True or False: Grace is harder than Law

[good samaritan]

E and MB I think we are really on the same page and I have enjoyed the stretching of the mind. I also don't belittle the work of the Holy Ghost in our lives. We stress walking in the Spirit very much in our local church. Just recently our church began early morning prayer at 6AM everyday for those whose schedule allow them to participate. We have about 3-5 in prayer everyday and it has tremendously helped create an atmosphere centered on God in the last several weeks of church. People must make a conscious effort to feel after the Spirit of God every day they live. Sometimes the cares of life and things creep in and cause me slip.

I am not suggesting people slip and fall into adultery, pornography, homosexuality, drunkenness, etc.... It is the little foxes that I am referring to and I don't take them lightly. From the perspective of a gardener I know a lot of time the little unseen guests are the ones that will eat your garden up.

[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.

[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

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by good samaritan

E and MB I think we are really on the same page and I have enjoyed the stretching of the mind.

I agree we are basically saying the same thing.

But I also believe Law was intended to be impossible when God gave it. It was intended to make man righteous, and God knew man could not attain it, though.

[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?

[shazeep]

Originally Posted by good samaritan

E and MB I think we are really on the same page and I have enjoyed the stretching of the mind. I also don't belittle the work of the Holy Ghost in our lives. We stress walking in the Spirit very much in our local church. Just recently our church began early morning prayer at 6AM everyday for those whose schedule allow them to participate. We have about 3-5 in prayer everyday and it has tremendously helped create an atmosphere centered on God in the last several weeks of church. People must make a conscious effort to feel after the Spirit of God every day they live. Sometimes the cares of life and things creep in and cause me slip.

I am not suggesting people slip and fall into adultery, pornography, homosexuality, drunkenness, etc.... It is the little foxes that I am referring to and I don't take them lightly. From the perspective of a gardener I know a lot of time the little unseen guests are the ones that will eat your garden up.

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

[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]

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.