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

[BlindEyes]

1 hour ago, BornAgain490 said:

Right. But, remember what Paul said about those in Corinth that were in Christ:  "And such were some of you, but you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." 1 Cor. 6:11.  So, we were once just like the "such" Paul is referring to, which are the unrighteous and ungodly that are not born again in Christ. 

I agree. I have forsaken many sins myself but there are some I'm still learning about and putting resistance into practice. Then there are some I struggle with. So prayers would be appreciated..

 

2 Corinthians 7:1

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

 

John 13:10-11

Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.

 

Titus 1:16

They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

[BlindEyes]

56 minutes ago, Neighbor said:

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’  But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment." ...

God's will be done.

[BlindEyes]

43 minutes ago, missmuffet said:

It represents God's undeserved favor. God gives it to us out of love,and mercy. It is a gift.

Another definition of grace is the God given ability to fulfill God's will. 

 

1 Corinthians 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.

[enoob57]

what= Only God and 2/3 of angels are sinless ... so righteousness must be given!

why not earned= Place the price on God's Own Son given because that is what it took to give us that righteouness... 

[Who me]

13 hours ago, BlindEyes said:

In my illustration the grace was a gift. The pardon cannot be earned. However, what must be done to receive and keep the pardon?

Gracy cannot be earned.

But in the illustration  the subject learnt his pardon by his changed life. Had he not changed he would not have been granted a pardon.

 

In Christianity it is the other way round. We are pardoned and as a result our lives are changed.

[Tristen]

Since perfect holiness is the required standard of righteousness, and since all come short of that required standard, there is no super-righteous act by which we can earn our way back to righteousness. Therefore, righteousness, along with the associated favor (grace) that comes with being righteous, can only be attained through a gift from God.

It also means Jesus (having purchased our righteousness through His cross) is entitled to all of the glory for our righteousness.

 

[Fran C]

19 hours ago, BlindEyes said:

I believe I need to mortify sins like lying in order to inherit eternal life. I'm still in the process of repenting. Scripture says all liars will inherit the lake of fire. I tend to lie when struggling with other sins as the root cause but it's rare, at least knowingly lying..

 

I believe in John 14:23-24; Acts 2:38, 5:32; 1 John 3:24 when it comes to being born again. The baptism of the Holy Spirit. 

OK BlindEyes

I wish you success in your endeavor to mortify sins.

Just want to say that REPENT has a specific meaning, which I do believe I explained.

You don't KEEP ON repenting...you repent ONE TIME.  A person does not keep on repenting.

After that, you feel sorrow for your sins, you confess to God, and you are forgiven.

God bless you.

[Fran C]

18 hours ago, enoob57 said:

yes, but the motive of the heart has changed... we are not doing in order to get something from God, as that would be law... but we are doing it because of the newness of life placed within us by the regeneration of the Holy Spirit and the motive is Love...
John 14:21 (KJV)

[21] He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

What born again person would not want a closer more intimate relationship with God who has loved them so?

 

Of course I agree.

I would like  your opinion on two questions.  One I've asked of everyone that makes the same statement you have and no one has ever answered in one word:

1.  Is it NECESSARY to do good works/deeds after a person is born again?

My reply is yes.

2.  The other topic is that there are some on these threads that state they fear God and do their best to keep His commandments.  If someone knows God (Hebrews 11:6) and does in fact fear Him...but the person is doing all necessary to have a good rapport (as much as fear could birth a good rapport) would you say that person is a born again person?

I don't like to judge souls...this is purely a question for conversation.  I believe anyone that reaches for God and obeys Jesus' commands is a saved person.

[enoob57]

42 minutes ago, Fran C said:

1.  Is it NECESSARY to do good works/deeds after a person is born again?

My reply is yes.

necessary as toward salvation NO...
Titus 3:5 (KJV)

[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;

As we observed the thief on the cross He had only belief and we know that was enough... I am sure there will be a great many that thought they had tomorrow and find that tomorrow would not come like the thief turn to Christ in belief...

necessary as toward reality of change within YES...

Matthew 12:33 (KJV)

[33] Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

 

42 minutes ago, Fran C said:

2.  The other topic is that there are some on these threads that state they fear God and do their best to keep His commandments.  If someone knows God (Hebrews 11:6) and does in fact fear Him...but the person is doing all necessary to have a good rapport (as much as fear could birth a good rapport) would you say that person is a born again person?

What do you think? Are they making themselves real by self-effort? 
Matthew 7:21 (KJV)

[21] Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

[22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

[23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Anyone born from above would 'NOT' think that there is anything here that God finds worth keeping...

2 Peter 3:10 (KJV)

[10] But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

[11] Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

[12] Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

[13] Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

so how could the manipulation of that which is being burnt up and totally forgotten be of eternal substance?

42 minutes ago, Fran C said:

I don't like to judge souls...this is purely a question for conversation.  I believe anyone that reaches for God and obeys Jesus' commands is a saved person.

It is only God Who knows the heart and each individual will be responsible to know if God 'IS' truly within themselves
Romans 8:16 (KJV)

[16] The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

The Lord Lord people above were never born from above for they thought by what they did saved them... that is why we are to examine ourselves by God's Word for it only reveals truth and used by The Holy Spirit to testify of His Presence within...

We begin in our salvation working it out with fear and trembling the reality of His Word revealing light or darkness within... should be always drawing to the light and denying the darkness of flesh and world it's in
Matthew 6:23 (KJV)

[23] But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

[24] No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

 

 

[Fran C]

26 minutes ago, enoob57 said:

necessary as toward salvation NO...
Titus 3:5 (KJV)

[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;

As we observed the thief on the cross He had only belief and we know that was enough... I am sure there will be a great many that thought they had tomorrow and find that tomorrow would not come like the thief turn to Christ in belief...

necessary as toward reality of change within YES...

Matthew 12:33 (KJV)

[33] Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

OK.  Could I ever get just a one word reply?

I'm speaking of saved persons.  Looks like your answer is YES....but why is it so difficult to just say YES??

26 minutes ago, enoob57 said:

 

What do you think? Are they making themselves real by self-effort? 
Matthew 7:21 (KJV)

[21] Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

[22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

[23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Anyone born from above would 'NOT' think that there is anything here that God finds worth keeping...

2 Peter 3:10 (KJV)

[10] But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

[11] Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

[12] Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

[13] Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

so how could the manipulation of that which is being burnt up and totally forgotten be of eternal substance?

It is only God Who knows the heart and each individual will be responsible to know if God 'IS' truly within themselves
Romans 8:16 (KJV)

[16] The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

The Lord Lord people above were never born from above for they thought by what they did saved them... that is why we are to examine ourselves by God's Word for it only reveals truth and used by The Holy Spirit to testify of His Presence within...

We begin in our salvation working it out with fear and trembling the reality of His Word revealing light or darkness within... should be always drawing to the light and denying the darkness of flesh and world it's in
Matthew 6:23 (KJV)

[23] But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

[24] No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

 

 

I'm not sure what you're reply is to my question number 2.  Posting verse without explaining them does not make conversation easy.