All is a gift.

Me- Post 83,878- Salvation is a big pile of presents. Open one box, WOW, regeneration/Holy Spirit. Open another, WOW! Justification. Another, adoption papers! Thank you God! Fellowship with God! Another. Sanctification! I love it. Another, hope! On and on and on. Then another. Open the package. It contains the purpose of God for your life. The good works which God has chosen for us to walk in...Good works are not a merit, they are one of the gifts included in our endowment. Ephesians 2:10[/QUOTE]

I said WE HAVE NOTHING that we did not receive from God. Therefore it is ALL OF GRACE. And if it is all of grace, it is all a gift.

Is this heresy, deceiving, scripture twisting, deceiving, or being a false teacher?

Ok, so on the "Not of Grace" thread, I have been called a liar, a scripture twister, a deceiver, a false teacher, and a host of other names. For saying this...

Ok, so on the "Not of Grace" thread, I have been called a liar, a scripture twister, a deceiver, a false teacher, and a host of other names. For saying this...

Maybe the one who responded was a bit extreme in their response.. But i also believe you have blended in A persons walk with God.. ( their growth in faith and knowledge) with salvation and that's where i believe you have it wrong..

Salvation is being saved from the eternal judgement of God that is due upon all who have sinned. We are saved by trusting in the Atonement Jesus secured for us by his death on the cross.. This is what is covered by the term Salvation..

salvation is not all the other gift boxes you talked about.. They can be called gifts of the Spirit. Ones Walk in their life with the LORD ( fellowship ) and things like Hope come as a result of knowing that one is saved.. But hope is a fruit of salvation it is not a part of actual salvation..

Anyway i would not have accused you of being all those things you say you where accused of being.. I would have simply responded as i have done here and let you process my thoughts and move on..

Which of the things that are listed are not included in salvation? Let me know

And I did not say they saved. I said they were gifts, see my sig.

I think my post was clear enough.. Please read it again, this time put your mind in a calm state.. You are probably in a defensive and upset state of mind at the moment and this is effecting you adversely..

I am not sure at all what you mean by good works not being a merit but rather a gift. I did find your outline of salvation to be a bit cloying but that's just me. I have been called a few things also in the BDF but that just goes with the territory. You need a thick skin to survive in that forum. I would not let the labels that others attach to you to discourage you from posting your perceptions and estimations.

They are a gift because they are the work of the Grace of God. Without Him we can do nothing.

Seems to me that since the works are accomplished through the blood, sweat, and tears through the individual performing them, with the grace of God, they are not gifts. The work performed may be an answered prayer for others and considered a gift, but the one doing the actual work probably would not consider them a gift and I don't believe that scripture supports the works as being a gift from God either. Of course, I could be wrong about this but only offering my own perspective. Some of these so-called gifts (works) take months or years of sacrifice, toil, pain, and suffering to accomplish. If these are really gifts than perhaps it would be wise to pass on receiving such gifts depending on your tolerance for pain.

Maybe its like one of those pass the parcel gifts that when you open it has other gifts inside under another layer? Salvation is the main gift but everyone receives a different gift of the spirit according to how God distributes them.

I think my post was clear enough.. Please read it again, this time put your mind in a calm state.. You are probably in a defensive and upset state of mind at the moment and this is effecting you adversely..

Philippians 1:29

I and many other Christians, see my sig, believe works are a gift because they are wrought of grace. Mary suffered much in bearing Jesus, but Gabriel said she received Divine Favor, and Mary recognized being a handmaiden of the Lord was a blessing and a gift. See Luke 1

Ok, so on the "Not of Grace" thread, I have been called a liar, a scripture twister, a deceiver, a false teacher, and a host of other names. For saying this...

Ok, so on the "Not of Grace" thread, I have been called a liar, a scripture twister, a deceiver, a false teacher, and a host of other names. For saying this...

The verse you supplied does not refer to a gift but refers to belief in Christ and to suffer for Him. I don't believe that the Heavenly Father thought that it was a gift given to the Son dying on the cross for our sins but it was His death and resurrection that made possible the gift of salvation. Jesus willingly accomplished what was the will of the Father. Perhaps He considered, despite being innocent of sin, the savage beating, taunting, crucifixion, and having His heavenly father turn His back on Him as He was hanging on the cross to be a gift and not a work that was without merit.

Thanks. There is a group over there that think that if you disagree with the premise that "it takes a Christian YEARS to bear fruit" then you are a legalist, judgemental, and a fruit inspector.

I have not read all that thread lately but are you arguing it does take years or it does not take years?

I have not read all that thread lately but are you arguing it does take years or it does not take years?