We come into the world in a row boat
God offers to make it a sail boat
God's offer precedes my choice, awakening my freedom to say yes.
I say yes or no.
If I say yes I become a Christian child of God.
The boat itself is God's creation (our human nature), and the sail is the Holy Spirit's indwelling.
If I say yes, I am responsible for keeping my sail up and my hands off the oars, unless requested. (my “cooperation”-not works, but surrender-prayer sacraments, loving obedience, etc)
I can let my sail down (in the flesh)
I can let my sail get ripped (in the flesh)
I can take the oars out and try to help or control (in the flesh)
I can let the Holy Spirit blow my sail wherever He wishes (in the Spirit-all His work-a sinner steered by Grace)
I can use oars as aids used only when the wind lulls, always subordinate to the sail-Holy Spirit guidance. God empowers me to work out my salvation-He asks for effort, He has prepared good works for me to do. God empowers the oars, so effort is His gift, not mine alone.
The sailboat is fully God's provision (hull, sail, and wind), my role is receptive stewardship, and storms (trials) reveal the Spirit's strength and my Trust.
Prayer: Holy Spirit, wind of grace, guide my sail; empower my oars in Your will.
If I say no, I am not a Christian
The "rowboat" isn't entirely powerless—it's just insufficient for eternal life. The rowboat paddles with God's common graces, sufficient for earthly good but not for heaven without the sail.
God never gives up and constantly pursues us:
God is constantly coming to us to offer to change our rowboat into a sailboat or to fix our sailboat when we fall.
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