[mitch5501]

"This distinction escapes man unless his utter unworthiness is emphasized, as man’s natural predisposition is towards supposing he earns eternal life, at least to some degree, with some mercy thrown in, and he will use texts which speak of rewards for the “obedience of faith” in order to escape the abasement of himself as one damned for his sins and destitute of any merit whereby he may escape his just and eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire"

Amen.

I can so easily relate to Mephibosheth when summoned before the King..."And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?" (2 Samuel 9:8)

To contemplate somehow earning our eternal life,to think we could stand before The Creator and have anything good of ourselves to offer is akin to standing on the surface of the sun expecting to cast a shadow.

[daniel1212]

To contemplate somehow earning our eternal life,to think we could stand before The Creator and have anything good of ourselves to offer is akin to standing on the surface of the sun expecting to cast a shadow

Good analogy as regards actual worthiness, and thus the second death is what we morally earn as sinners, whereas eternal life is the gift of God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Yet again (as God is a God of balance, versus extremes on both sides) it must be said that "worthy" faith is that justifies the unGodly is a kind which characteristically manifest "things which accompany salvation," versus thorns and briers, (Heb. 6:8,9) thus some versus speak of believers being counted "worthy" by their fruit, (Rm. 2:13; Rv. 3:4), as fruit evidences faith, though not saved by them, (Titus 3:5; Eph. 2:8,9) and in His grace this faith hath great recompence of reward,(Heb. 10:35,36) as God rewards the faithful who are the light (small "l") of the world, who shall shine as the sun in the kingdom of their Father," (Mt. 13:43) though apart from justifying faith in Christ they are worthy of "outer darkness". (Mt. 8:12; 22:13; 25:30)

For "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. " (Revelation 20:6)

To the glory of God, who draws souls, (Jn. 6:44; 12:32; opens hearts, (Acts 16:14), grants repentance, (Acts 11:18) and gives faith. (Eph. 2:8) enabling and moving man to chose to do what he could not and would not do, being dead in trespasses and sin, and by nature are children of wrath (Eph. 2:1) and which cannot be made subject to the law of God. (Rm. 8:7) And who must thus come to the living Christ as one damned and destitute, and be justified by faith in His blood. (Rm. 3:10-25)