We are not saved by righteousness that we have done according to the flesh,but the Bible says awake to righteousness,and sin not,by the Spirit,and those who do not do righteousness are not of God,so it appears that we better do righteousness,or we are not right with God.
People should understand when Paul is speaking according to the flesh,or the Spirit.
Faith alone,and not saved by works,when we first confess Christ,for that is all we can do not having the Spirit,for we are fleshy.
But when we receive the Spirit then faith without works is dead,and a person is justified by works,and not faith alone,for the Spirit will not twist our arm to live for God,so it is our responsibility to want to do what is right,represent goodness,being Christlike,before the Spirit will lead us to be right with God.
In other words if we lack works,which is works of love,then we are not right with God,for then we love our own ways better than God's ways,and there is no excuse because we can have the Spirit.
And we see many people lack those works of love,but believe they are right with God.
Paul said charity is greater than faith,and faith works by love,and love does not think an evil thought,and does not sin by the Spirit,and only goes by their needs,and not their wants,and helps the poor and needy.
Paul,James,and John,say the same thing concerning charity,which is greater than faith,for without love,faith means nothing.
Paul said that he could have all faith so that he could remove mountains,but if he did not have charity then he is nothing,and if a person believes that God blesses with money,and material things,their wants,withdraw yourselves from them,and they have erred from the faith.
James said if they do not have charity their faith is dead,and John said if they do not have charity then the love of God does not dwell in them.
But we see many people that say faith alone,not saved by works,only believe,that lack when it come to love wanting to enjoy sin,and going by their wants,which we witness in society a lot,all the while they think they are right with God,but Paul says they are not.
Love does not think an evil thought,and does not sin by the Spirit,and only goes by their needs,and not their wants,and helps the poor and needy,and charity is greater than faith.
Jesus addressed the first Church in Revelation that they have left their first love,and are fallen,and had to repent,and if not Jesus would go against them,and the fifth Church Jesus said He did not find their works perfect before God,and to repent,or He would go against them.
They were saved because Jesus told them to repent,and they were right with Him at one time,but lacked later on,and had to repent,and we see a lot of people lack later on,and think they are right with God,that is if they truly repented to begin,and that is why they lack for they lacked from the beginning,and only confessing Christ.
Paul said if he did not keep under his body,and bring it in to subjection,which means not sin,then he would be a castaway.
We should abstain from sin,but it is not sin that is the issue in this matter,for we can repent of our sins,and be right with God,it is people's attitude towards that sin that they say they cannot abstain from sin,and sin does not affect their relationship with God,which many will hold unto sin thinking they are alright with God,and they will go by their wants,and lacking in love,that is the problem.
If a person says faith alone,and not saved by works,but they are going by their wants,and enjoying sin,thinking they are alright,they are not right with God,for charity is greater than faith.
The people that were saved at the first Church Jesus said they have fallen,but how could that be if a person can never fall,and a person cannot say they were not saved,for Jesus said for them to repent,and they would be right with Him again,and the fifth Church Jesus said their works were not perfect before God,and to repent,but if works do not matter in our salvation what is there to repent of,and Jesus said if they did not repent He would go against them.
The Bible says if a person is saved,and does not continue in the goodness of God,they will be cut off like in the Old Testament.
The Bible says what seals the saints is that they abstain from iniquity,so why do we see the lack among people,and they say they cannot abstain from sin,and sin does not affect their relationship with God.
You are only sealed if you come to the truth that you must abstain from sin by the Spirit,and believe that you are not right with God when you sin,and must repent of the sin,and get rid of it,and not hold unto sin,and sin does affect your relationship with God,and you must only go by your needs,and not your wants,and help the poor and needy,for that is love,for that is the truth.
Why do we see the lack,and then they say they are right with God,so they do not understand.