God's Gifts & Man's Will

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Here is a passage I found today in "The Life in Christ" by St. Nicholas Cabasilas, in which he explains the (perhaps paradoxical) relationship between God's saving us alone, without any contribution from us, and the necessary contribution of our willingness. The emphasis is mine. (Crestwood, New Jersey, St. Valdimir's Seminary Press, 1974, pp. 81-83)


The resurrection is the restoration of our human nature. Such things God gives freely, for just as He forms us without us willing it, so He forms us anew [by His incarnation] though we have contributed nothing to it. On the other hand, the kingdom and vision of God and union with Christ are privileges which depend on willingness. They are thus possible only for those who have been willing to receive them and have loved them and longed for them. For such it is fitting to enjoy the presence of the things for which they longed; for the unwilling it is impossible. How can one be capable of enjoying and finding delight in the presence of things for which one had no longing when they were absent? One would not be able to desire them and seek to obtain them since one could not see that beauty, and, as the Lord says, “he cannot receive it, because he does not see it, nor does he know it” (Jn. 14:17). Like a blind man he would fall out of this life into that [one], bereft of every sense and faculty by which it is possible to know and love the Saviour and to wish to be united to Him and be able to achieve it.

One need not therefore marvel that while all will live in immortality, it is not all who will live in blessedness. All equally enjoy God’s providence for our nature, but it is only those who are devout towards God who enjoy the gifts which adorn their willingness. This is the reason: God indeed wills all good things for all men and imparts to all alike of all His own gifts, both those which benefit the will and those which restore nature. On our part we all receive the gifts of God which pertain to nature even though we do not desire them, since we cannot escape them. So He does good to those who are unwilling and compels them lovingly. Whenever we wish to shake off His kindness we are unable to do so.

Such is the gift of the resurrection. It is not within our power either to be born or to return to life after we have died, nor to do the opposite. As for the things which depend on human willingness, such as choosing that which is good, the forgiveness of sins, uprightness of character, purity of soul, love of God – their reward is final blessedness. These things we have the power to accept or to shun. Therefore those who are willing are able to enjoy them, but as for the unwilling, how would it be possible? It is impossible for the unwilling to wish for them, or to be compelled to be willing.

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It should be obvious that even the choosing of the good things is only possible by the above-mentioned grace, by which Christ renews our nature, and by which He reveals to us the good things in the first place.