So if someone speaks, acts, and behaves exactly like the unbaptized, even though he says he has received Baptism in Christ, it is obvious that he belongs among that group of people of whom the Apostle said, "They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate" (St. Titus 1:16). With whom do you think we should rank such people who simultaneously confess and deny God? With the believers? But they disown God by their actions. With the unbelievers? But their tongues profess their faith. This is truly an extraordinarily difficult dilemma to resolve. The Psalmist and Prophet, however, had already found the answer to the problem, saying, "Thou, O Lord, renderest to every man according to his work" (Ps. 62:12). The Lord Himself made it clear that anyone who heard His sayings and did not do them was a fool (St. Matt. 7:26). St. Paul, the Apostle called from heaven, said, "To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, the Lord will render eternal life: but tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doeth evil" (cf. Rom. 2:6-9). Also, "For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified" (Rom. 2:13). And, "Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest God" (Rom. 2:23).
St. Paul told the Jews that "Circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision" (Rom. 2:25), so it is not at all out of keeping for me to say to you that faith is profitable, if you behave conscientiously, purify yourself through confession and repentance, and put into practice the undertakings made to God at Baptism. But if you disobey your conscience and set aside your promises, your faith becomes unbelief. Why do we believe that, having been baptized, we shall be saved? Clearly because we have heard the Lord saying, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (St. Mark 16: 16). Since He Who is the Truth spoke of these two things, believing and being baptized, it is impossible for anyone who does not want to be baptized to be saved, even if he says he believes. Nor can someone who does not believe be saved, even if he has been baptized. Perhaps somebody will say that everyone who has been baptized believes? He will hear from the Apostle, "Show me thy faith by means of thy works" ( cf. St. James. 2:18 ). That is why the Lord links faith with Holy Baptism, uniting, by means of faith, the keeping of His commandments with Baptism. He said first to His disciples, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature" (Mark 16: 15), then He continues, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (St. Mark 16: 16).
What does the Lord tell us in the Gospel preached by His messengers, and what must those who obey it believe? That whoever has Christ's commandments, and acts upon them and keeps them, he it is who loves Christ (cf. St. John 14:21). That salvation is obtained through patience (cf. Rom. 15:4; Luke 21:19), and the strait and narrow way of life (cf. St. Matt. 7:14). That unless our righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, we shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven (cf. St. Matt. 5:20). These are the teachings Christ commanded His disciples to proclaim.
The Homilies of Saint Gregory Palamas, Volume II, Homily 30
St. Tikhon Seminary Press