(23-04-2025, 02:14 AM)S I M T A N Wrote: It's tragic that one of the loveliest words of the NT should be the subject of controversy. As you may recall, we had a previous disagreement in another theological thread over the word "grace," with OYK chiming in and making himself heard loud and clear. You seem unable to draw a distinction between doing something to deserve grace and doing something to receive grace. We both know "grace" for Muslims is an expression of Allah's mercy shown to His followers sans Christ, but human activity is involved, such as rule-keeping and obedience to God's laws so as to curry God's favour. For Christian believers, grace is particularly linked to the Saviour and to salvation. I'll try to make our concept of "receiving grace" easier for seven-year-olds to understand, and will write in the first-person singular.
As part of the process of being saved, I was given new, spiritual life, which enabled me to confess my sins and place my trust and hope in Jesus. This is what the Bible calls being "born again." The Spirit of God made me alive when I was spiritually dead in my sins and totally helpless. I thank Him for His grace. I'm no longer powerless and enslaved to sin.
As a result of my initial trust in Christ, my sins were forgiven because Jesus died to pay the penalty for those sins. But there's even more - I'm now viewed by God as if I've lived a perfect life, because Jesus lived a perfect life in my place. Not only has my debt been erased, but I've been given all of Christ's assets - His righteousness, so I can step off the treadmill of perfectionism and enjoy freedom. God forgave my sins and treats me as righteous because He loves me. I thank Him for His grace. I'm fully accepted by God and don't have to curry His favour.
At the very moment that I trusted in Christ, I was "adopted" by God. I've moved out of the courthouse, where He sits as Judge, and I've been welcomed into the family home, where He embraces me as my Father. I've also become part of a large family of brothers and sisters who are all united to Jesus - the body of Christ. And the Holy Spirit is within me, enabling me to talk to God as my Father day by day. I thank Him for His grace.
Now that God has adopted me, He's committed to sanctifying me. He has given me the Holy Spirit, who gives me a new power and ability to fight sin
through the practice of daily repentance and faith. Many's the time the path is slow and difficult; at other times I experience "growth spurts." Although I often stumble and need to come to God for forgiveness, He will grant it. He won't give up on me. He's changing me because He loves me. I thank Him for His grace. I'm no longer preprogrammed to sin. I don't need to stay stuck, I can change!
God is going to finish what He started in me (Phil 1:6). I'm in a spiritual war that won't end until I die or Jesus returns (Eph 6:10-18). My enemies are the world (the world around us that is at odds with God), the flesh (remaining sin in me that's not yet completely eradicated), and the devil (the one who would love to derail my faith). But those who truly belong to Jesus will never be defeated. No one can snatch me from the Father's hand once I belong to Him (John 10:28). So I take courage as I continue to fight the good fight. I thank Him for His grace. God is working in me to enable me to persevere until the very end.
I've His promise that one day I'll be completely transformed into the glorious likeness of Jesus. I'll spend eternity in the company of the true and living God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) as well as with my brothers and sisters in Christ, in a wonderful new creation. One day, all traces of sin will be done away with and joy will be all that remains! God will wipe away every tear and completely eradicate sin and suffering because He loves me. I thank Him for His grace.
You didn't really answer the question.
Let me make it easier for you. If you want your 7-year-old son to be on God's gracious side, what would you make him do?