This is my understanding to why grace cannot be earned. I have given an illustration to explain my thoughts..

[Neighbor]

19 minutes ago, Neighbor said:

Ah may I counter that with the testimony that God used the book of Job to bring me to Jesus.

Personally, I cannot imagine the New Covenant making any sort of sense without the Torah Wisdoms and Prophets writings as a firm  anchor from which to base the incarnation of God the Son as man.

If one does not know they are saved it is good that the question comes to mind and gets dealt with! For reality may be that one is not yet aware of their salvation or lack of it.

It can indeed be a struggle, especially when one tries to  find merit in it, and then show that they have such meriting qualities. For no one has them in of themself because God's standard is perfection,  holiness, as He is Holy.

 No one meets that standard! No one keeps that standard! All have failed. That is the reason for the reconciler, Jesus. He alone by His will to serve HisFather became the sacrifice the Passover Lamb that brings salvation. It is by Him alone.

The passover is from the Old Testament, without coming to understanding of the annual Passover rites and celebration it is hard to understand the permanent   cleansing that has been accomplished in the shed blood of Jesus the passover Lamb; and that He is both the perfect lamb and the Good Shepherd.

Yes even as a saved by grace alone Christian  one born again will still sin. It will not be a deliberate denial of the mercy that has been extended however. It will be further evidence of the absolute need of the Passover Lamb of God and His willing sacrifice made so that all who are foreknown and predestined by God will be made holy in His sight and therefore acceptable to him eternally despite the many failings of the born again  believer as they finish out their sojourn in these corruptible bodies of flesh.

There will come a time when these bodies are done and a time for spiritual bodies that will not fail as  these do.

Praise God for his mercy  from everlasting to everlasting. Praise God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

 

[Fran C]

25 minutes ago, Neighbor said:

Ah may I counter that with the testimony that God used the book of Job to bring me to Jesus.

Personally, I cannot imagine the New Covenant making any sort of sense without the Torah Wisdoms and Prophets writings as a firm  anchor from which to base the incarnation of God the Son as man.

Hi Neighbor

How about this:  I became a believer and had a born again "experience" without having EVER read the bible !

So God knows what will work in each case in order to properly reveal Himself...aside from general revelation as explained in Romans 1 and 2.

My personal opinion, and it IS an opinion, is that the OT is difficult to understand without having first encountered God and come to believe in Him.

The bible is studied as literature in some universities, and I just don't understand how they could explain the OT without the help of the Holy Spirit.

I do agree that once a  person has read the NT and come to believe Jesus' words, teachings, then, yes, the OT is necessary to travel further into Christian understanding/theology.

[Neighbor]

11 minutes ago, Fran C said:

I became a believer and had a born again "experience" without having EVER read the bible !

Well hopefully once you were turned about by the Holy Spirit you did read the King James English version only!  (Humor button is on).

I agree that one can read and read and never come to knowledge of the truth. Contrarily God does turn about those He wills to turn about when he so desires to do so. Man makes way too many rules  for others to follow as "the path" one must follow.

God seems only to do as He wills when He wills without even reading man's rule books.

 

[Fran C]

58 minutes ago, Neighbor said:

Well hopefully once you were turned about by the Holy Spirit you did read the King James English version only!  (Humor button is on).

LOL  But I have that one too and love the poetic language.

58 minutes ago, Neighbor said:

I agree that one can read and read and never come to knowledge of the truth.

Jesus is the truth.  I like to follow what He says when there's a doubt.

58 minutes ago, Neighbor said:

 

Contrarily God does turn about those He wills to turn about when he so desires to do so. Man makes way too many rules  for others to follow as "the path" one must follow.

God seems only to do as He wills when He wills without even reading man's rule books.

 

It sounds  a bit too reformed for me....but I agree that God's will will always be accomplished - one way or another.

Man has a rule book?

I thought it was the bible!  (humor button is on).

[Who me]

On 1/11/2025 at 9:43 PM, BlindEyes said:

. I believe repentance comes first.

When talking  about being forgiven or forgiving others yes you are correct there Must be repentance.

 

On 1/11/2025 at 9:43 PM, BlindEyes said:

those who die without a changed life, will they still inherit eternal life

How much of a changed life did the repentant  thief show while dying on the cross.

[farouk]

13 hours ago, BornAgain490 said:

If you're saved, you already have faith.  Now pray.  If you don't already pray, you need to start. When you are in Christ, God will give you strength to resist temptation to sin. Pray to Him and trust Him 

Hi @BornAgain490 Reminds me of these words:

"’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed."

[BornAgain490]

Just now, farouk said:

Hi @BornAgain490 Reminds me of these words:

"’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed."

Amen.  I can only imagine the reaction of all that knew John Newton before he was saved after they heard the lyrics to Amazing Grace, and learned that John Newton was its author?

Only by God's sovereign grace could such a man be converted. To God be glory forever and ever. Amen

[farouk]

Just now, BornAgain490 said:

Amen.  I can only imagine the reaction of all that knew John Newton before he was saved after they heard the lyrics to Amazing Grace, and learned that John Newton was its author?

Only by God's sovereign grace could such a man be converted. To God be glory forever and ever. Amen

Indeed so. I love how the contrast is is given so clearly in Ephesians 2 re. the before and after of the intervention of grace.............

[Neighbor]

1 hour ago, Who me said:

How much of a changed life did the repentant  thief show while dying on the cross.

Well... His life was changed in rather dramatic fashion was it not?  Perhaps an example of quality not quantity, of what is real versus what is rote compliance.

[Fran C]

1 hour ago, Who me said:

When talking  about being forgiven or forgiving others yes you are correct there Must be repentance.

 

How much of a changed life did the repentant  thief show while dying on the cross.

The thief on the cross.  What a silly example.

YOU, Who me, are NOT hanging on a cross.

So is a transformed life a sign of belief in God, or is it not?