[HarleyD]

But, what is the current position which YOU hold on the question of grace,

God saved me and called me according to His grace. Why I don't know. God instilled His faith in me. I came to God only because of His will and guidance. All glory is due Him alone.

sinlessness

ALL have sinned and fall short of God's glory. There is no one who does what is right in His sight-not one-in the past, present or future. We must repent of our sins and acknowledge this truth, but even repenting is a gift of God because of Christ (2 Tim 2:25).

Christ is righteous and paid the penalty in God's eyes for my sins. God looks at us (believers) as being righteous because of Christ. Anything that I may do for God's kingdom, any good work that I may offer, is strictly because of Christ working in me. If HarleyD tries to do anything it is vain. God will give me the proper amount of work and reward that He so deems.

and death?

Our Lord Jesus has promised that no one will snatch us out of His hand and He will lead us home. I rest in His promise that He will see me home. In death, I am naked and guilty before the throne of God. But God does not see my sin, as great as it is, because of my Lord Jesus. And, as for my works, He only looks at what He has done through me rewarding me for things that He has done. This is how loving the Father and the Son are. It shall be my great joy to toss what they have given me at their feet.

That is all one need to know about God.

[Mad Dawg]

Thanks.

I think there is a lot of agreement to build on. And interesting differences to examine.

Can you say anything about death as punishment or as the wages of sin?

I'm asking because it SEEMS to this untutored person that our Orthodix brethren arw working with a very organic idea of the relationship between the two.

[wmfights]

Great Post!

Amen, Amen, Amen!