Hello. Im going to respond, in the only way I know how. I think we all know scripture am I correct?
We know there are verses of warning, verses telling us to continue to grow, and verses of absolute assurance, and others of condemnation. Side by side we can make scripture appear to be contradictory, we can pick and choose the verses that most agree with our sensibilities or we can figure out how they fit together in perfect harmony.
I chose harmony - just so you know. There is a way this all goes together that leaves no question and no contradiction and no ignorance or setting aside of what we disagree with. Some of it we figure out as we are walking in Christ, but the very first thing we must realize is our own nature, and our desperate need of a Savior. Dead enemies of God is what we all were, prior to coming to Christ. Period. End of story - until God...
For anyone who wants to hear a good preaching and teaching on that is here:
When we are dead in sin Christ comes and gets us out of our condition... and of course this looks different for each of us. Some people come to Christ slow and seamlessly, others have a Damascus Road moment (me), and still others - well - I'm sure there's a third group.
The Bible claims assurance in salvation for His people, and I have that assurance. I have the guarantee of my salvation, the seal of the Holy Spirit and He confirms with my spirit that I belong to HIM..
Yet, what that never does in mean I can live in sin, or become slack. When I need correction I have it, when I need to know and believe without a doubt so I can move the mountains blocking the path I have that, when I need to be reeled in I have that..
In reformed churches that believe in OSAS we hear more about sin than in attendance at non-reformed churches. Which is kind of funny when you think about it, because this easy faith that everyone tells us we have simply doesn't exist. Walk into a reformed church you WILL hear about sin and the need to repent and grow and and learn in Christ.
But none of it matters or makes a difference, if you haven't met the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob first.
My lifestyle was the equivalent of what most people consider practically a saint
before I was saved. I spent more of my day praying than most human beings, more time fasting, less time breaking the lists of laws and more time hoping to please the God of this universe only to fall flat and empty handed in recognition that the works of my hands were worthless.... I was still distant from God and couldn't say with honesty that I knew God..
Now,
after salvation, I can say I know God to the limit of my ability and He is truly God.. for the first time in my life I am worshiping in Spirit and in Truth and it makes
all the difference in the world.
But to get to here you have to desire to know God more than you desire your next breath, you have to be willing to let the whole world see your ignorance, your mistakes, your failures, you have to step out in a faith hoping in the end God will catch you - and when you do I promise you He will!
The Pastor showed us Paul's heart for the lost, willing to give up his very salvation for the lost, and I see myself as a sinner fallen short. A person who lost my first love, and I beg God to forgive me for my sin and lovelesses for my brothers and sisters who are lost and I beg God to give me more of HIS heart that I may do more, give more, be more of what HE desires so that I may Glorify HIS name..
Yet in all this assurance and sorrow for sin, I know that if I end up grabbing too much of this world or harbor some sin in my heart I can lose it all like Judas, and this causes me to pray more, to fast more, to love more to beg God for more of HIS Spirit and His power over sin... because I know where I desire to be standing for all of eternity, and that is before the Throne of God worshiping HIM, feeling HIS peace and love wash over me, as I give back to HIM all my love and worship that HE so richly deserves.
The narrow road which steps out in faith isn't easy, but it is possible through Christ... Gods Holy Spirit might sometimes tell us we are acting like Satan, just like Jesus said to Peter, or He might warn us not to love the things of this world.. but we have the assurance and the faith that these mountains we can move, because HE lives in us and in HIM there is no shame.. that He will keep us in HIS hand like HE kept Paul...
It all works together, all these verses of Scripture work out in our lives perfectly.. We check ourselves at the door, we surrender to HIM daily, consecrate our hearts to HIM morning noon and night.. and then we live..
we live as Christians knowing our Lord and Savior, knowing our sins and our failures, our need and our redemption. We aren't afraid, because our King is with us, in us, surrounding us.. so we live as is pleasing to HIM knowing we are held firmly in HIS Hand.
And if we don't, we were never once saved, and never in HIM at all.
Our actions are
never causal to our salvation, Jesus' are. All we do is a result of that in love and its a walk we will walk for the rest of our lives. No one excuses sin... but people do misrepresent our beliefs and actions - to what end is unknown to me.