The Two Differences

[LouisBooth]

"The fact that Christianity does not require good works weakens its case as a source of good morals."

I would disagree with that statement but I am glad you finally are admitting that you see the difference. it demonstrates God's agape love quite clearly and how man cannot not sin.

 

[Mendeh]

Blessed-one:
thanks for your patience!

what's doing good things for yourself?

Well, just asking for forgiveness from sins is only benefiting you, isn’t it, not anybody else? Rather than needing to do good things to others in order to be rewarded eternally, you have to look after your own spiritual hygiene. Being good is an effect of being accepted by God, not a condition of being accepted by God: the effect of accepting Jesus is both keeping yourself spiritually clean and also wanting to be good. Is that an accurate description of the position?

 

[Blessed-one]

Mendeh,

You're welcome.

Quote: Rather than needing to do good things to others in order to be rewarded eternally, you have to look after your own spiritual hygiene

That's exactly what makes Christianity so different from others. We as sinners, will never be able to cover our own sins by the amount of good deeds we do. So long as we remain a part of this world, we sin.
Salvation, (excluding "spiritual hygiene") is a free gift from God, and this gift comes with many many other things Christians will in time learn of them. It is freely given and freely accepted. We do not keep it to ourselves, but share them with other unbelievers, in the hope that they too, will come to accept the gift.

Good deeds come when we've confessed our sins and accepted God into our lives. We'll always remember God's love and stance in sin whenever we sin. We have a reason to do good deeds besides wanting to keep our spirituality "clean", we don't want to disappoint our heavenly Father. Good work is the fruits of faith, pure in motive without wanting things in return from men. For doing good work out of reasons other than pleasing God carries a tint of pride and a desire to have something in return.

 

[LouisBooth]

Exactly blessed! We can't do it ourselves. Great last 2 sentences.