When God first approached me through a friend, challenging me if my life would measure up with His approval, I have no doubt the holy Spirit was speaking to me through her, and afterwards directly through my spirit or conscience. It took me several hours too finally admit, no, my life does not measure up, and ask, please God, make my life something you would approve of.
Now you all can make of that what you will. But I know that night, I was born again. I awoke a few hours later a new creature. I give God all the glory, the praise, and the thanks for coming home to me that night, and convincing me to accept His gracious offer of salvation and a new life in Him. Of course, I didn't fully understand the theology behind what took place that night. The term"born again" I had never heard. Calvin and his teachings... Never heard of him. But that night I was born of the will of God... But the love He offered, by its very nature, came with the option of refusal. My accepting His gracious offer does not turn grace into wages. Receiving a gift does not change the nature of the gift. It's still free.. Although it cost Jesus everything