Grace is NOT unmerited favor!

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What definition of grace to you live by?

  • Unmerited favor that covers up sin so God can't see it.

    Votes: 3 14.3%
  • The power of God to partake of the divine nature?

    Votes: 8 38.1%
  • Other

    Votes: 10 47.6%

  • Total voters
    21
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Helen

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I have not yet read any posts here ...I wanted to answer for myself first.

The only thing I would change is to add a word.

Grace is not ONLY unmerited favour!

If there is no "reflection of God in our life "...then as Paul said - Grace has been held in vain.

2 Cor 6. "We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain."

Paul warns us that we can hold grace in vain.
 

CharismaticLady

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We are not in the flesh; however the flesh is in us.

I think that you are trying to pit Romans 8:9 against Galatians 5:17.

What you need to try and do is to reconcile the two verses so that they don't contradict each other in your mind; and so that both of them hold authority as being divine, inspired holy scripture.

To @CharismaticLady.

1 John 3:9 needs to be figured in also. You are taking Galatians 5:17 and stopping. It is not a stand alone scripture, but must reconcile with the other two.
 

justbyfaith

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1 John 3:9 needs to be figured in also. You are taking Galatians 5:17 and stopping. It is not a stand alone scripture, but must reconcile with the other two.
I have been figuring in 1 John 3:9 to my understanding of Galatians 5:17 all along.

Because I failed to mention it once, you get all out of shape.
 

CharismaticLady

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I have been figuring in 1 John 3:9 to my understanding of Galatians 5:17 all along.

Because I failed to mention it once, you get all out of shape.

No, we are close to agreement at the bottom line, but you still believe we have the old flesh. What does born again mean to you? The old flesh sins.
 

justbyfaith

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No, we are close to agreement at the bottom line, but you still believe we have the old flesh. What does born again mean to you? The old flesh sins.
Galatians 5:17 would appear to teach that we still have the old flesh.

But if you don't ever sin anymore, good for you!

Yet, I think that you have admitted on certain occasions that you still commit sins that are not willful.

I think that you are more accountable if you don't have the flesh because you have no excuse.

As a matter of fact, if you don't have the flesh that would render all of your sins to being willful.

Because at that point, it is certainly not sin within you that is doing the sinning; it is you.

You can't even blame it on your flesh; it is your own personal, willful sin.
 

Anthony D'Arienzo

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Grace: More Than Unmerited Favor! - The Aquila Report
Theologically it is of the greatest importance to recognize that the idea of demerit is an essential element in the definition of grace. In its proper theological sense as the opposite of law-works, grace is more than unmerited favor. That is, divine grace directs itself not merely to the absence of merit but to the presence of demerit. …It is a granting of blessing, as an act of mercy, in spite of previous covenant breaking by which man has forfeited all claims to participation in the kingdom and has incurred God’s disfavor and righteous wrath. It bestows the good offered in the covenant’s blessing sanctions rather than the evil of the threatened curse even though man has done evil rather than good in terms of the covenant stipulations.”


In other words, because we transgressed the law, we rightly deserve its curses and punishments. But God shows grace and mercy in sending Christ to save us – to both obey the law and suffer the curse in our place. We deserve death, by grace alone he gives life!
 
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CharismaticLady

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Grace: More Than Unmerited Favor! - The Aquila Report
Theologically it is of the greatest importance to recognize that the idea of demerit is an essential element in the definition of grace. In its proper theological sense as the opposite of law-works, grace is more than unmerited favor. That is, divine grace directs itself not merely to the absence of merit but to the presence of demerit. …It is a granting of blessing, as an act of mercy, in spite of previous covenant breaking by which man has forfeited all claims to participation in the kingdom and has incurred God’s disfavor and righteous wrath. It bestows the good offered in the covenant’s blessing sanctions rather than the evil of the threatened curse even though man has done evil rather than good in terms of the covenant stipulations.”


In other words, because we transgressed the law, we rightly deserve its curses and punishments. But God shows grace and mercy in sending Christ to save us – to both obey the law and suffer the curse in our place. We deserve death, by grace alone he gives life!

So Christ is the only one that can obey the righteous requirements of the law? He did that in our place so we don't have to?
 

Anthony D'Arienzo

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justbyfaith,

[If grace is not in place of wrath, where is wrath? it is nonexistent.

But the scripture is clear that there is indeed wrath against sin.

Maybe you should clarify what you mean; and how your statement does not negate the wrath of God towards those who are not under grace
!]

You most likely will not get a straight answer on this, just elusive double talk.
If a person denies spiritual death took place at the fall, and denies penal substitutionary atonement,chances are no solid answer is coming soon...just philosophical double talk.
 

CharismaticLady

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That is what scripture teaches, Gal4:4
We are law keepers, but still able to sin, until we are glorified

We are being glorified NOW silly. We were freed from sin when we received the Holy Spirit. That is IF you repented so as to receive the Holy Spirit. Some never do. I was in church for 30 years unsaved before it happened to me.
 

CharismaticLady

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You sin everyday
Your false teaching CHARISMATIC FRIENDS THAT YOU FOLLOW HAVE TAKEN OUT OF THE PATH OF TRUTH.
These false teachers deceive many.be careful to learn the truth

I don't follow man's teachings. I have the Spirit and can understand the Word of God very well.
 

Anthony D'Arienzo

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Where did you learn such twisted garbage??? Are you a Calvinist?
You have no idea what you are talking about;
3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,

4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;

7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.


8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;

9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
 
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