Saved by Grace, Sanctified by Grace

I don't believe that we are saved by grace through faith and then sanctified through works, but rather the same act of grace saves us, and also sanctifies us by changing us and causing us to live in obedience to God. Grace compels us to take up our cross and follow Him. Works are not so much obedience to a "law" but to the direct command of God. The Law of God may provoke the evil in us while we remain sinners, but the command of God is life to the saints. Obedience is an action. Faith is trust. Faith is to walk in trust, and the way of trust is obedience.

God's grace is best described as God's benevolence, particularly as demonstrated in the justification of the sinner and in the reformation of the sinner, the complete rebirth into sainthood.

I believe that one can fall from God's benevolence, that one can so totally reject and harden one's heart so much so that God will reject one and harden His heart towards Him, as Scripture demonstrates. 

I believe in God's grace, I believe in God's benevolence that gives me the power by the Spirit to walk in righteousness, to receive the imparted righteousness. Some do not believe that God's grace sanctifies, that God's grace has only the power to justify sin but not to sanctify the sinner. That is not grace, and that is not salvation. Why would God only save a person in Spirit but neglect to save him in body and soul? Is God so incomplete?

I believe that God's benevolence that leads to salvation can never be taken for granted. Believed in, trusted, yes. Taken for granted, presumed upon, exploited, ravaged, manipulated - never! God forbid it to be so.