Interesting post with agreeable comment, although some believers here though faith in other aspects of Scripture might have fellowship with him by other priorities. I recall now the Scriptures in Romans to not cause offense even if it is allowable so as not to cause a stumbling block,..something I am probably guilty of indubitably.
Repentance is simply turning back to Him with an element of volition included. So such thing as not turning back enough. We’re either facing Him or we aren’t.
On another note, I really think there is a tremendous issue here regarding debt/works and grace associated in our fellowship with Him. The more we perform works which are dead works, works not through faith in Him, the greater our debt to Him actually becomes.
Romans 4:4,5
I see your point about works. However, you have to also realize that ALL of our works, including our very BEST works, are filthy rags to God, as per Scripture.
Christ is the only thing that makes them acceptable to God. I think this affirms your point about works done without faith, as you mention.
I would expound or clarify your point about such works and state that such works would include those works done by people when they believe such works will earn them God’s merit. they are not works done with faith in God, but partially or completely having faith in oneself to earn ANY iota of merit from God.
Like I said before, if we lived perfectly from this day forward, all we would be doing is living the way God expects us to live. You don’t get rewards for doing what is expected of you. That is just the minimum that you can do. That doesn’t cancel out your life before you lived perfectly. You’d have to go above and beyond what is simply expected of you to clear your prior sin debts. And since none of us can do the minimum, on our own, we’re dead. we could not have confidence we would be saved and have eternal life without Christ.
I did want to mention your post about the stumbling block point. I think we all are, with different things. In some cases there is a fine line between apologetics and realizing the debate with a person is not fruitful. I have to remind myself to pray and hope that it will plant a seed or question in that person’s mind that will cause them to reflect more on the point and perhaps study the issue and grow in their understanding. I don’t do that often enough and I really need to remember to do that. Not everyone is at the same place in their walk, and not everyone is ready for certain things at the same time. I know that there were times in my life I would not have been ready to hear certain things, or they would not have been important to me at that point.
Thank God we have a conscience that can help us to know when it is acceptable to object to certain things, and let other things of lesser importance pass. There are some things always worth defending or fighting for, there are some that may be, given the circumstances, and there are some that aren’t. Sometimes we also find ourselves in spots where it isn’t possible not to offend someone, because they are just waiting to be offended by us so that they can be offended and have cause against us.