if I can just put into my own words some of what you are saying.If our willpower was the answer, Jesus did not need to leave Heaven and be Crucified on the Cross Calvary where the victory was won. No man/woman can fix the flesh with the flesh (Zech. 4:6). We make laws believing that our works can please God.
When people leave the Cross and turn to other things, which millions are now doing, the Scripture says of them: "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils" (1 Timothy 4:1).
Needless to say, such individuals, as with the lukewarm and as with those who have a form of godliness, are labeled by the Lord as unsaved, despite their claims, and will not go in the rapture nor enter the strait gate and narrow way that leads unto life.
Many are proclaiming Christ, but forsaking the Cross (lukewarm). This is also called "spiritual adultery (Rom. 7:1-4)."
If you leave the Cross, on your best day all you can do is try and patch up the situation. You can not fix it! Why? Because only the Cross deals with sins!
The pre eminence of God's grace. we can't do it on our own.
my effort is not worth a pinch of salt?
Well let's put figures on it.
10% my effort
90% God
that's reasonable in my opinion.
I mean if I left it all up to God, I mightn't get to Church at all. I gotta wake up, have a shower and drive there. you mean He can do all that as well?
but seriously Amazing Grace is amazing. I've felt it this last few weeks. God is blessing my life. I feel a positive change. It's all God. I would like to take some credit. But no God is the man. No I mean God is awesome.