True or False: Grace is harder than Law

[good samaritan]

Originally Posted by shazeep

this is quite nice, GS, but how to prevent this call to navel gazing that so many seem to embrace

??? You will have to explain a little more. People should make their calling and election sure. They should rightly divide the word of God. I don't view that as naval gazing.

[shazeep]

Originally Posted by good samaritan

People should make their calling and election sure.

a review of the OP interpretation of this would be helpful, maybe; i've forgotten it, ty.
i seem to be getting a lot of resistance @ For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith, at least, let me put it that way.

[good samaritan]

Originally Posted by shazeep

a review of the OP interpretation of this would be helpful, maybe; i've forgotten it, ty.
i seem to be getting a lot of resistance @ For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith, at least, let me put it that way.

2Peter 1:1-10 should be read for its context. To me it is like Joshua telling the people to choose who they will serve. We must seek spiritual fruit in our lives.

[Aquila]

I was taught that when a believer falls into sin there is a steady progression that ends in apostasy. It is when one enters apostasy that they've fallen from grace. God chastens and disciplines His children during this process to get them to turn around before it is too late.

[thephnxman]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I was taught that when a believer falls into sin there is a steady progression that ends in apostasy. It is when one enters apostasy that they've fallen from grace. God chastens and disciplines His children during this process to get them to turn around before it is too late.

Apostasy = fallen away = fallen from grace

You mean that the "steady progression" is unrepentant sin, right?

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by thephnxman

Apostasy = fallen away = fallen from grace

You mean that the "steady progression" is unrepentant sin, right?

I believe that some sins will lead to apostasy if unrepented of. If we continue in them we are resisting the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51). If we continue resisting the Spirit we become hardened to the Spirit's conviction and as a result we quench the Holy Spirit (I Thessalonians 5:19). Once we've quenched the Spirit and we continue in sin, we then grieve the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). We're not lost yet. However, this is when corrective judgments typically come our way to get our attention from the outside that we might turn and repent. If we continue to resist the Spirit we insult the Spirit (Hebrews 10:29). If we continue to insult the Spirit a line can be crossed... a line that moves into blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31-32) and counting the very blood that that saved them an unholy thing (Hebrews 10:29). Now the wayward saint of God has crossed the line into apostasy and will never return.

I do not believe that it is easy to be lost. Jesus didn't die for a greasy grace that could slip right through your fingers. However, continued and intentional rebellion will cause one to eventually lose their soul.

[shazeep]

i would like to contrast the last two paragraphs i just read with the characterization of a Christ-follower that i get from Scripture, that being an outcaste, kicked out of one town going to another, reviled and despised...etc, and for what? Asking people if they know Jesus? i don't think so

[shazeep]

well, because it is not, who would disagree. Is it possible that fulfills the law and prophets might be a euphemism for salvation, then.

[good samaritan]

Originally Posted by shazeep

well, because it is not, who would disagree. Is it possible that fulfills the law and prophets might be a euphemism for salvation, then.

Loving God and loving our neighbor is the core of the moral law. Show me someone that is righteous in this by their own merits. Turning the other cheek is part of loving the neighbor. I agree there are a lot of charitable and loving people out there, but none bats 100%. We depend on the grace of God that was shed by the blood of Jesus Christ.

[shazeep]

you have an artful way of putting things, well said imo.