You have successfully failed to answer any of my questions.
Slade, if I could interject here...
In the past, Judy has failed to hear you answer her questions. In this case, I think I am beginning to see how you are not hearing her. Let me try and explain what I understand of Judy's views based upon what she has written. She can correct me if I have misunderstood her.
Slade wrote:
#1 -- I asked HOW or WHAT ARE WE TO DO? Is this a moot question? Do you believe in nonaction? short accounts -- asking forgiveness? In your faith, how do we REPENT? We're to walk in the light? How? By carrying torches or flashlights? I'm asking you REAL QUESTIONS. Please answer with REAL ANSWERS.
I think Judy views the actions that we do is not found by looking in the Torah, such as knowing what sacrifices to offer, which feasts to keep, how to keep them, what clothes to wear, how to tithe, etc. Rather, what we do is believe in Christ and follow the teachings that he gave us. For example, we stop hating our brother in our heart, we stop lusting after the opposite sex, we speak truth with one another, we no longer lie but instead tell the truth, we do not steal but instead give to those who have need, we no longer become drunk but rather we become filled with the Spirit. There are many things we can understand about love and the appropriate action simply by receiving a knowledge of Jesus Christ and believing in Him. The Holy Spirit we receive from him leads us into many good deeds.
Slade wrote:
#2 -- WHAT are the addresses (and I mean book, chapter, verse). Your definition of grace creates a nonaction... something we don't have to deal with.
Judy has stated time and again that grace in her view is God's enabling power. In other words, in Judy's view, grace necessitates action. I think Judy's view of grace here is very different than is John's, Lance's, and Jonathan's view of grace.
One passage I think about in this is the following one showing how grace operated in the Hebrews, and especially how sometimes men failed to receive the grace of God by their own rejection of it.
Hebrews 12:14-17
(14) Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
(15) Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
(16) Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
(17) For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
Following is another passage that I might offer on Judy's behalf, showing how Noah receive God's grace, and this reflected itself in his being righteous and perfect before God.
Genesis 6:8-9
(8) But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
(9) These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.
Clearly, receiving God's grace reflects in good works and good actions. In Noah's case, this was long before the law was given. In other words, a man can walk with God and be perfect, even without Torah. This does not denigrate Torah, but it helps us see that grace came before Torah and later continued to work through Torah after it was delivered by angels through Moses.
Another passage for consideration:
Exodus 33:17
(17) And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.
Peace be with you.
David Miller.
---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org
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