I must thank almost everyone for the civil discussion that has ensued. Some of the views and the genuine wish to do good, are highly appreciated.
I'll try my best to respond as follows:
Yes. I can't really say why, but I think so. Maybe there is some test of motive that those works will eventually fail, but the temporal result will still be good. I've seen lots of good deeds by people from other (or no) faiths.
"How does grace work?"
I'm no Paul. Maybe a searching study of his letters or of "The sufficiency of Christ" by John MacArthur Jnr could assist.
Briefly it seems to me the theology is that everything we do that is good, is assisted by God anyway. Therefore our ability to have faith comes from God. Even faith is therefore grace. The decision to accept that grace is, however, ours. How can it be grace if the decision is ours? Because grace is still out there, waiting for us, even if we haven't decided or reject it.
"I am standing inside the doorway. For whoever knocks, the door will be opened and he will enter to feast with Me. Because he who searches, will find and he wo knocks will find the door opened." (paraphrased from Revelations.)
I'll try my best to respond as follows:
Quote:
I would also like to ask you if you personally think good works are possible without faith?
Yes. I can't really say why, but I think so. Maybe there is some test of motive that those works will eventually fail, but the temporal result will still be good. I've seen lots of good deeds by people from other (or no) faiths.
"How does grace work?"
I'm no Paul. Maybe a searching study of his letters or of "The sufficiency of Christ" by John MacArthur Jnr could assist.
Briefly it seems to me the theology is that everything we do that is good, is assisted by God anyway. Therefore our ability to have faith comes from God. Even faith is therefore grace. The decision to accept that grace is, however, ours. How can it be grace if the decision is ours? Because grace is still out there, waiting for us, even if we haven't decided or reject it.
"I am standing inside the doorway. For whoever knocks, the door will be opened and he will enter to feast with Me. Because he who searches, will find and he wo knocks will find the door opened." (paraphrased from Revelations.)
