Sorry to hear Lynn. There is no need to convince him that he is wrong though as he does not even qualify by his own belief. If there is no changed heart that hates sin and loves righteousness...there is no changed heart. Scripture says it perfectly in Rom 12:9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Hence, if we don't hate sin, our love for the Lord is not sincere. So whether we are OSAS or Arminian is really irrelevant.
Grace Is Not 'unmerited Favor'
- Thread starter The Town Crier
- Start date
Sorry to hear Lynn. There is no need to convince him that he is wrong though as he does not even qualify by his own belief. If there is no changed heart that hates sin and loves righteousness...there is no changed heart. Scripture says it perfectly in Rom 12:9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Hence, if we don't hate sin, our love for the Lord is not sincere. So whether we are OSAS or Arminian is really irrelevant.
Okay, I read the article… at least the "unmerited favor" part.
I'm a little confused as to what the "doctrine of unmerited favor" actually is, because the article fails to define it.
I'm not tracking that "unmerited favor" is a theological doctrine to begin with. While I generally agree with most of the points in the article (although I think the author gets off the tracks on page 54 at least), I still don't see what the big sticking point is against "unmerited favor" (and it might be because I have a different understand of what it is). From what I can tell, it seems to be a "chicken or the egg" argument. Does God first give grace allowing us to recognize our sin and be obedient? Or do we demonstrate our obedience at which time God offers grace? Is this the difference between grace and unmerited favor?
I'm confused as to what your point is regarding unmerited favor. Please clarify. To me, "unmerited favor" is more or less synonymous with grace.
I'm a little confused as to what the "doctrine of unmerited favor" actually is, because the article fails to define it.
I'm not tracking that "unmerited favor" is a theological doctrine to begin with. While I generally agree with most of the points in the article (although I think the author gets off the tracks on page 54 at least), I still don't see what the big sticking point is against "unmerited favor" (and it might be because I have a different understand of what it is). From what I can tell, it seems to be a "chicken or the egg" argument. Does God first give grace allowing us to recognize our sin and be obedient? Or do we demonstrate our obedience at which time God offers grace? Is this the difference between grace and unmerited favor?
I'm confused as to what your point is regarding unmerited favor. Please clarify. To me, "unmerited favor" is more or less synonymous with grace.
Hi Kurt...thank you for your reply
My warning is mostly to the crowd that has fallen for the 'unmerited favor' doctrine, so I don't spend much time defining what the doctrine of 'unmerited favor is' because those who believe it know what it is already. So to be fair..I am not going to describe it to you, I will let you do your own research or let someone else describe it to you. What I will say is this-go to all the 'Christians' you know and ask them what grace is. They will tell you that it is 'unmerited favor' from God.( perhaps a few will tell you something else..) But the fact is, grace is not unmerited favor. Grace is the power and influence of the Holy Spirit through the word of God. This influence and 'teaching' if you will transforms us or makes us 'born again'. If there is not a real transformation that takes place causing people to forsake the world and conform their lives according to CHrist, there is no salvation.There is a significant difference between being saved by 'the power of God in us' and being saved by 'favor'. The correct doctrine of salvation by grace requires repentance and obedience before salvation occurs and in the 'unmerited favor doctrine, they are simply considered 'byproducts of salvation'. Case in point look at the syntax of this scripture:
Act 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
First repentance, then conversion, then sins are blotted out. Today people are believing that as soon as you confess and say a prayer, you become born again and begin to grow... That is not the gospel.
It is also only by grace(the power of God in us) that we can serve God acceptably otherwise we are just doing 'works'.
I am curious what you mean by 'getting off base' at page 54. Could you explain that to me?
Thanks, TC
Good posts Ixoye and TC. You guys have given me a headache though trying to figure out exactly what it is you disagree on! I am still not too sure.
Sorry about your headache King J! I think where the disagreement comes in is this...He says that God's grace is compassion towards us. Whereas the gospel clearly says that grace is the power of God given to us and in fact put into our hearts, causing us to live according to His will and enabling us to serve Him. Grace is a spiritual resource or 'commodity' that we receive through faith. Grace teaches us, helps us, comforts us, and empowers us. That is why we cannot boast that we are doing anything of ourselves because it is the power of God within us that is doing the 'labor'. Compare these two:
2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
1Co 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but
I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
Paul says that he labors yet not him but the grace or power of God...Does that make sense?
