[malakhi]

Salvation is pure grace for those who believe in what Jesus did for you.

Isn't even the ability to believe a grace itself -- the gift of faith?

There does seem to be a distinction between belief and the acceptance of the gift of salvation ("even the demons believe -- and shudder").

So maybe it goes something like this. Belief is pure grace. Acceptance is an act of man's free will (acting on this belief). And the salvation itself is again pure grace. Does that sound right?

Can one truly accept the gift of salvation if one doesn't truly believe?

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

John 6:28-29 Then said they unto him What shall we do that we might work the work of God. Jesus answered and said unto them This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Roms.10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God has raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved.

God has given us free choice to accept or reject the gift, once we accept He does not take it back. Yes the faith we need to accept is a gift from God.

Eph. 2:8 We are savaed by grace thru faith and that not of ourselves it is a gift from God.

Becky

[SoothingDave]

Isn't even the ability to believe a grace itself -- the gift of faith?

Stop poking at it! ;-)

The bottom line is that, even if this entire existence is pre-determined, we are instructed to live as if our free will choices matter.

SD