So you believe in salvation by works then.
No. I don't believe in Works Alone Salvationism (without God's grace through faith). I believe salvation is "
God's grace through Faith + Works of Faith."
James says,
"...show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works." (James 2:18).
Side Note: James says we are justified by works (James 2:24), and he uses Abraham sacrificing his son Isaac as an example (James 2:21). If you were to read Genesis 22, no human was present to watch Abraham offering his son Isaac. So this means Abraham was justified by his works before God and not men.
In either case, James is saying that faith without works is dead (James 2:17), and a belief alone is like that of demons (James 2:19). This should be no surprise because God is good and holy and He cannot agree with any man's grievous sin that His Word clearly condemns.
You said:
Have you left all to follow Jesus?
Have you sold everything you have , gave it to the poor to follow Jesus?
First, Zacchaeus was only willing to give away half of his goods to the poor, and yet Jesus accepted this and said salvation had come to his house that day.
8 "And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore
him fourfold.
9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham." (Luke 19:8-9).
Second, we can shed some more light on Jesus’ instructions for those who preach the gospel by comparing Luke 9 with Luke 22…
1 Then he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to cure sicknesses.
2 And so he sent them forth to preach the kingdom of God and to heal,
3 and he said to them: “Carry nothing for the trip, neither staff nor food pouch, nor bread nor silver; neither have two undergarments.
4 But wherever you enter into a home, stay there and leave from there.’ (Luke 9:1-4)
35 He also said to them: “When I sent you forth without purse and food pouch and sandals, you did not want for anything, did you?” They said: “No!”
36 Then he said to them: “But now let the one that has a purse take it up, likewise also a food pouch; and let the one having no sword sell his outer garment and buy one’ (Luke 22:35-36).
Jesus commissioned his newly empowered friends neither to take any provisions nor any silver/money while they are on an evangelical journey. He promises them that they will be cared for by those who will listen to the good news.
At his last day on earth however, he warns them that the climate for them will change, that things will get rougher after his departure and he warns them not to rely on the charity they experienced on their earlier campaigns. He tells them to take their purses/wallets, a food pouch with provisions. So this was the last advice he gave for those who preach the gospel.
Three, we should consider the lifestyle of the believers just after Jesus died and was risen. We read in Acts of the Apostles 4…
32 "Moreover, the multitude of those who had believed had one heart and soul, and not even one would say that any of the things he possessed was his own; but they had all things in common.
33 Also, with great power the apostles continued giving forth the witness concerning the resurrection of the Lord Jesus; and undeserved kindness in large measure was upon them all.
34 In fact, there was not one in need among them; for those who were possessors of fields or houses would sell them and bring the values of the things sold
35 and they would deposit them at the feet of the apostles. In turn distribution would be made to each one, just as he would have the need."
(Acts of the Apostles 4:32-35).
Verse 35 also shows that all received from the apostles what they needed, both those who contributed and those who had nothing to contribute.
Let us now consider the cases of Ananias and Sapphira…
"3 But Peter said: Ananias, why has Satan emboldened you to play false to the holy spirit and to hold back secretly some of the price of the field?
4 As long as it remained with you did it not remain yours, and after it was sold did it not continue in your control? Why was it that you purposed such a deed as this in your heart? You have played false, not to men, but to God."
(Acts of the Apostles 5:3-4) (NWT).
The sin was not that he held back some of the price of the field. The sin was that he represented falsely that he was contributing the entire price of the field.
Four, believers (after the cross) owned homes:
"and to Apphia, our sister, and to Archippus, our fellow soldier, and to the congregation that is
in your house:" (Philemon 1:2).
"But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted
the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people." (Acts of the Apostles 17:15).
"If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into
your house, neither bid him God speed:" (2 John 1:10).
"The Lord give mercy unto
the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:" (2 Timothy 1:16).
"Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is
in his house." (Colossians 4:15).
"The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with
the church that is in their house." (1 Corinthians 16:19).
"And
Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him," (Acts of the Apostles 28:30).
You said:
How many times have you failed to obey commands? Why should your multiple failures still allow you to still be saved when someone else you consider having lost their salvation?
The Bible teaches that you can overcome grievous sin (like murder, hate, adultery, theft, lying, cursing, etc.), but that a believer can stumble on rare occasion on their road to recovery. Why else would 2 Corinthians 7:1 tell you to cleanse yourself of all filthiness of the flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God? Anyways, the difference would be sort of like:
(a) The alcoholic who joins a drug program to overcome his sin of alcoholism and he stumbles on rare occasion before he eventually puts away his drinking for good.
vs.
(b) The alcoholic who joins a drug program to please a family member and yet they have no real intention of ever stopping in drinking themselves into oblivion. They think that it is impossible to stop.
What you fail to understand is that we are not alone and that with God all things are possible. A believer in Jesus Christ can overcome their grievous sin (even if they were to stumble on rare occasion before they finally conquer serious sin in their lives). Sometimes this may take a long time for a believer, and others it can be quick. It depends on the individual and their heart in desiring to follow the Lord out of their love for Him. Jesus says if you love me, keep my commandments (John 14:15). Folks in your camp say that you will always break His commandments. But what does that say of their love for Jesus (according to the word of Jesus)? Paul says if any man does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed (1 Corinthians 16:22).
I hope what I said here helps;
And may God's goodness be upon you today.
Source used for only a few paragraphs within this post:
True Bible Code.