NetDoc said:
I fully disagree. It takes both God and man for grace to grow. Grace is not the "pardon" for sin... it is becoming just like God. Our word for Character and Charismatic come from Charis (Grace in Greek). Obviously we can not become LIKE God on our own. But as we desire to be like God and submit ourselves to his will, God grants the change on our hearts.
You want grace???
II Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. NIV
Grace is defined as the state of receiving God's favor (in other words, pardon for sinfulness). We do not forgive ourselves, because we don't live under our own rules. We live under God's rules, because it's God's creation.
You want universal grace?
All peoples on earth will be blessed through you. Gen. 12:3
I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. Ex. 33:19
I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. Job 42:2
All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him. Ps. 22:27
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. Ps. 139:7-8
On this mountain the Lord Alm ighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine -- the best of meats and finest of wines. On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death for ever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. Is. 25:6-8
Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear. They will say of me, "In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength." Is. 45:24
I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim. For I am God, and not man -- the Holy One among you. I will not come in wrath. Hos. 11:9
I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Joel 2:28
Your Father is not willing that anyof these little ones should be lost. Matt. 18:14
My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations. Mark 11:17
All mankind will see God's salvation. Lk. 3:6
Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? Lk. 15:4
Suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? Lk. 15:8
When I am lifted up, I will draw all men to myself. Jn 12:32
I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. Jn. 12:47
You did not choose me, but I chose you. Jn. 15:16
All have sinned and fallen short or the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Rom. 3:23-24
etc. etc.
Should we, when we hear of this good news, not respond favorably? Of course we should. Is it required? At some point. When will that point be? In God's time...not ours.