Michael,

You had written:

"When, if ever or will ever, anyone be saved by the Merited favor of God?  Never.

Therefore, it's always been about Grace. "

That was fantastic! No one, in any so called dispensation, was ever able to "earn" eternal life.

Like you said, "It's always been about Grace".

It has always been by grace through faith.

Even Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

Also, Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Cain's works did not merit him, nor did it cover or take away sin.

Without shedding of blood there is no remission.

Abel believed that and went the way of faith, but Cain went the way of religion.

It wasn't in Abel's act of killing of the lamb,

but in his trusting that the LORD would substitute the lamb for Abel,

like when the LORD made coats of skins for Abel's parents,

the LORD shed the first blood,

and by substitution, the innocent beasts died that day instead of Adam and Eve.

Abel believed God, but Cain took matters into his own hands.

How many acts, in any so called dispensation, would a person have to do to pay for one sin?

Only Jesus, the Lamb of God, takes away the sin of the world.

There are some who teach salvation by faith only now,

and salvation by works and faith during the tribulation,

and salvation by works only, during the thousand year kingdom.

The last two are heresy, for it is not by works of righteousness which we have done,

it is not of works, lest any man should boast.

Michael, thank you for writing what you did,

Gino