SoteriologyA1
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When someone asks, “What made the difference between you believing and your neighbor rejecting?”, they’re not asking about your surroundings, your upbringing, or what you had for breakfast.
They’re asking:What was the difference IN you?
Here’s why that "IN you" matters:Calvinists believe we are saved “by grace.”But what is that internal grace?
According to Philippians 2:13, it’s this:
“God works IN YOU, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
”So “by grace” means:God worked IN me.
That’s what made the difference IN me.He changed my heart, shaped my will, and drew me to Himself.
But here’s the thing…
There are some who reject this internal “grace”, internal working.
They affirm external Christ crucified, they affirm the external gospel preached— both external grace.
But when you ask them what made the difference IN them, they can’t say internal “by grace” or "God worked IN me" anymore.
Why?
Because they reject the "IN" part that results in "both willing and doing".
Philippines 2:13 is now"XXXXXXXXXX, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
Therefore the only thing left they can point to "IN them" is this:
“I was willing. I obeyed. I believed. I worked.”
And once you remove “God working in,” you’ve removed internal “by grace.”
All that remains is…“I was saved by... willing and working.”
But Paul says, “If it is by grace, it is no longer by works.” (Rom. 11:6)So the next time someone asks, “What made the difference?”
Know this:They’re not being picky.
They’re trying to protect the meaning of "saved by grace".
Because if grace isn’t IN you, it’s not what saved you.
They’re asking:What was the difference IN you?
Here’s why that "IN you" matters:Calvinists believe we are saved “by grace.”But what is that internal grace?
According to Philippians 2:13, it’s this:
“God works IN YOU, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
”So “by grace” means:God worked IN me.
That’s what made the difference IN me.He changed my heart, shaped my will, and drew me to Himself.
But here’s the thing…
There are some who reject this internal “grace”, internal working.
They affirm external Christ crucified, they affirm the external gospel preached— both external grace.
But when you ask them what made the difference IN them, they can’t say internal “by grace” or "God worked IN me" anymore.
Why?
Because they reject the "IN" part that results in "both willing and doing".
Philippines 2:13 is now"XXXXXXXXXX, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
Therefore the only thing left they can point to "IN them" is this:
“I was willing. I obeyed. I believed. I worked.”
And once you remove “God working in,” you’ve removed internal “by grace.”
All that remains is…“I was saved by... willing and working.”
But Paul says, “If it is by grace, it is no longer by works.” (Rom. 11:6)So the next time someone asks, “What made the difference?”
Know this:They’re not being picky.
They’re trying to protect the meaning of "saved by grace".
Because if grace isn’t IN you, it’s not what saved you.
