[xzins]

Paul says in Colossians 2 that the law is useless in restraining human passions. John says in 1 John that saying we don’t sin shows us to be liars.

Grace, therefore, must be about a different way of being righteous that has nothing to do with me. It’s a righteousness that’s given to me as a gift. That must mean that I continually get it without deserving it. In fact, it means that I continually am granted grace even though my behavior is continually saying I don’t deserve it.

[cuban leaf]

That must mean that I continually get it without deserving it. In fact, it means that I continually am granted grace even though my behavior is continually saying I don’t deserve it.

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I read somewher in the NT that really caused me to believe that the biggest sin we commit is thinking our “goodness” has anything whatsoever to do with our salvation. Whenever I am examining myself to try to improve, that's a good thing as long as I'm doing it to try to be more perfected as His ambassador. But the minute I'm thinking about it in terms of “I'd better clean up or I may not be saved” I'm sinning - mightily so.

[cuban leaf]

Grace, therefore, must be about a different way of being righteous that has nothing to do with me. It’s a righteousness that’s given to me as a gift. That must mean that I continually get it without deserving it. In fact, it means that I continually am granted grace even though my behavior is continually saying I don’t deserve it.

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It hits me - it’s like a brand on a cow.

[afsnco]

Roger that. It’s an imputed righteousness that we have. God imputes Christ’s righteousness to us, and treats the elect as if we were as perfect as He was/is. Just as He imputed our sins to Christ, and on the cross treated Him as if He was as imperfect as we are.

Grace is unmerited favor.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Like the Holy Spirit directed the Apostle Paul to say above, (paraphrasing) “For by unmerited favor are you saved through faith; and (that faith) absolutely does not originate in yourselves: it is the gift of God. Absolutely not originating in works, lest any should boast.”

[NCLaw441]

Grace, therefore, must be about a different way of being righteous that has nothing to do with me. It’s a righteousness that’s given to me as a gift. That must mean that I continually get it without deserving it. In fact, it means that I continually am granted grace even though my behavior is continually saying I don’t deserve it.
***
That idea, together with Ephesians 2:8 is how I justify compassion, rather than contempt or judgment, for those who do not (yet) believe as I do...