toldailytopic: What do you believe God requires of you? |
I, as a Calvinist, consider your question to be providential, for I have been contemplating and praying about beginning a new thread regarding the
unconditionality of the Covenant of Grace.
For under this new covenant (contrasted with the old Covenant of Works that included all the requirements of the Law), there are NO requirements that the sinner must meet.
Jesus Christ has done all that was necessary for the Father to forgive the sons of God. Spiritually, physically, and legally.
The Law says man must believe God and repent from sin. No man can and no man ever has willingly obeyed these requirements.
That is why God sent His Son into this world. To do for the sons of God what they were unable and unwilling to do. Jesus Christ was faithful to the Father and had no part with sin . . . as representative of His spiritual children.
It is His faithfulness that is imparted to the sons of God, which changes their hearts and causes them to be able to believe and willing to turn away from sin (repent). So all the legal requirements under the Covenant of Works (Law) were met and satisfied by Christ, and imputed to His children as their own righteousness before God.
Even the good works of the Spirit that evidence one is a genuine believer, are the works of the Holy Spirit of Christ. For without the Spirit of Christ abiding within the Christian, the Christian can do nothing on His own.
So there are no requirements made of sinners in order to be saved. No sacraments are required, but only enjoyed after conversion. Salvation from God is
unconditional.
There are no works required in order to remain saved. It is the Holy Spirit of Christ that seals us and guarantees everlasting life to every child of God.
Christians have been spiritually brought into union with the Son, and we are now one with God as the Father and Son are one, and nothing or no one can separate us from the love of God. John Chapter 10 and Christ's prayer in John Chapter 17 are the believers' assurance of these things.
I could say more Knight, but it is enough to see we have the same thoughts today, and you have saved me starting a new thread. Thanks! I will be very interested to see the responses to this question, too.
Nang