We have considered how the soul may make various journeys or transitions from state to state. In this lesson we trace the good paths which a person may follow in order to correct the wrong journeys taken. This is one of "the paths of grace" because God, out of his goodness, has provided a corrective path for sinners.

The Corrective Path

Those who have left the perfect path can regain it (Eph 2:1-10). Just as one left the perfect path and took a wrong journey (transition 2), so one can, through Jesus, and by God’s kindness, take a corrective journey (transition 3) and regain the perfect path. Note the relevant journeys of the soul, including the one we ought not to have taken, as set out below:

Path	From state of:	Via Event Portal:	To state of:
1	[no state]	Physical Conception	Innocence
2	Innocence	First Sin	Spiritual death
3	Spiritual Death	Conversion	Spiritual Life

This is not the perfect path because it includes a wrong journey (transition 2). However, by the grace of God, when we take the corrective path (transition 3) we enter the state of spiritual life.

The state of spiritual life is the state of forgiveness, rebirth, salvation, redemption, etc. From this state we are able to take the same journeys that one should have taken from the state of innocence.

The Path After Conversion

The rest of the way, after the sinner has taken the right path, and passed into a state of spiritual life, ought to be the same walk that one should have followed along the perfect path. There is a wrong path for a Christian (transition 4) which passes from the state of spiritual life through the portal of apostasy or falling away, back into the state of spiritual death (2Pe 2:20-22). However, the right path for the Christian is really our focus at the moment.

Path	From state of:	Via Event Portal:	To state of:
7	Spiritual Life	Physical Death	Hadean Safety
10	Hadean Safety	Judgment Day	Eternal Life

Or a simpler right path (transition 9) will be taken by faithful Christians who are still alive on earth when Jesus comes. This course is as follows:

Path	From state of:	Via Event Portal:	To state of:
9	Spiritual Life	Judgment Day	Eternal Life

Paths of Grace

“Grace” means God’s kindness, love, and mercy.

It was by God’s grace that we were brought into the world innocent and with an opportunity to walk the perfect path. Without God’s gracious and kindly help, it would be nigh impossible to walk that path, but God has always been there to help and shepherd the righteous along the righteous way (Psa 1:6, 23:1-4, 33:13-22, 1Co 10:12-13, Heb 4:14-16).
It is by God’s grace that, having spoiled our opportunity to walk the perfect path, we were not left in a dead end state (Rom 3:23-24, Acts 3:19). We were provided a way to pass out of death in sin into a state of rebirth.
It is by God’s grace that, having taken the corrective path, we can then go forward (Php 3:13-14) and follow the path of life just as we would have done had we never sinned (Mtt 7:13-14).

Jesus is everyone's Saviour, even the Saviour of those who have not sinned, because it is He who keeps them safe from the evil one, and they walk by faith through grace. Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, nobody can come to the Father except through him (Jhn 14:6). That applies to those who have not yet sinned just as much as to those who have. No one is accepted by God in his own right. He is "made accepted" in God’s beloved Son (Eph 1:6 KJV).

A correct understanding of grace balances four points...

A person who is capable of sin is also capable of faith (Mtt 18:6).
That person cannot please God without faith (Heb 11:6).
That person can have faith only by grace (Eph 2:8, Rom 10:8-17).
There is no such thing as faith without obedience (Jas 2:20, Rom 1:4-5).

bullet Next lesson: corrective path requires certain steps

new Point("1") The Corrective Path

The Path After Conversion

Paths of Grace

The Corrective Path