Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: boatbums
And there, ladies and germs, is the nadir of our difference - we do not and cannot ever merit or be made worthy of eternal life. It is a gift from the grace of Almighty God, not based on our merit or worthy efforts.

I don't think you're 'getting' the internalparadox of 'made worthy.' To say that one needs to be made worthy is precisely to say that the gifts,and there is more than one, are not based on OUR merits or worthy efforts.

If i thought that my salvation depended on me and my personal,self-supplied merit, heck, WHEN I thought that, I despaired. And when I despaired I heard the Gospel.

So, I live in gift, surrounded by gift. It is gift that directs my thoughts, intentions, aims. I could never say MY right hand and the strength intrinsic to my arm won the battle. But I can say that God, strengthening my arm and directing my will, and supplying me with a myriads of myriads of other gifts won the battle.

When I come to heaven I will say, "Take what is yours; I have nothing of my own to give you, gracious Lord. I am unprofitable, but full of wonder, love, and gratitude, which you, in your astounding generosity gave me to feel and enjoy."

1,234 posted on 08/27/2011 3:02:34 PM PDT by Mad Dawg (Oh Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1229 | View Replies ]


To: Mad Dawg
When I come to heaven I will say, "Take what is yours; I have nothing of my own to give you, gracious Lord. I am unprofitable, but full of wonder, love, and gratitude, which you, in your astounding generosity gave me to feel and enjoy."

Wonderfully said. So, may I conclude that, unlike your fellow few on this forum, you assert you ARE saved by the grace of God? Can I, or anyone else, conclude that you believe we can know we have eternal life right now? Because it sounds to me like you believe the Gospel of salvation by grace through faith alone (though it is not a faith which is alone). When those who condemn us for the "sin of presumption" by saying we believe God saves us by his grace and we KNOW we have eternal life, do you stand with us in asserting this IS our actual standing in Christ?

1,250 posted on 08/27/2011 5:04:11 PM PDT by boatbums ( God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1234 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson