that his achievements stem from grace exercised in accordance with his will, he concludes, “but the grace of God which is with me.” He would not have stated “with me” if he had not retained free will after receiving grace. Thus, he illustrates that apart from grace, he is nothing, while simultaneously demonstrating that his efforts aligned with grace stem from his own free will.
Consequently, the righteous shall be saved, but it will be through the purity of their deeds, as those who accept the provision for their innocence by the Last Day will be rewarded according to their merits. As previously mentioned, although Eliphaz's remarks were justly articulated, he failed to recognize that he was addressing an individual superior to himself—his role should have been to listen, not to instruct. This pattern of behavior aligns with that of heretics, who, upon witnessing believers endure hardships in this life, assume these trials stem from their errors, thus promising them, if they embrace their misguided teachings, the healing of innocence through righteous acts. However, the discerning believer, upon closer examination, recognizes that these heretics lack the innocence they profess. Hence, Solomon aptly noted, “A net is spread in vain for the eyes of the winged bird” (Proverbs 1:17). The “winged bird” symbolizes the spirits of virtuous individuals who, aspiring for truth, ascend to altitudes beyond reach, evading the snares of the deceitful.