If Christ paid the price I could not pay why would I deceive myself into thinking I can make myself worthy now?
"For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification were through the law, then Christ died to no purpose." (Galatians 2:19-21)
When we are in God's grace, our souls are transformed, and we no longer live...but Christ lives in us. That is the transforming grace of our Glorious and Merciful God. As human beings, we are completely unworthy of our infinitely perfect God. But, with the sharing of God's life, we are transformed into new beings. It is wonderful what God's grace does for us!!
"For Christ also died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit." (1 Peter 3:18)
The Church at Galatia made much the same error thinking they could please God by obeying rules and becoming acceptable in their own strength. Jesus Christ is either our Saviour in every detail or He is not our Saviour at all. What part of paying for your sins completely on the cross did He fail in? The answer is of course none.
The Galatians were indeed mistaken. If one has works, but no faith, He cannot be saved. That is presumption and is a sin against the virtue of hope.
"And you, who once were estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him, provided that you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel which you have heard, which has been preached to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church..." (Col. 1:21-24).
Again, Christ's sacrifice was not lacking. But we, because of our imperfections, must also suffer on His behalf.
It in no way seems logical to me as Jesus did a complete work on the cross.
But logic cannot comprehend God anyway
Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Indeed! We can never understand God. We can, however, understand many of His workings. Imperfect as our understanding may be, we still have understanding. That's why the Bible explains the workings of God to us. Isaiah uses figurative language quite often. Here, I believe, he is simply pointing out that God is infinitely more perfect than we.
People, people. what does Scripture say?
"unless a man be born again, he shall not see the Kingdom of Heaven."
"If Grace be of Grace, works is no more works. But if works be of works, then Grace is no more grace, Jesus Christ died on the cross in vain."
Salvation is by the Grace of God, not by works, lest any man should boast.
Amen!! No good works are possible without grace!
Purgatory? No, absolutely not. Never has, never will. Purgatory has been taught to be a place where marginally good or sinful people went, in order to live after phys. death, for God to decide if allowed into Heaven or not. A lie of Satan.
This refers to works. No way. This is no different than believing the "Mother Mary" can do a "second works of Grace", to save people to Heaven. Both are lies.
If some members were to say this about any other belief, I believe that they would be accused of denomination bashing and putting down others' beliefs. Let's play fair here, folks.
Jesus Christ declared- "I AM the way, the Truth and the Life". "I"- Jesus only, no other, no works, etc.
I believe that we must have some kind of relationship with Him to have the way, truth, and life. Indeed, we must have a GOOD relationship with Him to have those things. And a relationship is two-sided. God always loves us. Therefore, we must love Him in return.
Do ye not know that ye are saved by Grace thru faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?
Amen!
This is a very good discussion!
