Member-only story
Theosis: The True Purpose of Human Life
Introduction: Theosis and the Western Mind
The idea of theosis — the process of becoming one with God — may seem unfamiliar to the Western mind, though it is not a new concept in Christianity. When Christ declared, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17), He was calling humanity to theosis: the restoration of our divine image through union with Him. Unlike Western theological frameworks, which often emphasize forensic justification, Orthodoxy sees salvation as transformative — an ascent into divine life itself.
Theosis: More Than Salvation, A Call to Union with God
Theosis is not simply moral improvement or obedience to divine law; it is personal communion with God, face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12). As St. Athanasius of Alexandria famously stated, “God became man so that man might become god.” This does not mean humans become divine by nature, but by grace — participating in the uncreated energies of God while remaining distinct from His essence.
To many in the West, this idea may seem incomprehensible, but it is central to Christ’s teachings. The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1–12), the High Priestly Prayer (“that they may be one, even as we are one” — John 17:21), and the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1–9) all point toward the ultimate purpose of humanity: to be transformed into the likeness of Christ and share in His divine life.
