Would you like to elaborate on this? How can one not get enough grace "while we are here?" All we need is to have our sins covered by Christ's grace. Of what effect is grace beyond the point of salvation?
Sanctification. Grace transforms us. My sin is not "covered" by Christ and His grace. His grace fills me up and makes me actually worthy to stand in the presence of God. I will not be merely "acquitted," or "let off" because someone else paid the price. No, I shall be changed. I need grace to transform me, not cover me. And I need a lot because I am always failing and trying again.
You seem to be approaching a works based theology despite any statements to the contrary.
If it is a works based theology to assert that one can throw away one's inheiretance then I am gulity. If it is a works based theology to assert that our actions have consequences on our souls then I am guilty. If it is a works based theology to assert that we need to make daily decisions to obey God, that we are not robots, but free moral agents, then so be it.
What does "treasure" mean? What does "treasuring" entail? How does one "lose" grace (and I'm Arminian so you don't have to talk through your hat)?
Angelo's analogy of a video game "life meter" is not far off. We treasure our grace by trying to turn this unearned gift from God into something worthwhile, by doing good in his name while not expecting a reward. We treasure our store of grace by avoiding occasions of sin and avoiding sin. If you take your fine silver and leave it out in the rain to be tarnished, this is not "treasuring" it.
We can lose grace by sin. Having an extra-marital dalliance sure feels good but it does nothing for my soul. It makes me dirty and it builds habits of character which make it easier for me to sin the next time. This conditioning ourselves to sin is how we gradually erode our holiness, our grace, and end up being unworthy.
SD
I agree with all your statements. That was not what I was addressing. Your idea that grace does not cover us is what I was addressing. If grace does not cover our sins, what does? If our sins are not atoned for, what has been accomplished by Christ's sacrifice? Do our sins "go away" or "fade" as we are transformed?
We treasure our store of grace by avoiding occasions of sin and avoiding sin. If you take your fine silver and leave it out in the rain to be tarnished, this is not "treasuring" it.
I agree that our actions have consequences. I do not see good actions as accomplishing anything of great merit (or even great favor). Our righteousness is as "filthy rags." The best we can do does not even approach the holiness of God. So while our negative actions can show us to a removal from grace, our positive actions do not place us any higher on the "scale" of grace. When we accept the gift of faith in Christ, we have been declared free from sin. That is one aspect. But, we will also strive towards that perfection which is found in Christ. That is the good works that are prepared for us. They are an outgrowth, the by-product of salvation and regeneration. They change nothing about the amount of grace that we have.