This is true in our Initial Salvation when we are first saved by God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8-9) (Titus 3:5) (Romans 4:3-5) (Romans 11:6), but this is not the case in Sanctification, which follows.
How so?
James says,
"Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only." (James 2:24).
Paul says,
"But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”
(1 Timothy 5:8).
So if you do not do the good work of providing for your own, you are worse than an unbeliever.
So this cannot be talking about false believers as many in your camp will try to use with other verses like this.
Obviously, a person is not saved if they are worse than an unbeliever and they deny the faith.
Furthermore, Paul says,
"
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." (Galatians 6:8-9).
Okay, so according to this verse 8, if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap everlasting life. So this is not just doing nothing but believing in Jesus.
Verse 9 defines what this “sowing to the Spirit” actually is. It says In verse 9 that we are not to be weary (tired) in well doing (good works), for we will reap (reap everlasting life) if we faint not. So we have to continue to sow to the Spirit in well doing (or good works) to reap everlasting life (Which is salvation). This is from the apostle Paul himself. He is teaching you need to have good works to be saved here, which of course is only AFTER you are saved by God’s grace through faith without works in your Initial Salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9), etcetera.
But yes, there is a next step of salvation. It’s called Sanctification. Most Christians are either unaware of 2 Thessalonians 2:13, or they fight against what it plainly says.
2 Thessalonians 2:13 says,
"…God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:"
So the secondary aspect of salvation is described here. God chooses you to salvation through Sanctification. Sanctification is to live holy according to the immediate context (See verse 12 for the polar opposite concept of this verse, and also see verses 15-16).
In addition, Paul says,
"For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” (Romans 8:13).
In other words, if you live one way by living after the flesh (sin), you will die (die spiritually), but if you live another way by mortifying (Putting to death) the deeds of the body (sin) by the power of the Holy Spirit (Sanctification), you will live (live eternally).
Actually, we are initially saved by believing the gospel message that includes believing that Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and risen the third day for our salvation. So it is more than just believing in the cross to receive God’s grace. In our Initial Salvation, it can also include seeking forgiveness with the Lord Jesus Christ, as well (See: Romans 10:9, and Romans 10:13).
But God’s grace is not a license for immorality or lasciviousness (Jude 1:4).
God’s grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and that we should live righteously and godly in this present world (Titus 2:11-12).
In fact, 2 Thessalonians 2:13 is tied to verse 14. Verse 13 says God calls us to salvation through Sanctification and a belief of the truth, which is a call of the gospel (verse 14). So just as God’s grace teaches us to deny ungodliness, the gospel calls us to Sanctification (i.e., to live holy by the Holy Spirit).
In fact, the reason why Christ gave Himself for the church so that He might sanctify it in making it holy by the Word of God (Scripture).
“…even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish”(Ephesians 5:25-27).
Yes, Jesus is our salvation. But He saves us both by His grace, and in Sanctification.
Philippians 2:12-14
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of
his good pleasure."
“I am the vine, ye
are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”(John 15:5).
Right, being born again is not a process, but salvation is a process.
“…let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1).
"Follow peace with all
men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:”(Hebrews 12:14).
I believe God can impute righteousness by our belief in the gospel when we are initially saved just as Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him as righteousness. No doubt about it. If you accepted Jesus as your Savior a few minutes before you died, you would be saved by God’s grace 100% without any works. But seeing we have to live out our faith in a continual access to His grace, this involves the work of faith and being faithful. Just read the heroes of faith account in Hebrews 11. We see accounts of faith in action and it was not all accounts of them believing with no action.
You also have to employ 1 John 1:7 for the blood of Jesus to cleanse you from all sin, as well.
In other words, if we walk in the light as he is in the light, the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.
Walking in the light is conditional. God does not force you to walk in the light.
Walking in the light = Loving your brother according to the indirect wording in 1 John 2:9-11.
So you have to love your brother to have the blood of Jesus cleanse you of all sin, which means it is a part of salvation.
Also, see 1 John 3:10, and 1 John 3:15.
In addition, we have to abide in Christ Jesus to have eternal life. 1 John 5:12 says he that has the Son has life and he that does not have the Son does not have life. How do you know you have Jesus Christ in your life? By finding that you are keeping His commandments (1 John 2:3). This is not the laws of Moses like keeping the Saturday Sabbath, circumcision, dietary laws, holy days, and animal sacrifices. No, no. We are under the commands that come from Jesus and His followers. However, the person who says they know the Lord and they do not keep His commandments, they are a liar and the truth is not in them (1 John 2:4). Meaning, Jesus is not in them because Jesus is the way, the TRUTH, and the life. They are not saved if they are not keeping His commandments. Jesus says if you love me, keep my commandments (John 14:15). Obviously if people do not love Jesus are not saved. So obeying the Lord’s commands is a must. Obeying God is also not forced upon us, either. We have to choose this day each day in whom we will serve.