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To: wmfights; Forest Keeper; Blogger; Quix

"As I see it the fundamental difference is "will" are we drawn to saving faith or do we choose saving faith. Either way we should be jumping up and down with joy. Saving Faith means your blessed with God's free gift of GRACE!"

Perhaps it effects us in different ways at different times or according to the "step" we are on on the Ladder of Divine Ascent.

"At the start of the spiritual way, the soul usually has the conscious experience of being illumined with its own light through the action of grace. But, as it advances further in its struggle to attain theology, grace works its mysteries within the soul for the most part without its knowledge. Grace acts in these two ways so that it may first set us rejoicing on the path of contemplation, calling us from ignorance to spiritual knowledge, and so that in the midst of our struggle it may then keep this knowledge free from arrogance." +Diadochos of Photiki


7,496 posted on 01/25/2007 4:18:16 PM PST by Kolokotronis (Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated!)
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To: Kolokotronis; wmfights; Forest Keeper; Blogger; Quix
2. It should be known, then, that God nurtures and caresses the soul, after it has been resolutely converted to his service, like a loving mother who warms her child with the heat of her bosom, nurses it with good milk and tender food, and carries and caresses it in her arms. But as the child grows older, the mother withholds her caresses and hides her tender love; she rubs bitter aloes on her sweet breast and sets the child down from her arms, letting it walk on its own feet so that it may put aside the habits of childhood and grow accustomed to greater and more important things. The grace of God acts just as a loving mother by re-engendering in the soul new enthusiasm and fervor in the service of God. With no effort on the soul's part, this grace causes it to taste sweet and delectable milk and to experience intense satisfaction in the performance of spiritual exercises, because God is handing the breast of his tender love to the soul, just as if it were a delicate child [1 Pt. 2:2-3].1

(Book ONE - Chapter 1)

Here is the entire book: The Dark Night By St. John of the Cross.

7,497 posted on 01/25/2007 4:27:45 PM PST by annalex
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To: Kolokotronis; Forest Keeper; Blogger; Quix
Perhaps it effects us in different ways at different times or according to the "step" we are on on the Ladder of Divine Ascent.

Here is the biggest difference we have. As I understand the EO, you believe that it is only at the end of your life, based on your Christian walk (works), that you may or may not be deemed worthy of salvation. As a Baptist, I believe at the point where I had saving Faith I became indwelt by the Holy Spirit and received the free gift of Grace and that once I was in Jesus' hand (the indwelling Holy Spirit) no matter what I will be saved (POTS, or OSAS).

As a Calvinist I believe I was drawn to that saving Faith by the Father, but many Baptists also believe they make a free will choice to be saved. For me this is a matter of scriptural discernment and is not a salvational issue. At no time do I believe my Christian walk buys me anything. It just serves as a reflection of the Holy Spirit within me and a desire on my part to serve the LORD well.

7,536 posted on 01/26/2007 8:12:41 AM PST by wmfights (LUKE 9:49-50 , MARK 9:38-41)
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