Man this is something. How is it possible that I can agree with what both sides of this argument so fully, yet this debate be so heated. I got caught up right in it too, but honestly don't disagree with what Sketch was saying. Well besides the obvious about me personally, but I think the biggest disconnect in this conversation is one side is talking about how salvation comes, and the other is talking about what happens AFTER that. How are we "changed", if we are growing, what is "Growing" exactly?
All I understand Macabeus to be speaking of, and that I agree with too, is that this "change", this "growing" WILL be present in the truly reborn, that's just what happens and how it works. It is also a personal thing and doesn't happen the same way for everyone, nor to the same degree, and is only through Jesus for everyone. It's also only by the power of God we are changed of course, by His grace as a free gift that we are powerless to earn, so anything we do as a result of this change (these dreaded "works") He gets the glory for. He transforms us for His glory. These are not chains, He changes our hearts, changes our very natures to now desire to please Him in ways we NEVER would have before He graced us with spiritual life and reconciliation to our Creator through His crucifixion and death and resurrection from the dead.
Both sides affirm that salvation is not earned, both sides know that being reborn in Christ brings change, where it seems to fall off is when anyone suggest that this "change" is evidence of ones salvation. Not the cause, not a payment of any kind to the God that gave EVERYTHING. It is just the behavior that results from the KING of ALL, by His grace and His mercy, making us whole in Him again as we were created to be, as a free gift no one deserves....What Macabeus is, and what I was speaking of earlier is what happens AFTER this free gift by His Spirit, it is simply the "change" and the "growing" that we already agree on. Yet we waste time talking past each other for what? Just to be right? I was just reading through these comments and wanted to share what I saw. I actually love all of you guys and pray that God draw us all closer each and every day. Have a great day brothers and sisters out there.
All I understand Macabeus to be speaking of, and that I agree with too, is that this "change", this "growing" WILL be present in the truly reborn, that's just what happens and how it works. It is also a personal thing and doesn't happen the same way for everyone, nor to the same degree, and is only through Jesus for everyone. It's also only by the power of God we are changed of course, by His grace as a free gift that we are powerless to earn, so anything we do as a result of this change (these dreaded "works") He gets the glory for. He transforms us for His glory. These are not chains, He changes our hearts, changes our very natures to now desire to please Him in ways we NEVER would have before He graced us with spiritual life and reconciliation to our Creator through His crucifixion and death and resurrection from the dead.
Both sides affirm that salvation is not earned, both sides know that being reborn in Christ brings change, where it seems to fall off is when anyone suggest that this "change" is evidence of ones salvation. Not the cause, not a payment of any kind to the God that gave EVERYTHING. It is just the behavior that results from the KING of ALL, by His grace and His mercy, making us whole in Him again as we were created to be, as a free gift no one deserves....What Macabeus is, and what I was speaking of earlier is what happens AFTER this free gift by His Spirit, it is simply the "change" and the "growing" that we already agree on. Yet we waste time talking past each other for what? Just to be right? I was just reading through these comments and wanted to share what I saw. I actually love all of you guys and pray that God draw us all closer each and every day. Have a great day brothers and sisters out there.