Dr. Eckleburg: Say it again I love to hear the story.
jo kus: Somehow the following verses confuse the minds of those who add anything to the completed work of the One Sacrifice & the One Mediator.
Ephesians 2:8-10 (King James Version)
8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Note that the gift is similar to talents received at physical birth in that the recipient is unable to do a thing; the gift can not be refused. The miracle of re-birth is a singular event in the new life of the believer; an event on a par with resurrection from physical death. Grace is the sole motivation for causing one to be reborn; faith is a result of re-birth. Good works follow, like a caboose. We are regenerated for good works which God prepared beforehand.
I can liken it to our first birth. We could not refuse that .
God ordained the time and boundaries of our birth and we had no choice in the event.
I believe it was a gift of God that I was born in the USA and not Iraq.
Works DON'T follow like a caboose (automatically). There are numerous examples of supposed "saved" people who sin grievously, or are indifferent to others and their plight. If love was automatic, then why does Paul say "if I should have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing." (1 Cor 13:2)?
I have asked this question about a dozen times on this thread, but have been ignored every time. Apparently, some people here already have their minds made up and would rather not address what the Scriptures say. If faith automatically led to love, then why does Paul suggest that faith can be had, but not love? What does Paul consider more important in the salvation formula?
Regards