You got no response from me because I agree with it and I attempted to apply the same concept in my own way, but, just for your benefit :-) I will talk a little more about it.
I see an example of it, although a very dramatic one, in John’s epiphany on the road to Damascus. I see Grace as the Gate. It is either open or it is not. I don’t mean that God is arbitrary about that, I mean that if we pray and sincerely seek to enter the Gate, if we believe in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit and desire to follow that path, then the Gate will open. By that I mean that we sincerely desire to be at one with God and His Love. We desire It for Its own sake and for the Joy it gives us in living in the Spirit.
Those others whom I speak of, and in my experience they are many, desperately desire to escape death so they follow the Scriptures to the best of their ability. They follow the letter of the law but the Spirit of the Law escapes them. They fear death and Hell so they are paying those insurance premiums, following the Law, just in case God is real. In doing so they miss out on the Joy of Belief. That Joy comes through Grace and a true understanding of God and the Scriptures. It is a blessing bestowed upon us by God and it gives us greater understanding. Through this oneness with God and His Love, loving works naturally flow. This fits perfectly with A-G’s The Greatest Commandment.
That is the best I can do at the moment to describe my thinking about Grace and Works.
I see it just that way, too, dear brother in Christ!
Thank you so very much from my heart for your beautiful testimony and truthful witness!
In a couple of your earlier posts, you took pains to point out that you are "not a theologian." Neither am I dear brother in Christ.
Which is probably why I enjoy your posts so much. :^)
Evidently, we both see what A-G, my dearest sister in Christ, sees and testifies to — re: grace and works. She says "There Is Only ONE Great Commandment": Love God with your whole heart and soul and mind and strength (Grace), with its corollary, and thy neighbor as thyself (Works).
They just go together....
Thank you so very much, dear MNR, for your outstanding contributions to this thread!
Which has "gone to crickets," LOL!
So bye for now; May God ever bless you!