There are many people who think that we must work to keep the salvation that God gave to us as a free gift, this is simply not true according to Scripture. We are being continually cleansed as God takes us through lessons and difficulties to train us, He never takes away that free gift of salvation, it is entirely based on the shed blood of Christ accounted to us. We did not earn it, nor do we work to keep it.
Jude 1:24 "24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,"
Romans 8:39 "nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
No believer who has trusted Christ and been changed into a new creation goes to hell over disobedience. God chastises those He loves, but we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise, our sin is covered in the blood of Christ.
God disciplines those who belong to Him, but He never throws them into hell over disobedience.
1 Corinthians 3:10-15
"10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it.
11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,
13 each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work.
14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward.
15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire."
Hebrews 12:6 "FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES."
Hebrews 12:8 "If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons."
2 Corinthians 1:20-22
"20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.
21 And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us,
22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee."
No one is saved or kept by their own works, it is all Christ Who saves us, seals us, cleanses us, disciplines us when we disobey and keeps us safe until He comes for us.
1 John 5:18
"We know that no one who is born of God practices sin; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him."
Our Spirit is sealed and saved forever, however our body is still in the flesh, still struggles with sin.
Galatians 5:7-26
"7 You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?
8 This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you.
9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.
10 I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view; but the one who is disturbing you will bear his judgment, whoever he is.
11 But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished.
12 I wish that those who are troubling you would even mutilate themselves.
13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another."
Our flesh sins, so God was speaking to believers when he said this:
1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
When we as believers confess our sin, God forgives us and continues the cleansing process until the day we die. Our bodies cannot go to heaven as they are because they are sinful flesh, but our Spirit goes to God at our death. Later God will raise up our bodies but will change them. Our Spirit is already the new creation, it has been changed, but we are trapped in this sinful body that will be changed when it is risen from the dead.
Our spirit desires to obey God but our sinful flesh continues to torment us with temptation. The key to this dilemma is to ignore our desires for the flesh, pray for deliverance from it, while saturating our minds with the mind of Christ through Scripture reading and prayer. The more we pray, read the Word and walk with Christ the less we will give into the flesh, even our desires change, the things we used to enjoy become repulsive to us.
Walking in the Spirit after becoming born again is a battle, if we think we don’t sin, we will not engage in the battle, but rather walk through life in pride a much easier target for the enemy. Pride always lowers our defenses, leaving us vulnerable to the wiles of the devil.
Never assume you are so good you will never fall like other people have, God warns us about this.
Galatians 6:1 “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.”
Those with the greatest chance of sinning are those who walk in pride elevating themselves above others.
Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling.”
Guard your heart, pray for the Lord to remove all arrogance that might lower your defenses against sin.
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