The following quote was shared by my friend Errol Amey on a facebook group we both participate in, and I am sharing it here as it is brilliant:
One will note that Origen's comments about our effort in salvation mirrors strongly, for instance, the Latter-day Saint interpretation of Phil 2:12-13 (see my post, Synergistic Soteriology and Philippians 2:12-13) and the theological perspectives of our Evangelical "friends" are totally and utterly absent.
“To man and angel he conceded free choice in all things. What needs to be understood in this is how, through freedom of choice, some climbed to the summit of good things, but others fell into the abyss of evil. But you, O man, why do you wish to be deprived of your choice? Why do you resent striving, working, struggling, and by good works becoming yourself the cause of your salvation? [cf. Philippians 2:12]. Or will it please you more to rest in eternal happiness in a state of slumber and idleness? ‘My Father,’ he says, ‘is working until now, and I am working’ [John 5:17]. And you who were created to work [cf. Genesis 2:15] do not like to work?”(Origen, ca. 240, 'Homilies on Ezekiel' 1:3:8, in 'Ancient Christian Writers' 62:32)
One will note that Origen's comments about our effort in salvation mirrors strongly, for instance, the Latter-day Saint interpretation of Phil 2:12-13 (see my post, Synergistic Soteriology and Philippians 2:12-13) and the theological perspectives of our Evangelical "friends" are totally and utterly absent.
