Why Grace is hard to believe .

[throughfaith]

I believe the bible says that we are saved by Grace ,through faith . And that this is what pleases God . But not many actually believe this . Its hard for us all to accept a free gift . Most non Christians will say if heaven existed you would have to earn it . Ask most ' religious ' people and they will say the same . Without fail every false religion and cult is based on the idea of ' you cant have your cake and eat it ' thinking.
I believe this appeals to the flesh and is due to pride .
Saved by Grace ,through Faith is in direct opposition to every religion who says you must work for. Some will claim this boldly ,but mostly its subtle . Id recommend anyone unsure in this area to engage with those that come knocking on your door in suits and ties offering ' a bible study ' and other religions

. You will here in one sentence that" oh of course you could never earn eternal life " and then they will wind up saying " but you do have to work for it " ?? I believe some of this thinking is within genuine Christian denominations sadly . The simple idea that you are completely saved by Grace ,through faith . And that this pleases God , who decided how salvation is appropriated. And all other ways are not pleasing to God , thus salvation is not appropriated by an individual trying to ' get in some other way '
' Works ' are either front loaded into the Gospel or back loaded into the Gospel. The law becomes ' deeds of faith or ' obedience to Jesus commands ' . Simply being saved by grace through faith is and was what Paul was accused of teaching , always met with ' license to sin ' .
For a sinner the greatest news is that they have been saved by grace through faith . Now they can serve God in joy and peace . But often they will be caused to stumble by those within rather than outside the church . " You gotta get the second blessing " ; You must be baptised this way " God's opened the way for you in Christ , but you must ... " Are you speaking in tongues yet ? " Your works will prove your faith " , " you gotta endure to the end to be saved " " I knew this guy and he walked away losing salvation , don't you be too comfortable " , " if you don't use it ,you'll lose it , " if Jesus is not Lord of all ,then he's not Lord at all " ,
Every new believer will be faced with this onslaught of conflicting messages about assurance. He starts with being saved by grace ,through faith and has to cope with being moved away from the simplicity in Christ and an ineffective pew sitter in an aquarium called a church.
Saved by Grace ,through faith is easy to believe and yet hard to accept . Its bad enough that unbelievers think this way ,but believers also think salvation by grace through faith is abhorrent .
For those who need comfort. The Gospel is wonderful news. It remains good news . Joy unspeakable has happened to you already. We are now only waiting to be with the Lord .
NOTHING !! can now separate you . Thats not a licence to sin . Thats a joy to behold . The mind will always say " but what about, this warning "
Check the context.
38For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

[Magenta]

Romans 8:38-39 + Psalm 91:11

 

[Runningman]

"Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery—"

Galatians 2:4

In the early church it was a problem. People were going around trying to get Christians to earn their salvation using works. The truth of the gospel is entirely unmerited favor, based on grace through faith. It's purely a move of compassion and mercy by God Himself. He didn't owe us anything, but while we were still sinners he loved us and gave himself for us.

 

[mailmandan]

That salvation is by grace through faith and not by works is not hard to understand. It's just hard for many people to ACCEPT. It's a shame that human pride will not allow such people to place their faith in Jesus Christ as the ALL-sufficient means of their salvation. Their hands are full of their works and they will not let go in order to receive Christ through faith.

 

[oldethennew]

this is a heart-breaker to say the least, but it must be said;
God's 'grace' is very hard to accept simply because God's Grace has been compromised
and diluted by the greedy-mega-preachers who live in total oppulance, elevating themselves
ABOVE ALL of their 'congregation' -
it is written;
2PETER 2:1.
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you,
who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying The Lord that bought them,
and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
MATT. 6:24.
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one,
and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

 

[Nehemiah6]

Its hard for us all to accept a free gift .

To most people life is precious. Then how much more should eternal life be precious? And since for most people eternal life would be the most valuable thing on earth, it is hard for them to believe that God offers eternal life FREELY by His grace.

If anything -- by human estimation -- eternal life should cost a few hundred million dollars (given the fact that most people would gladly spend a million dollars to prolong physical life, and many women spend hundreds or thousands of dollars to maintain their youthful appearance).

So the offer of the free gift of eternal life is shocking to the average person. But that is exactly what the Gospel is all about. And that is why it needs to be clarified that an extremely high price was already paid by Christ. The gift is free only because a very high price was paid. And that takes us to what Christ endured for us on the cross to accomplish our salvation.