That is why we have salvation through the power of God:
1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
The falling away is here...The wrong doctrine is being taught in today's churches, so no one is being taught how to obtain this saving, powerful, life transforming grace. They have been tricked into a powerless gospel of unmerited favor by the false prophets who have taken over most churches. American churches by and large are spritually dead. People are not truly being born again because they are not being taught how to become 'born again'.
America is going to suffer a great judgment from God...Please read all of that PDF so you can see what is really going on. The deception is great my friend.
God be with you
TC
What is the "right" way to become born again then?
The Holy Spirit uses the word of God to bring us to life or make us 'born again'. I ll let scripture explain it:
1Pe 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Jas 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
2nd Peter says it this way:
2Pe 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
2Pe 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
The Holy Spirit uses the word of God to transform us or bring us alive spiritually because the words are 'gracious' or
spiritual and life giving:
Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you,
they are spirit, and they are life.
Luk 4:22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?
When the Holy Spirit teaches us using the word of God, we are brought to life. Ephesians 2 says it this way:
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved
Psa 119:93 I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.
To be 'quickened' means to be brought to life. The word of God is spiritual in nature and becomes a part of us.
Jas 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
The word of God is put into our hearts:
Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
The gracious words of God 'in our heart' make us 'believers in our hearts':
Rom 10:8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
1Th 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
The spiritual words of God must become a part of us and change our very nature. Without this process, we are not saved. Receiving grace and being born again are really the same thing. The spiritual word of God becoming a working part of us...
Today, people have little or no spiritual discernment because the word of God does not dwell in them. Satan has robbed in from their hearts with the cares of the world.
Luk 8:12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
We live in the worst place on the planet for worldliness and most have never separated from the world...
1Jn 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Joh 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
America is dead spiritually...Most people calling themselves 'christians' have not overcome the world and they are not born again. The truth is no longer being taught in churches and that is why the spiritual condition of the country is so bad... because the church has failed to be salt and light. I challenge you to please read the whole PDF and then let's chat some more.
Here again is the link to it: Click here for 'The falling away is here' PDF
Sincerely
TC
Dude, I get it. There are tons of churches in America filled with a bunch of fluffy, bad theology. This is nothing new. You speak as if we should all be caught by surprise by this. I don't need to read the whole article to know that. What I'm trying to figure out is what exactly your beef is with the term "unmerited favor."
I tried to ask you the question "What is the right way to be born again?" because you had made a statement that "People are not truly being born again because they are not being taught how to become 'born again'." I find this to be problematic because what you are laying out here is fairly heavy doctrinal stuff (the order of salvation). This is categorized in what the writer of Hebrews called "solid food" in Hebrews 5:12-13. The new/aspiring believer is not schooled in heavy doctrinal stuff like this. He is presented with the "milk" of the Gospel (i.e. "you need Jesus to rescue you from your depravity), he recognizes his sin, receives repentance and faith, and as a consequence is born again. He doesn't need to know all the doctrinal concepts for this to happen. So for you to say that a person cannot be saved without being "properly taught" simply doesn't float. All you need to be saved is to cry out to Christ in repentance. You don't need to have perfect theology in order to do this. People can be saved and have error in their theology.
I tried to ask you the question "What is the right way to be born again?" because you had made a statement that "People are not truly being born again because they are not being taught how to become 'born again'." I find this to be problematic because what you are laying out here is fairly heavy doctrinal stuff (the order of salvation). This is categorized in what the writer of Hebrews called "solid food" in Hebrews 5:12-13. The new/aspiring believer is not schooled in heavy doctrinal stuff like this. He is presented with the "milk" of the Gospel (i.e. "you need Jesus to rescue you from your depravity), he recognizes his sin, receives repentance and faith, and as a consequence is born again. He doesn't need to know all the doctrinal concepts for this to happen. So for you to say that a person cannot be saved without being "properly taught" simply doesn't float. All you need to be saved is to cry out to Christ in repentance. You don't need to have perfect theology in order to do this. People can be saved and have error in their theology.
Kurt...Jesus said that you must be born again. This is not 'lipservice repentance'. There must be a true transformation by the word of God through the circumcision of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said All fornicators, liars, covetous, idolators etc will be thrown into the lake of fire.
Jesus said repent and believe the gospel. He said " If your eye offends you( causes you to sin) PLUCK IT OUT for it is better to enter into the kingdom having one eye than to have both eyes going into hellfire"...
