----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Reisinger" <24jreisinger26@...>
To: <soundofgrace@...>
Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 2004 10:34 PM
Subject: Re: [soundofgrace] Re: Adam and the garden


> 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.
>
> JGR: As you often say, "Where does the Bible say anything like that?"
>
> Chad responds:   I take it NCT doesn't affirm a free will for pre-fallen
> Adam?
>
> JGR:  You lost me. What does your response have to do with my question. I 
> do
> not at all question that Adam could have obeyed the command to not eat 
> from
> the tree and continue to live in the garden or he could disobeyed and die.
> He had free will. But nowhere does Genesis suggest that Adam's free will 
> was
> involved in "earning" the right to enjoy another day in the garden.

If free will is involved in obedience, and obedience "earns" another day in 
the garden, free will is involved.  If wages for sin is death, the wages for 
obedience is another day in the garden.  The same word "wage" must be used 
for both obey and disobey.

>I agree that Adam was not given grace to earn another day in the garden..
>Until he sinned he did not need grace.

Then what's the disagreement?  In the absence of grace is merit.  It's 
either one or the other.  There's no "third" alternative.

Chad Bresson
Xenia, OH



Chad Bresson
Xenia, OH