I don't conceptualize the Christian life as you have here. I see laid out in Scripture a very different sort of experience with God. When I was born-again by the Spirit (Titus 3:5; Romans 8:9-11) in response to my placing my trust in Christ as my Saviour and Lord (Romans 10:9-10), I obtained a spiritual "inheritance" in Christ (Ephesians 1:11; Ephesians 2:6-7; Galatians 4:1-6), a new spiritual life and identity in him (2 Corinthians 5:17), that was given to me in the Person of the Holy Spirit. At the moment of my conversion, I obtained in the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9) redemption, justification, sanctification, freedom from the power of sin and Self (1 Corinthians 1:30Romans 6; Galatians 5:24), and have become a "temple" of God (1 Corinthians 6:19).
All of these things I obtained, not by dint of my own effort, but as a gift of God. Spiritually, in Christ, all of the things Scripture says about me as a child of God are fully accomplished facts - my spiritual position in Christ - bestowed upon me in the Person of the Spirit. By faith, I live these realities out in my daily condition (or living), not in order to make them true of me, but because they are already true of me. I live out who I am in Christ because I am in him, not because I can work my way into being in him.
I am "accepted in the Beloved" (Ephesians 1:6) and ONLY in him am I accepted by God. If I am not fully justified and sanctified by Christ, I cannot be one of God's children. ONLY Christ's perfect righteousness and atoning sacrifice can satisfy God's holiness and justice. What, then, can I add to what is already perfect? Nothing. Nothing at all. God is totally satisfied with Christ and so long as I am in him, justified and sanctified in him (1 Corinthians 1:30), God is satisfied with me, too. Therefore, my salvation, who is Christ (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5), and in whom I "live, and move, and have my being" is secure, not resting upon my good works, but upon the perfect Saviour.
And so, Paul frequently writes to the various believers in the Early Church to be who they are in Christ, to live in accord with their already fully accomplished identity in him. He doesn't appeal to fear in motivating them to righteousness, to threats of lost salvation, but to their identity, their spiritual position, in Christ. Romans 6 is a prime example of this, or Ephesians 4:17-24, or Colossians 2:6-15, and so on.
Really, it is, in my view, a sort of blasphemy to think that one can earn through righteous, persevering self-effort what it took the perfect atoning sacrifice of Christ to obtain. Such blasphemous thinking elevates the believer to the place of co-Saviour, making their efforts to live righteously the key to their being saved. This is like having Rembrandt paint a masterpiece for you and and then adding your own touches of paint to it so its really yours. Doing so can do nothing but lessen - ruin, even - the painting! But this is what works-salvation does. It adds the creature's "paint," their self-effort, to the "masterpiece" of Christ's salvific work on the cross! What hubris to think one can add anything to the perfection of Christ's atonement, or that such an addition is in the least necessary. But this is the prideful, self-centered essence of works-salvation.
Romans 4:5
5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,
Romans 11:5-6
5 So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.
6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.
Galatians 3:2-7
2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?
3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?
5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith—
6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?
7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.
Colossians 2:20-23
20 If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations—
21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch”
22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings?
23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
Not by works but by Faith.
God's atoning sacrifice, and all God's Power onto salvation is accessed by repentance and faith in Lord Jesus (
John 3:16;
Romans 5:1-2;
Romans 1:16-17) and endure in that faith to the end.
Hebrews 12:14-17 (WEB)
14 Follow after peace with all men,
and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord, 15 looking carefully lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and many be defiled by it, 16 lest there be any sexually immoral person, or profane person, like Esau, who sold his birthright for one meal. 17
For you know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for a change of mind though he sought it diligently with tears.
1 Corinthians 10:1-12 (WEB)
1 Now
I would not have you ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 and were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 and all ate the same spiritual food; 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. 5 However with most of them, God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
6
Now these things were our examples, to the intent
we should not lust after evil things,
as they also lusted. 7 Don’t be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” [Exodus 32:6]
8
Let us not commit sexual immorality, as some of them committed, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell. 9 Let’s not test Christ, as some of them tested, and perished by the serpents.
10 Do not grumble, as some of them also grumbled, and perished by the destroyer.
11 Now
all these things happened to them by way of example, and they were written for
our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come. 12
Therefore let him who thinks he stands be careful that he doesn’t fall.
Luke 9:23-26 (WEB)
23 He said to all, “
If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake, will save it.
Luke 21:19 (WEB)
Speaking to His followers
19 By your endurance you will win your lives.
Luke 21:34-36 (WEB)
Speaking to His followers
34 “
So be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you suddenly. 35 For it will come like a snare on all those who dwell on the surface of all the earth. 36 Therefore
be watchful all the time, praying that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will happen, and
to stand before the Son of Man.”
Romans 11:20-22 (WEB)
20 True; by their unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by your faith.
Do not be conceited, but fear; 21 for if God didn’t spare the natural branches,
neither will he spare you. 22 See then the goodness and severity of God. Toward those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness,
if you continue in his goodness;
otherwise you also will be cut off.
