Hi!
If I had asked some well-grounded Christian this question and this was their answer, I would not complain about the response.
grace - “unmerited favor” (accurate);
salvation - “not earned through human efforts or works” (accurate). “extended to all who place their faith in Him” (accurate)
payment - “through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross” (accurate)
peace - “right relationship with God” (accurate)
Naturally, there are some missing points but overall I’m thinking this is pretty accurate.
I look forward you your response.
I agree. I’m glad there wasn’t any wishy-washy, weasel wording, hemming and hawing on the topic of grace.
Did I ever answer this? I came across this tab on an older copy of portable Firefox. Anyway, here goes:
Grace
- favor, mercy, grace, benevolence to souls who are actually owed nothing from God except punishment.
Though theologians distinguish btwn strict/condign merit, as in salvation to those who did nothing of moral merit aside from calling upon the Lord Jesus in repentance, who saves sinners on His expense and credit, and that of congruent (or pactum) merit, in which God, in grace, rewards obedience according his promise, yet there is essentially only one kind of grace, which is not owed from God, even though He promises to give grace if man will respond/obey God, even in conversion.
For in conversion, and in any true obedience, man is doing what he otherwise could not and would not do, apart from God's grace, God draws, (Jn. 6:44; 12:32) opens hearts, (Acts 16:14) convicts, (John 16:8-11) grants repentance, (Acts 11:18) gives salvation, (Rm. 6:23; Eph. 2:8,9) and enables and motivates obedience. (Philippians 2:13,14) Thanks and glory be to God in Christ. The only thing man can and must take responsibility for is his sins, and with punishment being the only thing actually earned by God.
Salvation
- spiritually born of the Spirit (Jn. 3:2-7) by effectual penitent, heart-purifying, regenerating faith in the Divine Son of God (http://peacebyjesus.net/deityofchrist.html) and Lord of all, (Acts 10:43-47; 15:7-9) sent be the Father to be the Savior of the world, (1 Jn. 4:14) who saves sinners by His sinless shed blood.
And which faith is imputed for righteousness, (Romans 4:5) and is shown in baptism and following the Lord, (Acts 2:38-47; Jn. 10:27, 28) whom they shall go to be with or His return (Phil 1:23; 2Cor. 5:8 [“we”]; Heb, 12:22,23; 1Cor. 15:51ff'; 1Thess. 4:17) In contrast to those who were never born of the Spirit or who terminally fall away. (Gal. 5:1-4; Heb. 3:12; 10:25-39) Glory and thanks be to God.
Payment
- atoning sacrifice by the sinless Son of God, "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." (1 Peter 2:24 [KJV]) "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God." (Romans 3:25 [KJV]) By which sinners are forgiven of all trespasses Colossians 2:13 and whereby the whole church is bought by His sinless shed blood. (Acts 20:28)
And as in covenant by faith, they have cleansing of sins subsequent to conversion, upon penitent confession, (1 Jn. 1:7-10) though believers suffer chastisement to motivate repentance, (1 Corinthians 11:32) yet sins of ignorance are ultimately covered by enduring, justifying faith, which would repent of such if convicted of such, (2 Corinthians 7:10) versus the impenitent. (Heb. 10:25-34)
Peace
- a condition of the soul insofar as such is of faith and effectually walking in faith, (Romans 5:1; 1 Timothy 1:19) versus in sin. (Ps. 51)