Romans 5 :17-18

[simpleas]

Why does Paul say that man does not deserve the free gift from Jesus?

Jesus seemed to think that we deserved the gift of Grace or he would not have died for us, yet Paul doesn’t seem to think we do deserve it?

 

[edward_george]

Because “deserve” contradicts “gift.” What is deserved is given in justice, because it is someone’s due. What is given as gift is given freely and out of love. It has to do with the motive–Christ did not die for us because it was what was due to us in justice; in fact, we justly deserved condemnation for our sins. He rather died for us out of love. This is real sacrifice–given freely, given in love.

-ACEGC

 

[Jim_Baur]

In addition: God had promised us the gift of love. Therefore, in that sense, it is justice or owed to humans.

 

[Peter_Plato]

Why does Paul say that man does not deserve the free gift from Jesus?

Jesus seemed to think that we deserved the gift of Grace or he would not have died for us, yet Paul doesn’t seem to think we do deserve it?

We do not deserve the free gift, but that does not mean we do not need to accept the free gift for it to be efficacious in terms of our salvation.

Still free AND unmerited but must be acted on. Grace is the power to be saved. If we are given the power freely and for no merit, but we don’t make use of it, then we are entirely responsible for our own failure.

 

[fhansen]

Why does Paul say that man does not deserve the free gift from Jesus?

Jesus seemed to think that we deserved the gift of Grace or he would not have died for us, yet Paul doesn’t seem to think we do deserve it?

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Eph 2:10

Jesus sacrificed Himself for us because were were lost sinners and *in spite of the fact *that were were sinners- because of His love.

 

[simpleas]

Thanks.

I did think about Jesus dying for us while we were still sinners. When I read Pauls words, he sounded negative when he said they/we didn’t deserve God to save and love us because of sins. But we did not choose sin, the first humans did, we became sinners because of their sin, that is why God sent his son to redeem us, if we accept it, yet I think God would show that we did deserve the second chance if you like, because it was not our choice to have our relationship with God broken.

 

[fhansen]

Thanks.

I did think about Jesus dying for us while we were still sinners. When I read Pauls words, he sounded negative when he said they/we didn’t deserve God to save and love us because of sins. But we did not choose sin, the first humans did, we became sinners because of their sin, that is why God sent his son to redeem us, if we accept it, yet I think God would show that we did deserve the second chance if you like, because it was not our choice to have our relationship with God broken.

Well, even Adam got the second chance. Whether we deserve it or not He’s always loved us.

 

[simpleas]

Well, even Adam got the second chance. Whether we deserve it or not He’s always loved us.

Tempted to say no Adam did not get a second chance or else he and Eve would have got to stay in the Garden

It was what 200,000 or 40,000 years later when God finally sent his son to redeem the world from Original sin. Paul didn’t think we deserved it! But then Paul was only human.

 

[fhansen]

Tempted to say no Adam did not get a second chance or else he and Eve would have got to stay in the Garden

It was what 200,000 or 40,000 years later when God finally sent his son to redeem the world from Original sin. Paul didn’t think we deserved it! But then Paul was only human.

I don’t know if “deserved” is the perfect term. Knowing that Adam would fall, God deemed it worthwhile to create him anyway, apparently knowing that time spent outside of Eden would be of benefit, for him and his descendants, having created His universe in a “state of journeying to perfection” as the catechism teaches. I’d bet that Adam received the “finishing touches” here, if not a few more yet in purgatory, perhaps. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Adam’s in heaven now.