Listen carefully this time. The person who says they are saved but who does not have works IS NOT SAVED.
"The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."-Galatians 5:19-21
It means, even if you claim to be saved, if you are 'living like this' YOU ARE NOT BORN AGAIN. It does not mean if you are born again it does not apply to you. It means you are still in the flesh and are not born again and do not have the Spirit. But so many people in the church are sure grace means you can 'live like this' and it doesn't matter because salvation is not by works and once you are saved you are always saved and so you are born again despite living in the flesh, just as long as you believe. That's called making grace a license to sin, which it is not, you only think it is. You are deceived. You will be condemned when Jesus comes back not saved. You show by your life that you do not have the Spirit of God in salvation in you.
(You=anybody)
Hi Ralf, It's posts like this that motivated me to try and explain that being saved is ongoing and has a different meaning for little children that for those who overcome. Meaning: you and your opposition have part of the puzzle and are unwilling to put your pieces together to get a better picture. But then if you did, this post would have outgrown it's purpose and it may be hard to let go of what we think we know.
"Judge nothing before the time."
Like judging people in sin as lost. "there is a sin unto death and I don't say that you should pray for it"
I think both sides of this argument don't believe such a person can be saved and you also don't believe that someone saved can be lost this way. If the person has a crown I agree with you." lol at least we agree on something. "I have fought a good fight I have kept the faith, I have finished my course," you know the rest: he has a crown. "And not for me only but for all who Love His appearing." The point here is not everyone gets a crown, some lose their reward.
"All manner of sin shall be forgiven to man, but rejecting the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven to man." The only sin that cant be forgiven. Why such a long list of sins that leave people out of eternal life then? Without the Holy Spirit we are powerless to free ourselves, and its as we forgive that we are forgiven. Yet even here we can jump to conclusion.
Growing up to maturity is a work of Grace: Jesus did the work and now we are labourers with Him and the Forman doesn't have to work yet he still does when we are of one accord: for the Holy Spirit to move, referring to the work of God. And if you find mistakes in my writhing feel free to edit, that would be much more polite than saying its a lie. I have not trouble forgiving its a good learning experience.
Reasons for Writing
I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.
I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, dear children, because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
On Not Loving the World
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.For everything in the world: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, comes not from the Father but from the world.
The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.