"Clear and righteous questions like this one reaffirm the Reformed faith for me."
Well, I'm not so sure that it reaffirms the Reformed faith, but it does affirm that that the Lord's Atonement is not an incomplete one. At the end of the ages, the Lord appeared an put away sin. That includes the sin of disobedience. So, why should that sin hinder a man any more with his salvation than any other sin for which the Lord made atonement.
BTW, my Reformed brother Christian, I have noticed that no one attempted to respond to your example of David. Evidently, the works based salvationists don't want to consider the possibility that God was just lucky that David repented before he died so that the man after God's own heart didn't have to get thrown into torment.
I do know that you think that my own non-Reformed views are essentially a works based salvation, but I can assure you that accepting the free gift of God is not a work, but mere thankfulness of the free mercy of God.
Colin.
...but I can assure you that accepting the free gift of God is not a work, but mere thankfulness of the free mercy of God.
After years in this debate, I can at least understand your reluctance to differentiate the "receipt" of grace from the "acceptance" of grace. Your side generally sees the terms as synonymous.
I did, too, for a long time.
But the margin of difference grows for me every day. Either God determined the course of history and all that this entails from before the foundation of the world, or the world is a fluid, malleable phantasm of ever-changing chaos.
Either/or.
God's free mercy by the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ, one-third and equal part of the holy Trinity, was ordained by Him at the moment of creation, and is not now nor ever has been contingent upon any human action.
We respond to the gift of salvation by obedience and gratitude.
For a long time it seemed like a small point. Then I realized it was the fulcrum which balanced everything. No wonder the world works so hard to dispel it.
Salvation is of the Lord.
I understand Ephesians is brought up a lot in this. But I don't see how anyone can read Paul's words and not acknowledge all good works, even the "acceptance" of God's grace, is determined by God.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." -- Ephesians 2:8-10.
"The nature of the Divine goodness is not only to open to those who knock. but also to cause them to knock and ask." -- AUGUSTINE
"Nothing in my hands I bring,
Simply to thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to thee for dress.
Helpless, look to thee for grace:
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me Savior, or I die.
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee."
AUGUSTUS TOPLADY -- "Rock of Ages"
***BTW, my Reformed brother Christian, I have noticed that no one attempted to respond to your example of David. Evidently, the works based salvationists don't want to consider the possibility that God was just lucky that David repented before he died so that the man after God's own heart didn't have to get thrown into torment.***
I have noticed that as well.
***I do know that you think that my own non-Reformed views are essentially a works based salvation, but I can assure you that accepting the free gift of God is not a work, but mere thankfulness of the free mercy of God.***
Yes, I do, but not for the reason you state. Man must actually do more than accept the free gift in the non-Reformed scheme of salvation. If God has already made a complete and finished atonement, including man's sin of unbelief, then there is nothing for man to do except enjoy the gift that God has given him. Unfortunately, the gift is not complete in your scheme. If it were, then when Christ died, he would have made a complete and finished Atonement. But, all that he really did was make a potential Atonement.
In the service of the Lord,
Christian.