One thing I think many flat deny, reject or overlook is the simple truth that WE produce NOTHING.....it is tue ROOT that produces through the VINE.....JESUS is the ROOT and he is the ONE PRODUCING THROUGH US as a living sacrifice and exactly why ALL glory goes to him and why works do not save, keep saved or top off salvation.....we are placed into the Vine by faith and being born from above/saved/redeemed and then through growth, maturity and transformation he BEGINS TO PRODUCE THROUGH US.......!
According to your belief system, I don't have to worry a bit. I believe and I have faith, and I trust Jesus, therefore I am saved. (in past tense). If I decide to obey the commandments of Jesus or not, it is of little concern, since I have been saved. That's how it works, right?
And if that is not right, tell me where I am wrong?
Have a look at what DC is saying.
"We are saved by faith alone, at that point we are placed in the vine"
So is that true or not?
Are we saved by faith or not?
Then DC states that having been saved by faith and in the vine then we grow, mature and are transforming.
Effectively sanctification.
He is saying if you're in the vine you will grow as a result of your faith in Jesus.
But he is not saying if there is no evidence of growth that its of little concern.
I'm sure he would be concerned.
I'm also sure that if he was concerned with a believer he would pull them aside, talk to them and walk with them.
I'm sure he will correct me if I have got his thoughts wrong.
If we think about it.
Did any works save us before we came to Jesus?
Jesus said
John 6:29
29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
John 16:8-9
8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me;
So the work of God is to believe in Jesus, so Jesus after he rose again goes back to the Father, the Holy Spirit then comes to convict us of the sin of unbelief in Jesus.
So we see that this is the work of God.
We repent of that unbelief then we are placed in the vine.
Placing our faith in Jesus is not a work.
That's changing from disobedience to obedience.
When we place faith in Jesus it's the start of a new season, a new walk, being a new man.
You raise an interesting point when you say "If I choose to be obedient"
Bear with me on this one, it may not make sense but I hope you get my intent.
We know that the works we do are either good are bad.
A simple example to look at is adultery.
Paul said adulterers will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Now a married person may never commit adultery. They may never physically sleep with another person and would never consider doing so. Great work.
The reverse.
Jesus said "Even if you look at a woman lustfully you have committed adultery"
If you do so its a bad work.
Therefore we have to choose to be obedient and not go down that route.
When we do then we are doing good works as such.
As Jesus increases in us, we decrease.
Obedience to works are not just the physical but also the spiritual.