Many people do not understand that they are not saved from hell or from their sin by being as good as they can muster up. No one is kept saved by being as good as they can muster up.
We confess our sins as believers to grow in holiness not to become born again. Christ died in the past for our sins right now. After we are changed into a new creation by Christ we still have sin because we are trapped in this body of sin. However, the Spirit of God dwells in us Who is sinless.
God disciplines His children as any good Father but He does not throw us away after He has sealed us with the Holy Spirit of Promise as a guarantee of our inheritance.
Ephesians 1:13-14
13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in [d]Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise, 14 who is a first installment of our inheritance, in regard to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory."
Romans 7:21-23
"21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good.
22 For I joyfully agree with the law of God in the inner person,
23 but I see a different law in the parts of my body waging war against the law of my mind, and making me a prisoner of the law of sin, the law which is in my body’s parts."
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?…"
Proverbs 3:12
"for the LORD disciplines the one He loves, as does a father the son in whom he delights."
1 Corinthians 3:13-16 "…14 If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as if through the flames. 16 Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?…"
God does not remove His Spirit from the born-again believer over sin, He simply deals with it to redirect His child. And, no child of God lives an ongoing lifestyle of sin because they hate sin, if they fall they confess to be cleansed.
1 John 1:9 "…8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.…
1 John 3:8-10 "…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. 9 Anyone 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. 10 By 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.…"
Remember many who say they are Christians living willfully in sin without guilt about it could not have been born again, they do not have the Holy Spirit and never had Him.
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.’"
A born-again believer cannot grow in holiness if they will not confess their sin. Many Christians remain babies because they have been changed by Christ but will not admit their need for Spiritual growth.
The unsaved will not become born again unless they confess their sinful nature and desire to be changed by Christ.
Those who say they are Christians but hate correction from God's word, even hate the people of God who challenge them, are not born again. God said; "you shall know them by their fruit."
Matthew 7:15-20
You Will Know Them by Their Fruits
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them."
Galatians 5:22-23
"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."
Those who love the Lord will have the character qualities of Christ as mentioned in the fruit. If they sin and offend God they are ashamed and confess.
1 John 3:9 "No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God."
May the Born-again believers be encouraged that they can confess to be cleansed by Christ Who lives in them and continue on to live better, glorifying Christ in their flesh.
May the unsaved who think they are going to heaven become very afraid, reflecting on their lost condition. May they change their mind about their sinfulness, and desire to be changed by Christ.
May the saved be filled with joy and may the unsaved become born again so they too will experience the love of Christ.
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