2 Peter 2:1
"But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them, bringing swift destruction on themselves".
I would like to contend that the notion that salvation is given to us ONLY in return for believing in Jesus Christ as our Lord and savior is INCOMPLETE.
We ARE asked to believe in Jesus Christ for salvation:
Acts 16:30-31
" "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household" ".
HOWEVER,
Jesus repeatedly told people to stop sinning, and we are warned that if we deliberately/knowingly continue in sin following the acceptance of Jesus into our lives, Jesus' sacrifice will NOT cover these sins:
Hebrews 10:26
"Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth,
there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins".
This of course makes sense.
If we SAY we follow Jesus but continue rebelling against God, then are we REALLY following Jesus?
Matthew 7:21
"Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter".
So then, we must accept Jesus into our lives and believe in him.
AND we must also stop rebelling against God, even after we have accepted Jesus into our lives.
What I have said may be obvious to many, but all the time I hear excuses from Christians to justify their sinning:
"Nobody is perfect" - nobody has said that you are
"God will forgive me" - actually, according to Matt 7:21, if you continue to sin after accepting Jesus, Jesus' sacrifice won't cover your sin (verse above)
"We're human, and humans are fallible" - typical excuse!
"It is impossible not to sin, as we are not perfect" - this article sums it up very well:
https://www.gotquestions.org/go-and-sin-no-more.html
Have you heard these kind of excuses too?
Christians have no excuses for
deliberately/knowingly sinning:
1 John 1:6
"If, then, we say that we have fellowship with him, yet at the same time live in the darkness, we are
lying both in our words and in our actions".
2Ti 3:4 lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2Ti 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Many do not understand for they will not give up the flesh.
If they sin they should not have an excuse, but say they wanted to sin and enjoy it, and have the right attitude that we cannot hold unto sin, which some hold unto sin and believe they still have salvation.
Some have a form of godliness, but deny the Spirit leading them, and ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth, which they hold unto sin and believe they still have salvation.
And have an excuse that they are not perfect, and cannot abstain from sin, although the Bible says if a person hates sin, and does not want sin, by the Spirit they can abstain from sins.
These are the people that cannot dwell with Jesus for they were workers of iniquity, and He never knew them, for they would not let go of the flesh.
And there are millions of them out there that hold unto sin, and believe they have salvation, enjoying the world like the world enjoys it.
2Ti 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
Everyone that names the name of Christ has to depart from iniquity, and that is how they are sealed, and led by the Spirit.
1Co 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
Gal 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Charity is greater than faith, and faith works by love.
Charity is love in action, works, and without charity there is no faith in our life.
For faith is having the right perspective of the kingdom of God, and His ways.
Jas 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
Jas 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
Jas 2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
James points out if a person does not have charity then their faith is dead.
1Co 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
1Ti 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
1Ti 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
1Ti 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Paul said if he did not have charity he is nothing, and if people do not have charity they have erred from the faith.
The love of money is the root of all evil for it neglects the poor and needy, and love is the fulfilling of the law.
Which a saint that belongs to the kingdom of God that is love should care about people more than their wants.
So Paul and James say the same thing.
1Jn 3:17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
1Jn 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
John said without charity the love of God does not dwell in them, and let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth, which is charity, love in action, works.
Jas 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
James states a person is justified by works, and not by faith only.
Which Paul, and John agree to it.