So far, when it comes to the discussion of works and grace, none of you have ever taken the time to explain to me what you mean by works.
I have explained what I believe works is in an earlier post. It is anything that we have to do. Grace is anything that God or Christ does for us.
Yet, you deride and denigrate what I say and believe and yet none of you, if I didn’t miss a post where it was stated, have even bothered to tell me what is meant by “work” and what is meant by “grace.”
Am I asking for too much here?
If any of you did take the time to do so, I apologize for not seeing it.
It may be easier to view Grace as mercy and ‘works’ as excursion.
So far, when it comes to the discussion of works and grace, none of you have ever taken the time to explain to me what you mean by works.
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Ok...
Works...
Baptism, church attendance, meeting attendance, ‘priesthood’, endowments, temple rites, sealings, marriages, being honest, being a ‘good person’, scripture reading, charity, ritual observance, etc.
The reality is we cannot, cannot do anything to ‘clean ourselves up’, it is only AFTER we are Born Again by grace through faith that our works bring glory to God.
Now Christians WILL do some of the above, baptism, honesty, charity, Bible reading, church attendance but we do not do those things to impress God or because we think it will help us in our salvation at all.
From a Christian standpoint - you are most of the way there in your understanding of grace, but not quite. It is done by God - but is totally undeserved by the recipient.
By works Christianity defines it as any act of righteousness offered in a legalistic manner by which one tries to earn the affection and approval by God and righteousness.
Paul contrasts the two in many places
Eph 2: 8* For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Ro 11:6* And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
There is a form of 'works' spoken of by James. The 'works' described there is not a legalist ritual or specified actions - but behavior reflecting the active faith ALREADY existing in the believer that are done out of love. And if you carefully read James Ch 2 - you will see that those 'works' are borne out in acts of love towards others - not temple work, tithing, etc (for contrast).