Those who have been born of God characteristically call sin for what it is. But what about you? Have you ever committed a sin? Did you lose your salvation when you committed a sin?
The problem is that who gets to decide what "
characteristically sinning" means?
How often does a believer have to sin in order to be "
characterized by sin"?
What if a believer plans to kill a person every 10 years? Will they be okay with God as long as they confess of it? Yet, imagine if they live holy and righteous in their church and they have a belief on Jesus alone for salvation. Would not this person not be characterized by sin because they only plan to kill every 10 years?
See, that is the problem with your belief that says that you will ALWAYS sin again at some point but it is just a little bit of sin every once in a while so it is okay. The problem is that if a person thinks they can get away with doing a little bit of sin every once in a while (i.e. not being characterized by sin), this can lead them to think they can sin all the time and be saved by having a belief on Jesus. For sin is deceptive. Once a person starts down that road of sin, they will be a slave to that sin. For Jesus says he that sins is a slave to sin (John 8:34). This is why Jesus told two people to "sin no more." (John 5:14) (John 8:11). The apostle John says for us to "sin not." But in your mind, you think that this is not possible. You believe that all believers will sin again as a matter of fact at some point. It just will not be as frequent?
But to answer your third question above. Yes, I believe I lose my salvation if I commit a grievous sin and I refuse to confess (repent) of it. Why? Because the Bible teaches this. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Also, see Proverbs 28:13. Jesus says that a person can be cast bodily into hell fire for looking at a woman in lust (Matthew 5:28-30). John teaches that if we hate our brother, no eternal life abides in us (1 John 3:15). Paul says that the Moral Law is the equivalent of loving your neighbor (Which would include to: Love your brother) (See Romans 13:8-10). Jesus Himself says if you will enter into life, keep the commandments (Matthew 19:17). You said this in your other thread:
"To those who are not prepared to hear the gospel of grace Paul and Jesus challenge them with justification by the law till they realize that they are not good enough to be saved. In fact in one instance it is written Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God." - Luke 18:18-19. The problem with this person, as it is with salvation-by-works Christians, is he thought he could be good enough to be saved. He didn't understand that his concept of "good" was not good enough. And so Jesus goes on to challenge him with the Law." ~ Bcbsr.
In Luke 18, or Matthew 19, Jesus is not telling the rich man that he is not good enough to be saved by the Law. Nowhere does Jesus even say this or hint at such a thing. If such a thing was the case, then Jesus's words would be a lie. Please. Read the end of Matthew 19. It is about forsaking things as a part of eternal life. Granted, Zacchaeus was just willing to give away half of his goods to the poor and yet Jesus told him salvation had come to his house that day (See Luke 19:1-10). So it is about forsaking things that we have and helping others. Anyways, the end of Matthew 19 is not the conclusion that it is futile to follow God's laws. That is your addition to the text that is not there.
Do you claim sinless perfection? Or do you simply fudge it claiming that you're allowed to commit certain sins without losing your salvation?
Again, I told you that I will not address the topic of Sinless Perfection in this section of the forums, because it is not permitted to discuss that here. Again, I will redirect you to the appropriate thread where it is allowed.
The Scriptures Teaching on Sinless Perfection.
But you are not listening. As I told you before, I do not believe Sinless Perfection is a salvation issue.
For have you never heard of the sin that does not lead unto death? (See 1 John 5:17).
You said:
Do you live up to the standards of your own law?
Again, it's not "my law" it is the Law of God in the New Covenant. But yes, I believe that if I do not live up to God's standard of holiness in the New Covenant, I am not going to make it. I am not above God's Word anymore than you are. However, I will let the Lord Jesus be my judge and not you.
You said:
"If a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe." Gal 3:21,22
Well, actually this is saying that we are not saved by "Law Alone" without God's grace. No command in and of itself saves us. God's grace is what initially and ultimately saves. Again, Paul is trying to refute "Circumcision Salvationism" (or Law Alone without God's grace through faith). Paul is referring to "Law Alone Salvationism without God's grace through faith. Paul is not referring to obeying Jesus and His followers after we are saved by God's grace. He is referring to Works Alone Salvationism without God's grace via the Old Law. Circumcision is not a part of the commands in the New Covenant. Please read the context, and you will see Paul is talking about circumcision (See Galatians Galatians 2:3, and Galatians 5:2).
You said:
We who believe the gospel don't put our faith in our own performance to save us,
So you believe in Calvinism?
You believe that you did not have to act in receiving the gospel message?
You said:
unlike those justification by law Christians. Rather we live as saved and eternally secure, believing the promise of God, despite our opposition insisting upon unbelief.
James says in James 2:24 that we are justified by works and not by faith alone. This is not talking about being justified by works before men as many in your camp claim because if you are to believe that this is the case, then you have to also take the latter part of the verse as being justified by men, as well. Meaning, you are justified by faith in men, too. But surely you do not believe this. So you have to read James 2:24 in an inconsistent way. Well, maybe you have a different interpretation on this verse, but many in the OSAS camp believe James 2 is talking about being justified before men and not God.
