Does receptiveness to God's grace first require recognition of the need?

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   ecogginsposted 11 years ago

   Does receptiveness to God's grace first require recognition of the need?

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   Jesus1stposted 11 years ago

   The answer to your question is not simple, because so many who claim to be saved by grace really don't understand what grace is!
   
   To answer your question: If you are born into this world as a human being whose existence was betrayed by Adam and Eve,  have a need for grace. To deny the need is to say that we are not sinners, which we all know is a lie.
   
   Even if we lived a perfect life, we still need God's grace because of the betrayal in the garden. Our perfection is not where the problem, nor the answer lies. It is in the grace of God, unmerited favor!
   
   To say we don't need grace would be to say we don't need God, because grace, to us then, would be mute point!
   
   I hope that this is a sufficient answer!
   
   Jesus 1st

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      ecogginsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Jesus 1st, your answer is sufficient for me. Very well presented in a logical manner.

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   peeplesposted 11 years ago

   If I am understanding your question, it's a good one. As a non believer I see no need for God's grace or even a God. So I guess the answer would be yes. Maybe If I truly felt a need for it I would be receptive to it however I don't see that need.

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      ecogginsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you peeples. A very thoughful answer.

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   liftandsoarposted 11 years ago

   Yes, and this is why God often allows those who feel no need of grace to enter times of extreme hardship.  Witness, for instance, Nebuchadnezzer and his period of being out in the fields like the animals.  God has his ways of making us see our need of grace.

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      ecogginsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you liftandsoar. Nebuchadnezzer is an interesting Bible character, isn't he.

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   cynthiaalburo0322posted 11 years ago

   You can receive Gd's grace while sufferings ..It is a gift while you are enduring sufferings and still do good whatever it takes.

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      ecogginsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you...a novel and interesting take on the concept of grace.

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   IDONOposted 11 years ago

   I hope I understand the question also. I'll try.
        I believe God's grace has already been received if you are asking him to bless you with your needs. We don't ask for blessings from sources that we don't have faith in. Where we fall short is in the recognition of the blessings God provides. How many times have I kept praying for things that were right in front of me the whole time and I didn't recognize them? What is helping me, although I'm far from good at it, is seeing the difference between a blessing and a miracle. To me, miracles are things that happen with no explanation. Things that happen that are far beyond any accomplishment that man could ever acheive. Blessings are the means to acheive the needs that we ask for.  In other words, God gives us the tools, but we have to build the house.
        I can only use myself and my experience to be fair about this. For years, I prayed to God to relieve me of my alcoholism and give me sobriety. That didn't happen. I guess I expected to just wake up one day and be sober, forever. It don't work that way. The answer to my problem was there the whole time. I chose Alcoholics Anonymous as the path to my sobriety. But there are others. And that is exactly what God provided. A path. But I had to walk down it. I had to do the work. That worked. I've been sober for a number of years now. My life isn't a bowl of cherries now, but it's a heck of a lot better than it was.
        This is just one example. The concept can apply to anything. If you want to be a doctor, God provides colleges. The path. If you want to make a great dinner, God provides the recipe and the ingredients. You have to put it together to have a finished result. This goes for everything.
        If I am following God's path and doing the right things, my needs will be fulfilled without asking. I have to have faith in that. That's what faith is all about. So rather than to pray to God, asking for things I need, I pray to God saying Thank You for the things he already provides. That's recognition.

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      ecogginsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you IDONO for your thoughts on recognition of God's provision.

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   celafoeposted 11 years ago

   how could there be any value in receiving the Grace of God if there was no ned for it.   the answer is yes.

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   lezlow111posted 11 years ago

   god the creator and the devil are within mankind,

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