I whole heartedly agree that it is all God’s power. So does the Catholic Church. Catholics are often accused of being a “works based” religion, and we ignore the grace of God in justification, but base it on works. It could appear that way, but it is not true. Consider the first five canons of the Council of Trent. The one that the reformers say they disagree with the most, and we have been accused of anathematizing the Gospel. That’s a serious charge if it were true. Given the seriousness of the matter, it deserves further review. We as Christians do not rely of gossip and buzz words, but pursue truth.
Here are the first five canons, and from my reading, they seem to say what you and I are talking about. It is all God’s power, yet we as men cooperate with God. I’ll post what ai have and you can criticize or disagree, but I ask that you use scripture to back your position. I will do the same. Here are the first five canons.
CANON I.-If any one saith, that man may be justified before God by his own works, whether done through the teaching of human nature, or that of the law, without the grace of God through Jesus Christ; let him be anathema.
CANON II.-If any one saith, that the grace of God, through Jesus Christ, is given only for this, that man may be able more easily to live justly, and to merit eternal life, as if, by free will without grace, he were able to do both, though hardly indeed and with difficulty; let him be anathema.
CANON III.-If any one saith, that without the prevenient inspiration of the Holy Ghost, and without his help, man can believe, hope, love, or be penitent as he ought, so as that the grace of Justification may be bestowed upon him; let him be anathema.
CANON IV.-If any one saith, that man's free will moved and excited by God, by assenting to God exciting and calling, nowise co-operates towards disposing and preparing itself for obtaining the grace of Justification; that it cannot refuse its consent, if it would, but that, as something inanimate, it does nothing whatever and is merely passive; let him be anathema.
CANON V.-If any one saith, that, since Adam's sin, the free will of man is lost and extinguished; or, that it is a thing with only a name, yea a name without a reality, a figment, in fine, introduced into the Church by Satan; let him be anathema
The first three canons, I believe that you can agree with. Canon I we are not saved by works. Canon II, Jesus is not just and example. His death is not to just show us to way to heaven and we get there on our own. It is His power that transforms us, not our own effort. Canon III God is not a secret and heaven is not such a good deal, we can choose it on our own? NO! We must be called of God to follow Him. Unless the Holy Spirit acts, we would never choose to follow God.
Canon IV speaks against the irresistible grace of the Calvinists. This is where I believe that you may disagree, but I do see scriptural support for it. To me, this canon means that we are not robots, nor slaves, but sons. A son has free will, a slave does not. There is predestination, but that comes from God’s love, not from forced obedience.
Consider 1Cor2:9-10
9 But, as it is written: That eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, what things God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But to us God hath revealed them, by his Spirit. For the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
God wants to share His creation with those that love Him. He does not want machines to just play praise songs, and people with forced smiles in their face to say they love Him. He wants those that love Him for real.
We get glimpses of this in everyday life. We don’t like to be a man of authority surrounded by “yes men”. We know that they don’t mean it and are only going through motions perhaps to fool us and get our favor. We know when our wife loves us and is filled with joy, or merely trying to keep the peace.
Forced love or slavery feels like a lie to us. Why would we expect less from God. Our wills must be free, or it is not love.
When we love God, we freely obey Him, it is not forced. A woman will test a man to see if he really loves her, but when she is at peace and knows that he loves her, would she constantly defy him? No, she looks for ways to name him happy, not upset. The same is with us when we love God. He has proven that He loves us by going to the cross. Should we not follow Him and search the scriptures in ways to obey Him?
Consider Isaiah 1
11 To what purpose do you offer me the multitude of your victims, saith the Lord? I am full, I desire not holocausts of rams, and fat of fatlings, and blood of calves, and lambs, and buck goats.
12 When you came to appear before me, who required these things at your hands, that you should walk in my courts?
13 Offer sacrifice no more in vain: incense is an abomination to me. The new moons, and the sabbaths, and other festivals I will not abide, your assemblies are wicked.
14 My soul hateth your new moons, and your solemnities: they are become troublesome to me, I am weary of bearing them.
15 And when you stretch forth your hands, I will turn away my eyes from you: and when you multiply prayer, I will not hear: for your hands are full of blood.
16 Wash yourselves, be clean, take away the evil of your devices from my eyes: cease to do perversely,
17 Learn to do well: seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge for the fatherless, defend the widow.
18 And then come, and accuse me, saith the Lord: if your sins be as scarlet, they shall be made as white as snow: and if they be red as crimson, they shall be white as wool.
19 If you be willing, and will hearken to me, you shall eat the good things of the land.
20 But if you will not, and will provoke me to wrath: the sword shall devour you because the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
God wants us to really obey Him, not put on a show. In the Old Testament, He says He was full and desired not rams, fatlings, claves, lambs and goats. How much more is He full of sacrifice now that His Only begotten Son has been offered? He wants us to get to what really matters and not just do it for show, either for Him or men. God knows our hearts.
Psalm 34 is a great Psalm. I recommend the whole thing. But verse 8 says taste and see that the Lord is good. When we study His ways and walk in them, we know He is good and His commands are not burdensome. They increase our love for Him, all the more knowing that we lacked the power to do this on our own and never would have chosen to obey, but we still obey and follow
It is our actions but all His power. Should we neglect so great a salvation?
There are so many other scriptures ask and it shall be given, knock and it shall be opened
James says in Chapter 1 if anyone lacks wisdom let him ask God, In chapter 4 he addresses unanswered prayer, and says people are not receiving because they are asking for things to consume. Prayer is for taking with God, not just asking for stuff, rather we want to know Him better.
In revelation 3 He stands at the door and knocks, He does not force His way in, but wants a willing soul. In the end of Revelation it says the Spirit and the bride say come, whosoever will let him drink of the waters of life freely
It is God’s power, He wants us to want it.
I know that I am taking too much and my mind races when I think of God, please pardon my long post