The Holy Spirit will not twist our arm to do right,therefore when we are led by the Spirit it is a guidance,not an automatic response to do the deeds of the Spirit,for if that were the case no one would ever sin again after they were saved,and would always do works without wavering,but Jesus said concerning the Church of Ephesus that they lacked works,were fallen,and needed to repent,and if they did not repent Jesus would go against them.
The Bible says a Spirit led life will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh,for they crucified the flesh with the lusts and affections,and will show the characteristics of the Spirit,in which no fleshy ways are there,but that is to people that made the choice to hate sin,not want sin,to represent goodness,and be Christlike.
Therefore there is no excuse why people cannot abstain from sin by the Spirit,and if there is no excuse and possible to abstain from sin,then God will require it of us,to abstain from sin,and do works.God is not going to tolerate that sin does not affect your relationship with Him,for it is possible to abstain from sin by the Spirit.
Faith alone,not saved by works,when confessing Christ,for that is all we can do being fleshy.Paul is dealing with Gentiles and their false religions,and their false practices,or if anybody is doing the physical ordinances of Israel,that those works will not save,but only by confessing Christ.It is a one time deal,and when we receive the Spirit then responsibility falls on us,to allow the Spirit to lead us,and do works of the Spirit,not works of the flesh,but works of the Spirit,and if not we are being disobedient because we are not doing the will of God,and laboring for the kingdom,and to obey is better than sacrifice,and bring every thought to the obedience of Christ.
Faith without works is dead,and a person is justified by works,and not faith alone,after we receive the Spirit.
Paul is not saying that not saved by works is throughout a person's walk with Christ,but when they first confess Christ,telling it from the viewpoint of being in the flesh,for when we confess Christ we are in the flesh,and our works are as filthy rags,so all we can do is have faith,there is nothing more we can do,but James picks up after we receive the Spirit,then works do matter,and if we do not do works our faith is dead,no faith,and those works are in loving people,and helping them with their needs if possibe,which if we have the means to help the poor,and we neglect,then the love of God does not dwell in us.
As far as righteousness,it is something we have to strive for,and the righteousness of Christ is imputed to us,but it does not stop there,for the Bible says,awake to righteousness,and sin not,but not all have the knowledge of God,and Paul said he speaks that to their shame,and Jesus said,seek you first the kingdom of God,and His righteousness,then God will provide you with your needs,and a person that does not do righteousness is not of God,and Jesus said,blessed are those that thirst,and hunger,after righteousness,for they shall be filled.
The Spirit guides us,but we are the ones that make the choice to do right,and allow the Spirit to guide us,for it stems from us first to do righteousness,and do works,and the Spirit will help us,for if it stems from the Spirit first,and we do not have a choice about it,no one would ever sin after they were saved,and would do works nothing wavering,but some would say they will do the works because they are saved,but that is not correct,except the choice of the person,for Jesus said the Church of Ephesus lacked works,were fallen,and needed to repent,and the Church of Sardis He did not find their works perfect before God,and to repent,and James would not warn that the saints could lack works if it were not possible that they could lack works.
We have to have works for we must do the works of the Spirit,for if we do not we are disobedient to not do the will of God,and to obey is better than sacrifice,and those works are a result of us choosing to do those works,not an automatic response to do those works,for the Spirit guides,prompts,but does not force us to do the works,so we have to take the iniative to do the works,when the Spirit prompts us to do right,and to care about the poor and needy.
We can be forgiven of sins at any time,even if we live in sin for 5 years it can be forgiven,when we mean it that we do not want the sin,and it is a simple solution to repent of your sins,and be led of the Spirit,we mess up that solution is still there,repent,and be led of the Spirit,a simple solution if we hate sin,and do not want sin.
So what is there to fear,and worry about,if we are serious we do not want sin,for by the guidance of the Spirit it is an easy thing to accomplish.
Why the need to go against scripture,and say God chooses who will be saved,and not saved,without their input,when God said He wants all to be saved,and they were chosen and can never fall,but if any person thinks they stand take heed lest they fall,and if they do not continue in God's goodness they will be cut off,and faith alone,when a person is justified by works,and not faith alone,and confess Christ alone,and sin does not affect their relationship with God,when the Bible says those that name the name of Christ has to depart from iniquity.
Why the need to do that.
Some have a form of godliness,but they deny the power thereof,and are ever learning,and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth,and that truth is they do not come to the truth that sin does affect their relationship with God,for they are lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God,which not everyone that says Lord will dwell with Jesus for they were workers of iniquity,not sin,repent of sin,and are led of the Spirit for a while,and then sin again,repent of that sin,and then led of the Spirit again,but they were workers of inquity,for they held unto sin,and did not let it go thinking they were alright with God.
And a big culprit of this is the prosperity Gospel,and them enjoying their wants,and fleshy pleasures,while the world is in need,which those that preach the prosperity Gospel withdraw yourselves from them,having food and clothing,be content.
Which it is nice to enjoy some things of the world in entertainent,and travel,but as long as the world is in need we cannot do it.
It would be nice to take cruises,and drive expensive cars,have a mansion,and enjoy the finest 4 star restuarants,and the good things of the world like that,which would be good,but people are in need,and that makes it bad to enjoy them,which according to the flesh it is sad,but according to the Spirit it is good.
Those things are not bad to enjoy things of the world,it is only bad if it harms people,and not caring about the poor when we represent God is harming people.
For what is more important a 5 million dollar house,a one million dollar care,a 2000 dollar cruise,or vacation,or anything of cost associated with things like that,and does not have to be that expensive,anything above our needs that is unnecessary,or people,and of course people would be the most important,and if we do not help them then the love of God does not dwell in us.
. If they do not believe God the first time why would the believe God the second time. Any excuse not to follow God's Word.
