CHAD: And it would seem the Creator is making it as easy as possible for Adam to earn, at the very least, another day in the garden. That's not grace. That's generosity. This was part of his dominion requirement, something which he did of his own free will. MARK: Don't take this wrong, but this is getting more bizarre by the post. "Earn" another day in the garden? Domain requirements that only need free wills? Generosity from God that's not grace? I'm afraid to guess what interpretation I'll get if I say God is merciful over all His works (Ps. 145:9). All but the garden? Dispensational mercy? CHAD: Wow. Now we're talking infused grace where we co-operate with the Spirit. This is Romanism. MARK: Romanism? Romans 8:4 states: ". . . so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled IN US (not FOR us), who do not WALK according to the flesh but ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT." Paul even equates LABORING with the grace of God in 1 Cor. 15:10. CHAD: If God promises something on a condition and the condition is met, he owes it. Period. His justice demands it. Only when God gives it when the conditions aren't met is it grace. MARK: So if there are NO conditions to be met in order for grace to be present, then how come SIN is a condition mentioned in Romans 5:20 for receiving grace? You might not like the condition, but it's a condition nevertheless. No sin -- no grace. Another condition is that sin has to be committed by people. Demons don't receive saving grace for their sins. Another "condition" for grace is the electing love of God (Eph. 2:4-8; Rom. 9:22ff.). Grace doesn't exist in a vacuum, and its conditions are not confined to man. Free doesn't mean condition-less. CHAD: The only question we need ask for the Fuller/Shepherd/Wright/NPP house of cards to fall in their fusion of merit and grace is this: would my employer pay me if I didn't do my job? If not, his payment is never grace. MARK: I have no interest or knowledge of what "Fuller/Shepherd/Wright/NPP" believe. The problem with your analogy is it's not true to the Adam/God situation. But to try and help it some, Adam "did his job." As long as he doesn't eat, he lives in perfect obedience to God. His "work performance report" is perfect, in need of nothing extra. You can't improve on perfection -- unless you want to take issue with God when He says that His work of creation is "very good." ________________________________________________________________ Get your name as your email address. Includes spam protection, 1GB storage, no ads and more Only $1.99/ month - visit http://www.mysite.com/name today!