[Mom MD]

Nothing is sadder than someone trying to earn what they never can when God has already freely given it to them.

[cuban leaf]

And it is so freeing when you DO figure it out. :)

[Petrosius]

Nothing is sadder than someone trying to earn what they never can when God has already freely given it to them.

Salvation cannot be earned; it is indeed a pure gift. But it can be lost through sin. Both Jesus and Paul warn of this. This is the true teaching of the Bible.

[Old Yeller]

Nothing is sadder than someone trying to earn what they never can when God has already freely given it to them.

Yep. How much is enough. You can never have assurance. Oh wait, let's make up Purgatory to give them a feeling of a safety net, if they don't accumulate enough points to get into Heaven. The living can pay for masses that will give them enough points to spring them from Purgatory.