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To: betty boop; 1000 silverlings; Alamo-Girl
Grace falls on the faithless as on a stone, as on totally deaf ears.

If we are speaking of God's saving grace it would be better to say God's grace does not fall on some men are not given faith in Christ and so their ears have been closed.

Men do not give themselves new ears and anyone who receives God's saving grace through faith in Christ is saved. That's the definition of "saving grace." It has saved. That man's sins have been forgiven.

"I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;

That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;

Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:

So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his son Jesus Christ our Lord." -- 1 Corin. 1:4-9


333 posted on 07/17/2009 1:33:21 PM PDT by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)
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To: Dr. Eckleburg; 1000 silverlings; Alamo-Girl; grey_whiskers
It has saved. That man's sins have been forgiven.

But here's the problem I see with this position: Once a man has been "forgiven" (i.e., is thus promoted to the "elect" of the saved), on the basis of justification merely by virtue of the sacrifice of the Cross), does this relieve him of his responsibility for leading a life in this world that follows Christ? Or even a life that is even remotely human?

I mean, if we are "told" by the Holy Spirit that we are "already chosen for salvation," (regardless of whether we wanted to be chosen in the first place, or whether such "chosenness," such election, imposes any further duties upon us), then once "chosen," in what way is any contribution from the human side of this problem in any way meaningful to God's plan of salvation?

I mean, if we are already "chosen," then one would think we've "already made the grade," and so nothing further is required of us. Worse, if we are already "chosen," i.e., "saved," that would seem to constitute a warrant to do whatever we want to. If "election" and "justification" are alone sufficient, then even a Hitler, if qualified as "elect" and "justified" before God, could do whatever he wanted to, without at all disturbing his future (immortal) prospects.

Plus under this scenario, there is also the problem of the seemingly arbitary nature of God's chosing in the first place. How can a just God pick some for winners, and some for losers, in the great economy of Salvation?

338 posted on 07/17/2009 2:52:57 PM PDT by betty boop (Without God man neither knows which way to go, nor even understands who he is. —Pope Benedict XVI)
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