Just as the devil got Eve to focus on the one thing she couldn't have while ignoring all the good things God gave her, so does he do the same with us today.
Satan's way is to get people to remember the last bad act of a friend, forgetting about all the good they did in their life.
Christ is not so much focused on the bad or the good acts; He is focused on whether or not we have trusted His sacrifice on the cross to pay our debt of sin for us.
When we have trusted in Him, we will never be judged or punished for our past bad acts; we will only be rewarded according to our love toward Him and the things we did that He told us to do.
While it is true that a born-again believer should be growing in holiness because Christ is working in us, He does not beat us down for our weaknesses but disciplines us so that 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?"
Those who cannot admit their failures and will not take rebuke from their siblings in Christ cannot grow, if they are even saved.
One of the elements which is often evident in a believer's life is the propensity to confess wrong under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
No one who loves Christ and is compelled by the Holy Spirit can remain in sin; the burden of it is too great, and they must confess to be cleansed.
1 John 3:9 "no one who is born of God keeps on sinning,"
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."
When we have sinned the Holy Spirit makes us continually uncomfortable until we confess it to be cleansed of it. However, if we ignore Him and continue in the sin then the Holy Spirit will go silent and we lose the benefit of Spirit growth and lost rewards in heaven.
1 Thessalonians 5:19-22
"19 Do not quench the Spirit, 20 do not utterly reject prophecies, 21 but examine everything; hold firmly to that which is good, 22 abstain from every form of evil."
Ephesians 4:30
"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."
Today we are seeing the consequences of those who resist the Holy Spirit, they become so diluted that they don't even think they are doing wrong when they disrespect and dishonor God.
Acts 7:51
"You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did."
Romans 8:5-6
"Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace,"
1 Corinthians 2:12-14
We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned."
Those who are stubborn and will not listen to the Word of God to believe what He said are likely not born again and will not see heaven unless they repent.
Revelation 2:5
"5 Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and I will remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent."