He said those who are born again overcome the world. the message you just wrote "All you need to be saved is to cry out to Christ in repentance" is a flat out lie. Jesus said turn to God and then you will be cleansed of your unrighteousness. Paul chastised those who were not on solid food. He said they were still 'in the flesh' (not converted) To be in the flesh is under the law. You must be led of the Spirit in order to be saved. Most professing 'Christians' in America are not led of the Spirit. They are still idolators, fornicators, liars, abusers of themselves, drunkards, adulterers, feeding their fleshy desires and are in for a big surprise come judgment day. American 'Christians' are honoring Jesus with their mouths but have not been converted in their hearts. They are still living carnal minded lives as though Heaven is just a 'cherry on top' after having their best life now. God will not be mocked! The United States and its people are the most covetous, idolatrous, adulterous people on the planet corrupting the entire world with TV, Music, Professional sports and a host of other things( 90% of the worlds pornography comes from the United States)..How is it that the 'Christian' nation on the Planet is the richest and most proud. You better open your eyes before it is too late. America has died spiritually she is the Harlot Babylon and most of the churches are synagogues of Satan who have turned grace into a license to live like the world. WAKE UP!!!!!!
Read Rev 18, Jeremiah 50, 51, and Isaiah 13-14 ( Satan becomes the spiritual leader of Babylon) or read the whole PDF
TC
Did you write that pdf document?
Okay finally, I'm starting to understand where you're coming from.
So then, if the path to salvation that I described is a lie, what is the correct path? To what standard of obedience must a person achieve before they are born again? And how does this not equate to a works-based salvation?
So then, if the path to salvation that I described is a lie, what is the correct path? To what standard of obedience must a person achieve before they are born again? And how does this not equate to a works-based salvation?
ok...the standard of obedience is set in the word of God according to the Holy Spirit. A person must truly go do what the gospel says to do...Let’s look at the story of Zacchaeus:
Luk 19:2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
Luk 19:3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
Luk 19:4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
Luk 19:5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
Luk 19:6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
Luk 19:7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
Luk 19:8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
Luk 19:9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
We see several things take place that the scriptures teach us to do. Zacchaeus obeyed Jesus by ‘making haste’:
Luk 19:5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste,
and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
Luk 19:6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
Compare with Hebrews:
Heb 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Zacchaeus sought Him diligently:
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Luk 19:3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
Luk 19:4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
Jesus said:
Mar 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
Zacchaeus did it:
Luk 19:8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
Luk 19:9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
That was just a simple illustration of how the parables contain the teachings of Jesus embedded within them.
Now here is the only part that I want you to understand...If you just spend your whole life trying to do these things, you will fail. The purpose of the written word is for the Holy Spirit to conform us with the teachings that are in it.
Ask the Holy Spirit to change your heart towards these things and then do them as the Spirit says to. I don't know what kind of life you live, but set it all down. Close up shop as much as you can and go seek the lord while he may still be found. Let Him change your life into what HE WANTS IT TO BE... not what you want it to be. Most Christians today spend little time in the word of God, so the Holy Spirit cannot minister and teach the word to them. They are to busy reading books and watching TV preachers. The Holy Spirit uses the word of God to change us so spend every minute you can in the word seeking knowledge and ask God to give you a thirst for the words. One day you will wake up and realize your whole life had changed without you even realizing it... I am not saying that hasn't already happened to you, but if it had, you would see how wicked this place is and what God has in store for it according to His word. Most people are in denial about things because they have bought into rapture theories and all kinds of false teachings... Just immerse yourself in the word of God instead of whatever other things have occupied your time and see what the Holy Spirit will teach you. God Bless and I hope that helps.( P.S. I did not mean to insinuate that you are a liar- just that the statement was a lie that is being taught in most churches today). oh I am going to ruffle a few feathers with this but stay away from the new translations and stick with a KJV or older version that is from the Textus Receptus...the new bibles are horribly corrupt and part of the falling away (They come from a different manuscript). If you would like to do a little bible study through PM so we don't get interrupted, I can show you the differences. I have had people throw their bibles away in front of me after I showed them the differences. Believe me they are different!
Oh one last thing- it is not a 'works based salvation' because it is the transforming power of the Holy Spirit that will cause you to do these things- as the words become a part of your nature..The other part of that is 'works' means by our own power, V.S. grace is by God's power...In other words, serving turkey dinners won't save you, you must have the power of God save you. I hope that makes sense.
