>> I suspect if a conclusion were that simple, or cut and dry, the argument would not be 2000 years old....<<
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It doesn't surprice me that the augument goes on and on. The gospel is offensive to natural (unconverted) man who thinks that you have to do something to please God. Just like the pharisees believed that you had to follow such and such laws in order to be acceptable to God. Jesus does NOT want just deeds, He wants the heart/attitude to love Him as it was in the beginning--garden of Eden. If he has the heart the deeds will follow as a beautiful thank offering to Him. That's why He live a perfect life for us (we couldn't) and paid Gods wrath for our sins (which we couldn't do either). Simple but offensive. Paul says..." 18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written:
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."[3]
20Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. I Corinthians 1:18-25(niv)
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