Obeying God!

God said anyone who loves me will live a lifestyle of obedience. Those who do not live a lifestyle of obedience were never saved.

Matthew 7:21-23 "Matthew 7:21-23

I Never Knew You

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"

1 John 3:4-9

"Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. ..."

Born again believers do sin but they do not remain in those sins. God wrote 1 John 1:9 to believers.

1 John 1:9

"9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

1 John 3:9 "…8 The one who practices sin is of the devil because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil. 9Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin because God’s seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother.…"

1 John 2:1-2 "1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father— Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world."

The born-again believer is being sanctified by Christ continually Who lives in them. He chastises us when we sin, disciplines so we will return to obedience.

Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?…"

When we become a child of God He treats us like forever children. When we mess up the Holy Spirit is there to correct us. Sometimes those consequences are lifelong. God never throws away His family, He works in them to grow in holiness. Those who are born again and will not listen to the Holy Spirit will cause the Spirit to go silent so that the stubborn heart will experience the consequences of chastisement.

1 Thessalonians 5:19 "…18Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not extinguish the Spirit. 20Do not treat prophecies with contempt,…"

Ephesians 4:30

"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."

The Holy Spirit never leaves us but we can grieve Him. And, we can cause Him to go silent without His help because we will not seek Him.