[kosta50]

You are right that it is not a gift like a book or a piece of jewelry. It is a gift, or "thing", of infinitely greater value, freedom. When a master releases his slave from bondage, do you think the slave perceives that a gift has been given to him?

Rationalizations, FK. Gifts are things we give for Christmas, birthdays, Valentine's Day, etc. Freedom is freedom. If someone is freed, he is either pardoned, or released, or "made free." Mercy is just what the word means — mercy; being spared.

Reformers believe that only those predestined to receive mercy will receive mercy, so it is no gift but an 'executive' (no pun intended!) decision before all ages before those receiving mercy were even created (and 'enslaved').

[wmfights]

Reformers believe that only those predestined to receive mercy will receive mercy, so it is no gift but an 'executive' (no pun intended!) decision before all ages before those receiving mercy were even created (and 'enslaved').

As I understand your representations of what the EO believe is that a person will only be considered righteous after they have died and the sum of their good deeds are weighted. I believe this is also how Judaism views salvation. It is a result of good works.

It certainly would explain your inability to understand the unmerited free gift of Grace.