 Can believing in God as the creator of the universe imply having God’s saving grace?
No. Satan also knows God’s immense power (James 2:19). Before falling into wickedness, Satan was among the bright angels. He has extensive knowledge of God, heaven, hell, the Bible, and humans. The fall has not reduced his abilities nor eliminated his memory (John 8:44; 1 John 3:8; Matthew 13:19, 13:38; 1 John 2:13, 3:12, 5:18; Job 38:4-7; Ephesians 6:12; Genesis 3:1; 2 Corinthians 11:3; and Acts 13:10). But since Satan also knows God’s holiness, truthfulness, power, and wrath against sin, Satan trembles, anticipating his suffering (Luke 13:28, 29; Romans 9:22; Isaiah 2:10; and Revelation 1:7). Satan may feel convicted and tormented, with earnest desire to be delivered from misery. Again, such desire does not imply that he can receive God’s saving grace. Such desire is just self-love. Similarly, a man having such deep desires or biblical knowledge is no proof of salvation. Like Satan, seeing God’s glory or having more knowledge of God may only lead to more hate and fear. In distinct contrast, when God’s light shines in a person, enlightening the person through the Holy Spirit, the person will see God’s loveliness, beauty, and holiness, and the glory of the divine displayed through Christ (2 Corinthians 2:14, 4:6). Only God can give to humans what Christ has purchased. The opportunity to behold God’s beauty is God’s blessing to His dear children. As a result of such wonderful gifts, His children will see their ugly souls and humble themselves, making God bigger and themselves smaller. Then their guilty souls will rest. They will live in love and embrace their loving Savior. With God in them, they will have God’s divine nature. They will have the fruit of the Spirit. They will be joyful in God and have heavenly wisdom (2 Peter 1:4; 1 John 4:16, 17:6-8; Galatians 5:22-25; James 3:17). They will hate evil, love doing good deeds, and follow God’s command (James 2:20, 1 John 2:3-4). Such attributes are not based on self-love, but on seeing the love and beauty of God. The bearers of such wonderful gifts from God will go to heaven and enjoy eternal life. Summarized from a Jonathan Edwards’ sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WHWnUj5YZY https://www.biblebb.com/files/edwards/truegrace.htm 有别于魔鬼之经历的真恩典 相信上帝是天地的创造者就意味着得到上帝的救恩吗？ 答案是否定的，因为撒旦也有这样的认识 （雅各书 2:19）。 撒旦堕入邪恶之前是光明的天使。他对上帝、天堂、地狱、 圣经和人有广泛的了解。坠落并没有降低他的能力，也没有消除他的记忆 （约翰福音 8:44；约翰壹书 3:8；马太福音 13:19，38；约翰壹书 2:13， 3:12, 5:18；约伯记 38:4-7；以弗所书 6:12；创世记 3:1；哥林多后书 11:3；使徒行传 13:10）。 因为撒但也知道神的圣洁、真实、权能和对罪的忿怒，就战战兢兢地期待受苦之日的来临（路加福音 13:28, 29；罗马书 9:22；以赛亚书 2:10；启示录 1:7）。 撒但也许会感到被定罪和受折磨，迫切地希望从悲惨痛苦中解脱出来。这种渴望只是自爱，并不表示因此可以得到上帝的救恩。 同样地，人拥有如此深刻渴望或深厚圣经知识，也不是得救的证据。就像撒旦一样，看到上帝的荣耀或者对祂有更多的认识，也许只会导致更多的仇恨和恐惧。 得到上帝的光照而被圣灵感动的人与此形成鲜明的对比。 他们看到上帝的可爱、美丽、圣洁以及籍着基督彰显的神圣荣耀 （哥林多后书 2:14，4:6）。 惟有上帝才能将基督宝血所购买的救恩给予人类。上帝赐福祂亲爱的儿女，使他们能看见自己的美。 祂的儿女目睹上帝的奇妙，就会看到自己灵魂的丑陋，感到自己个人的卑微。在他们眼里，上帝变更伟大，自己变更渺小。他们有罪的灵魂将得到安息。他们将活在爱中，拥抱慈爱的救主。有上帝在里面，他们将拥有上帝的性情, 结出圣灵的果子。 他们会因上帝而喜乐，拥有属天的智慧 （彼得后书 1:4；约翰壹书 4:16；约翰福音 17:6-8；加拉太书 5:22-25；雅各书 3:17）。 他们憎恨邪恶，喜行善事，遵守上帝的命令 （雅各书 2:20；约翰壹书 2:3-4）。这样的属性不是基于自爱，而是基于看见上帝的慈爱和美丽。 拥有这些上帝奇妙礼物的人将进入天堂, 得享永生。
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