(April 16, 2014 at 11:33 am)ChadWooters Wrote: Intellectually, you can know what is true and still not have the will to do it. Thus belief on its own does not keep (save) you from sinning.
When you say "not have the will to do it", this still sounds like a form of "works" to me. Any time I talk to someone about grace and works, works seems to be defined by "works only" and grace seems to be defined by "a combination of grace and some actions on the believer's part".
Would you agree? If repentance is required for salvation, then it wouldn't seem to me that grace means "grace alone".
(April 16, 2014 at 11:33 am)ChadWooters Wrote: Overall, I feel that New Church doctrine provides the most balanced approach to atonement, which follows from one key insight in particular. Salvation is not a “Geo-Out-of-Hell-Free” card; but rather freedom from sin. You no longer desire sin, are not swayed by the lies that tempt, and will not continue to do evil. This explains why sin does not enter Heaven; good spirits do not carry wicked desires in with them. As such they can be instructed in the truth and shed false doctrines and beliefs (like heathen religious ides). On the other hand, evil spirits have not purged themselves of wicked desires and thus continue to be filled with ‘burning’ desires for evil. They cannot be instructed in the truth; but rather, hold fast to the lies that justify their infernal desires.
It seems there is a huge amount of traction in Christianity for the "poor sinner who keeps trying his best". People may pity this person, but the fact that he keeps trying is seen as a good thing. Every Christian I've talked to says that no one is without sin. So, even without a desire to sin, the person is still going to do so. If nothing else, this is going to be the case for "thought sins", where a person thinks something sinful.
That being said, I still feel my initial point stands. Even a person with a desire to do good and avoid bad won't necessarily follow through (or at least not as well as intended). So, based on your response, I could change my initial wording from "swearing an oath of fealty" to "wanting to do the right thing".
So now, the reward/punishment system is based on wanting to be good rather than actually being good. I think that paints an even worse picture, honestly.