Take care,
TC
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Yes I did write it...It is only a portion of a much larger document that covers the gospel and breaks down to false teachings going around today. ( I'm not an author so it isn't a 'professional' writing if you know what I mean) If you would like to read the whole thing I am interested in your comments, but please do not comment unless you read it-because you won't understand where I am coming from...
take care, TC
un·mer·it·ed
ˌənˈmeritid/
adjective
adjective: unmerited
1.
not deserved or merited.
I do not believe in once saved always saved, but are you suggesting that the "true" Christian deserves salvation based on his obedience? Please be brief in your response. Make it plain. Thanks.
God Bless,
MoG
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Ok...you cannot be saved by works that you do( ie going to homeless shelters, going to church, paying tithing, quitting a bad habit, those things are 'works'.
Grace is the transforming power of the word of God through the Holy Spirit that causes you to do whatever it is you do-according to what God has purposed for you, and what kind of grace He has given to you..- you cannot 'earn grace through 'works'. You can only get grace through obedience to the Holy Spirit. Grace is a spiritual endowment or resource
given to us from the Holy Spirit and grace is diverse:
Rom 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
1Co 12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
We cannot serve or please God by our own works, we must receive spiritual teaching and tools( grace)before we can do anything.
To sum up
Doing good deeds for salvation gets you nowhere, you must simply obey the word of God through the Holy Spirit. obedience to God verses doing good deeds are two different things. Another way to put it is like this. God says that we need to build our house upon the word of God in order for Him to dwell in us. If we do not do what the word of God says, our house never gets built. In addition, the Holy Spirit is our 'contractor' if you will-who works with us to build that new house. It is a free house but we must abandon the old one and build new, because the 'old house' (old man) is corrupt. Most don't want the Holy Spirit to build them a new house, because they like the old one so they disobey the word of God. but on judgment day, that 'old house' that they stayed in will be burned down...One last thing-nowhere in the Bible will you find the words or the doctrine 'unmerited favor'. We are saved by the power of God-by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit:
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Did that help?
TC
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Okay first, I'm not sure this really matters, but the story for Zacchaeus wasn't a parable. A parable is an allegorical story designed to indirectly illustrate a particular truth. Zacchaeus was a real person who demonstrated to Jesus that Jesus was more important to him than his goods which were likely what he desired most in the world. I'm not sure if that's relevant or if you just misspoke.
But I just want to be clear: are you saying that because Jesus said "This day is salvation come to this house" AFTER Zacchaeus gave away his possessions, that Zacchaeus' salvation in essence wasn't secure until he had given away his possessions? Is this where you're drawing your requirement for obedience prior to salvation? Or did it have to do with him "making haste?" I'm just trying to understand you here.
What you're describing is a path to live a more holy life, to study the word, spend time in prayer, develop your relationship with the Lord, represent the Kingdom to others, spread the Gospel, etc. This is not new. Why do you speak as if you're the only one who understands this?
Sorry, Zacchaeus is not the parable didn't mean to say that it was . In light of that and comparing it with the publican(the parable side of it) Zachaues did what He did after Jesus had spoken to him. He believed the gospel and acted out in faith. This is important to understand...we get grace 'through faith'. I am not so much trying to show you the why or how of grace here as to what grace actually is. And no i am not describing' a path to live a more Holy life' etc. I am describing the path we must take to get to God. Jesus said I am the way to the Father...He said He is the author of Salvation to those who obey Him. He gives grace to the humble. Grace IS NOT 'unmerited favor'.... Grace IS the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Grace is power, help, comfort, healing, discernment,etc.. given to us through faith. Faith means to trust and obey.
That is why Jesus gives us the teachings of the man who built his house on the rock(word of God) He was a doer of the word out of faith. We get grace through faith. The grace of God is what sets us free from our carnal nature and causes us to walk in the Spirit...You cannot get grace through good deeds. You can only get grace through the Holy Spirit.
When a person is under the divine influence of grace, it will change their life. Grace teaches us and empowers us to deny ungodliness. Grace is God's love within us that causes us to love others. Today, people are not under the influence of grace and are still living like the world,. They have a false belief of what salvation is. If you are not born again, you are not saved. Being 'born again' does not happen with a confession of faith:
1Pe 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Having grace and being born again are one and the same... the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit using the word of God to change us. Without that change, there is no salvation. 'Unmerited favor' will not save anyone...'Unmerited favor' makes carnal minded believers and this nation is proof of it.
