orthodoxgladness:

In addition to the path of repentance, there is no other path that returns to salvation. – St. Ignatius (Brianchaninov).

There is only one thing that separates us from God: Us. Our sin. Our desire to find our own way. Our desire to hide in the darkness. We are the problem. Unless we come to this truth, we will experience no salvation. How can we see the Light when we choose to hide in a cave?

God justifies us by His grace and He asks just one thing: that we simply come forth.