1 Corinthians 9:23-27 (WEB)
I fight like that, not beating the air, 27 but
I beat my body and bring it into submission, lest by any means, after I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.
Galatians 6:7-9 (WEB) 7
Do not be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But
he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9
Let us not be weary in doing good,
for we will reap in due season,
if we do not give up.
Ephesians 5:3-9 (WEB)
5
Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral person, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater,
has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God.
6
Let no one deceive you with empty words. For
because of these things, the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. 7 Therefore
do not be partakers with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord.
Walk as children of light, 9 for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth
2 Thessalonians 1:5 (WEB)
5 This is an obvious sign of the righteous judgment of God, to the end that
you may be counted worthy of God’s Kingdom, for which you also suffer.
1 Timothy 1:18-20 (WEB)18 I commit this instruction to you, my child Timothy, according to the prophecies which were given to you before, that by them
you may wage the good warfare, 19
holding faith and a good conscience, which
some having thrust away made a shipwreck concerning the faith
2 Timothy 2:11-14 (WEB)
11 This saying is trustworthy:
“For
if we died with him, we will also live with him.
If we endure, we will also reign with him.
If we deny him, he also will deny us.
If we are faithless, he remains faithful; for he can’t deny himself.”
14 Remind them of these things, charging them in the sight of the Lord, that they do not argue about words, to no profit, to the subverting of those who hear.
1 Timothy 4:1-2 (WEB) 4 But the Spirit says expressly that in later times
some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, 2
through the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron
1 Timothy 4:14-16 (WEB) 14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the elders. 15 Be diligent in these things. Give yourself wholly to them, that your progress may be revealed to all. 16
Pay attention to yourself and to your teaching. Continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
1 Timothy 6:18-21 (WEB)
18 that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to share; 19
laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come,
that they may lay hold of eternal life.
20 Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from the empty chatter and oppositions of what is falsely called knowledge, 21 which some profess, and thus have
wandered from the faith.
Hebrews 3:12-15 (WEB)12
Beware, brothers, lest perhaps there might be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in
falling away from the living God; 13 but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called “today”, lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14
For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence firm to the end, 15 while it is said,
“Today if you will hear his voice, do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion.” Psalm 95:7-8
Hebrews 4:11 (WEB)
11 Let us therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience.
James 1:12-16 (WEB)
12 Blessed is a person
who endures temptation, for
when he has been approved,
he will receive the crown of life, which the
Lord promised to those who love him.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God can’t be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed. 15 Then the lust, when it has conceived, bears sin. The sin, when it is full grown, produces death. 16
Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
1 Peter 1:13-19 (WEB)
13 Therefore
prepare your minds for action. Be sober, and set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ — 14
as children of obedience, not conforming yourselves according to your former lusts as in your ignorance, 15 but just as he who called you is holy, you yourselves also
be holy in all of your behavior; 16 because it is written, “You shall be holy; for I am holy.” [Leviticus 11:44-45] 17
If you call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judges according to each man’s work, pass the time of your living as foreigners here in reverent fear, 18 knowing that you were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from the useless way of life handed down from your fathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish or spot, the blood of Christ
2 Peter 1:10-11 (WEB)
10 Therefore, brothers, be more diligent to make your calling and election sure.
For if you do these things,
you will never stumble. 11 For
thus you will be richly supplied with the entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 2:1-2 (WEB)
2 But false prophets also arose among the people, as false teachers will also be among you,
who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master who bought them, bringing on themselves swift destruction. 2 Many will follow their immoral ways, and as a result, the way of the truth will be maligned.
2 Peter 3:11-12 (WEB)
11 Therefore since all these things will be destroyed like this, what kind of people ought you to be in holy living and godliness, 12 looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, which will cause the burning heavens to be dissolved, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
2 Peter 3:17-18 (WEB)
17 You therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand,
beware, lest being carried away with the error of the wicked, you fall from your own steadfastness. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
1 John 2:15-17 (WEB)
15
Do not love the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the Father’s love isn’t in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, isn’t the Father’s, but is the world’s. 17 The world is passing away with its lusts, but
he who does God’s will remains forever.
Revelation 3:1-5 (WEB)
1 “I know your works, that you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2
Wake up and keep the things that remain, which you were about to throw away, for I have found no works of yours perfected before my God. 3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard. Keep it and repent.
If therefore you won’t watch, I will come as a thief, and you won’t know what hour I will come upon you. 4 Nevertheless you have
a few names in Sardis that didn’t defile their garments.
They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5
He who overcomes will be arrayed in white garments, and I will in no way blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Revelation 14:12-13 (WEB)
12
Here is the perseverance of the saints,
those who keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” 13 I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that
they may rest from their labors; for their works follow with them.”
Blessings