It is a nation that over 70% claim to be 'born again' and yet it is the wickedest nation on the planet, and has corrupted the rest of the world with its ways. It is a nation of 'professing' Christians who go play 'churchianity' for a couple hours, then go home and turn on that idol called a television polluting their minds with filth. It is a nation of professing Christians who covet material goods and money with a divorce rate over 50%. How can these things be? Because the Holy Spirit has not done any work on peoples hearts, they have settled for a false doctrine of unmerited favor instead of true repentance and obedience. American Christians think they are the bride of Christ and God says this place is the Synagogue of Satan. It is time for those who are real Christians to come forth and begin living the truth while there is time...Read the whole PDF!
TC
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I am not sure if I agree with the terminology your using but I agree with you concerning morality. I typically focus on the element of faith that accompanies most verses that deal with grace to explain the point I think your trying to make. James says faith with out works is dead (James 2:17). Heb 11 combines faith and works and deems it essential. As I heard one person says, it is not a faith which works but a faith that works.
But I am not sure I like the term unmerited favor here. Unmerited is undeserving, and we are undeserving of what God gives us. We deserve death, but Jesus gives us life. He took on what we deserve in order that we may get what He deserves. This is the gospel and I praise God for such wonderful mercies. It will be God that will bring us through to the end, not by might, nor by power, but by His Spirit (Zech 4:6).
I do take issue in your PDF with your hermeneutics on revelation . But I believe you are somewhat on the right track and I agree with your perspective on the rapture theory. Let me suggest this, there is a reason why the red dragon in Rev 12 and the beast in Rev 13 :1-11 and Rev 17 all have similarities. Step 1 would be to discover why this is from the bible.
God Bless,
MoG
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MichaelH
Inactive
I have the .pdf on my desktop, I am waiting for it to be fixed and updated. I also do not like the term unmerited favor because it's used here in a way the scripture never use grace. It's sort of made up based on the precised belief of certain people. We don't prove a position by disproving someone else position.
Grace mentioned in 122 verses NT KJV
Act_14:26 And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.
Rom_5:15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
Grace is a free gift, it's unmerited favor from God. However it's tied to perform work or tasks. We have grace to accomplish things that we ourselves could not do. As Jesus told Paul who was attacked by the Messenger of Satan....... My grace is already there and in sufficient supply. It was grace to defeat the messenger and carry on the Work.
If we give, all grace abounds toward us being equipped for every good work. Once again, grace is tied with the works of doing something, even to the first task of faith that confesses Jesus as Lord with the mouth and believing with the heart.
Scripture never mention Grace to continue to sin, or that it would be OK to live in sin where things are going to work out for you. This is what the .PDF is battling when nothing in scripture is mentioned to battle.
I am also not a fan at all of Hermeneutics. Scriptures tell us what we need to understand the Word.
I also take a Pre-trib rapture position, I have a Post-trib position thread also in my forums as I don't care which one you want to believe. I discount any form of perterist view as being in error.
Blessings.
You are still missing the point however since you bring up the 'free gift' I will expound on what that free gift is...
The 'free gift' is the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Luk 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
No it is not something we deserve, but what grace is and why we receive it are two different subjects... Grace is not unmerited favor. Grace is the free gift of the Holy Spirit.
let's compare some other scriptures to see how grace and the Holy Spirit 'parallel' each other...
Saved by:
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
‘Believe through’
Act 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
Rom 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope,
through the power of the Holy Ghost
Our ‘teacher’:
Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly,
in this present world;
1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which
the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
What we are ‘justified by’:
Tit 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
1Co 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
The covenant we are ‘under’:
Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Gal 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
The 'adoption':
Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
‘full of’:
Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Luk 4:1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness
’In your hearts’:
Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Our helper:
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered
As you can see grace and the Holy Spirit are synonymous with each other...There are lots more ways to show that grace is a result of having the Holy Spirit and it is by that divine grace that we have our salvation. Nowhere in scripture does it say that we receive 'unmerited favor as a gift. We receive the power of the Holy Spirit as the gift.
The gospel clearly says that grace is the power of God given to us and in fact put into our hearts, causing us to live according to His will and enabling us to serve Him. Grace is a spiritual resource or 'commodity' that we receive through faith. Grace teaches us, helps us, comforts us, and empowers us. That is why we cannot boast that we are doing anything of ourselves because it is the power of God within us that is doing the 'labor'.
TC
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