If God merely made it possible and its up to us to exercise our "free will" to choose Him, then shouldn't we get some of the credit for our salvation?
I mean, sure we couldn't be saved without Jesus, but He couldn't save us without us, right? We had to cooperate with His grace, right?
If it takes such a cooperative effort, then we should get some of the credit. Is it not right to say, "Praise Me for being smart/spiritual/sensative/truth-seeking/humble enough to believe unto salvation"?
How can God get all the glory if He needs our cooperation to save us?
2006-11-22 05:43:48 · 13 answers · asked by 5solas 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
He does give us praise, not to the extent we give Him but its there "well done my true and faithful servant" and then we recieve gifts in heaven for our good works on earth. So, I think it's pretty fair.
2006-11-22 05:56:04 · answer #1 · answered by impossble_dream 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
"shouldn't we get some of the credit for our salvation?" No, because salvation is a gift from God. "So that no man can boast." You can't earn salvation, it's a gift.
"but He couldn't save us without us, right?" Nope, your theory is flawed and full of pride and arrogance. Might I add, both are unbecoming.
He gets the glory because 1) He deserves it. 2) Salvation is a gift. You can choose not to take it...and many have.
What path will you choose?
2006-11-22 05:48:35 · answer #2 · answered by Salvation is a gift, Eph 2:8-9 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to live a sinless life and die a sin-bearing death as a sacrifice for all our sins.
However, unless you repent of your sins and place your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, His saving grace will not be yours.
We are nothing but dust without the love and power of Christ. We cannot earn our way into heaven. Salvation through faith in Christ has already been earned for you - whether you accept the gift is up to you.
If in your eyes your acceptance of a gift from God, i.e. Jesus Christ, ought to take away some of the glory deserved by God and focus it on you...well...you're deluding yourself. We are nothing, and deserve eternal hoplessness in the lake of fire for eternity for our sins. It is only through what Christ has already done for us, that we can be saved.
2006-11-22 05:52:10 · answer #3 · answered by BowtiePasta 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your absoloutly right. Mankind is imperfect and with sin. We can never be perfect no matter how hard we try. Adam and Eve had free will and they chose to sin. One of the punishments noted in the Bible for those actions is physical death.There is a also a spiritual death if one rejects God in this life. No God did not save us by killing us. He sent his son Jesus in the physical form as a sacrifice for our sins. He then died for our sins. If we choose to accpet the truths as they are we will have salvation after we physcally die. It is appointed for man once to die. Romans 5:12 Therfore just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death to all men, because all have sinned...
2016-05-22 16:13:57 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The ancient Christian concept of "Merit" does accept the fact that God appreciates and rewards our choice to cooperate with his grace.
Just as Adam chose to sin, separated himself from God, and merited real punishment for his action, anyone who chooses God becomes one with him, and merits eternal rewards.
The idea that we can't do anything to earn salvation is true, not because we're totally uninvolved in the process, but because no one can FORCE God (by any works whatsoever) to save them.
God wishes all men to be saved, so he freely grants salvation to all who declare their faith in him and are baptized.
If you think that constitutes "works" than consider this:
Catholics baptize infants.
An infant is totally incapable of speech, transport, and virtually anything else that would facilitate the process of it's salvation in any way.
Because God desires all men to be saved, the church provides everything that is necessary, including faith, until that infant is mature enough to make that faith his own.
The ultimate example of salvation without works ... through faith ... the faith of God's very own church.
2006-11-22 08:19:33 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Christ died one, for all and for all time. He died for humanity as a group. Therefore, there is nothing you can do but accept his sacrifice and become a new creation in Christ. What is there to take credit for? You cannot save yourself. You cannot atone for your own sin through shedding your own blood. Sin cannot atone for sin. A sinner cannot atone for a sinner. Why would you want to take credit for your salvation? This is pride, the very thing that Jesus died to save you from. I forgive you. Jesus loves you.
2006-11-22 05:51:01 · answer #6 · answered by Preacher 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Why do you want the glory?
Give glory to God.
I would recommend studying the bible for yourself. Then ask questions and check answers against the Word of God.
2006-11-22 05:56:08 · answer #7 · answered by redeemed 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Look at it this way. If you need a heart transplant and you go to the doctor and he gives you a new heart would you go around saying "Yeah me. I was smart enough to let him give me a new heart." Get real.
2006-11-22 05:53:36 · answer #8 · answered by crystalonyx3 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Free will doesn't make us Gods where we shoud be praised.. Our reward is that we will live forever with our father in heaven what more compensation do we need than that.
It is not considered cooperation it is obedience to God and his law.
2006-11-22 05:48:41 · answer #9 · answered by Happy2bAlive 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
We can't get credit for god gives those that accept him freely.Without him were not worthy ,we can't earn it. God truly saved.
2006-11-22 05:53:18 · answer #10 · answered by R. o. 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