Soothing: Are we saved by our own knowledge of Christ, or are we saved by the actions of God?
Very interesting question, and one that I was hoping was raised.
Should I assume you believe that retarded or mentally incapabable people can be saved - or perhaps all people of this type are saved? And this is done by no volition or choice of their own? Does this mean the free will of these individuals is quashed?
And what about those who do have the mental savvy to choose or reject God? Are they saved by their own knowledge of Christ, or by the actions of God?
It does kind of get to the heart of the matter. Are we saved because we know something and can intellectually articulate it, or are we saved because God acts to save us.
Should I assume you believe that retarded or mentally incapabable people can be saved - or perhaps all people of this type are saved? And this is done by no volition or choice of their own? Does this mean the free will of these individuals is quashed?
By definition, those so metally deficient as to not understand the choice between right and wrong have no free will. They can not choose to sin; they can not choose to obey. It is my belief that it is entirely consistent with a loving and merciful God to save all those incapable of understanding sin and the need for salvation from it.
And it is certainly within God's purview to save some of those, if it pleases Him. There's no rule that says He can not.
And what about those who do have the mental savvy to choose or reject God? Are they saved by their own knowledge of Christ, or by the actions of God?
Those with the capacity to exercise the will are responsible for their own sins. Salvation is possible only through the action of God, working on the will of man, turning man towards Him.
SD