Trax:
Well, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit and He is our guarantee. -- Yes He is. But....
Since God sees the end from the beginning, whatever debt that will be run up, by the sinner, is paid for. Except?
We get the Holy Spirit as a seal and guarantee. If you don't feel as if you have been sealed and given a guarantee, -- I point others to the need of having God's Spirit to guide us home, yet you have not seen me speak of this more times than there are numbers?
Why are you preaching to (and threatening) the choir (flock)?
Perhaps preaching to the lost is what you intend.
However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. - Romans 8:9
Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" - Galatians 4:6
then what did Jesus pay for? -- He paid for my sins. He has given me everlasting life. He has given me of His Spirit so that I may be led to His rest. There is no doubt in my mind that God is my Savior. But then again, IF I TURN from my righteousness, what will happen to my righteousness? So, all the more, I depend on Him in His wisdom to lead me.
You don't have any righteousness.
Not enough to earn you anything at all.
God has concluded all have sinned and come short of His glory.
Not only have all sinned, there is NONE righteous, not even one.
Enter JESUS.
For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through
the obedience of the One the many
will be made righteous. - Romans 5:19
Do you understand what God has done?
Do you understand imputed righteousness?
This does not diminish from your new heart's desire to do what you now know is pleasing.
The only reason you desire this is because the Blood of Christ has taken away your sin; and Christ's Righteousness is credited to you. Even still your righteousness will never save you.
Anything less than absolutely purity, holiness and the Righteousness of God will not suffice.
Will you EVER attain the same Righteousness Jesus has without God crediting it to you?
EVER? if you had a million years?
This GIFT is received by FAITH ALONE.
Faith in Perfectly Sinless, Perfectly Righteous Jesus, granted by a Gracious God Who gave His Perfect Son.
Why is this received by faith alone?
Because it is the Triune God Who gets
ALL the GLORY. For everything. Without exception.
“For by grace are you saved through faith; and that
not of yourselves: it is a gift of God:
not of works lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8–9
Did Paul make it clear God specifically planned this so that NOT A SINGLE SOLITARY REDEEMED MAN ANYWHERE EVER WILL BE ABLE TO BOAST OF A SINGLE THING AT ANY TIME?
“I have suffered the loss of
all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him,
not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” - Philippians 3:8–9
Did He leave you with a debt, that must be paid? -- He left me hope, He left me with the Spirit of Hope. But then again, have I not said this abundently in other posts? The only thing left for me to do to enter my sabbatical rest is to hearken to His leading me to that rest. (the answer to the question)
You've either entered His Rest (received and rejoice in the FREE GIFT) or you haven't (working for your salvation - you will earn the wages of work, even the work of attempting to be justified by the Good and Holy Law):
If you do words studies this is what you will see:
“BEING DECLARED RIGHTEOUS freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”- Romans 3:24
“Therefore we conclude that a man IS DECLARED RIGHTEOUS by faith without deeds of the law.”- Romans 3:28
“Seeing, it is one God, which SHALL DECLARE RIGHTEOUS the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through faith.” - Romans 3:30
“Therefore being DECLARED RIGHTEOUS by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” - Romans 5:1
“Knowing that man is not DECLARED RIGHTEOUS by the works of the Law but by the faith of Jesus Christ ... not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no person be DECLARED RIGHTEOUS.” - Galatians 2:16
The Holy Spirit will absolutely, without the slightest chance of failing, deliver you Home.
For JESUS's Name Sake!
Why do you have such little trust?
It is because you
still think it is by your merit.
If it is by your merit, you will NEVER enter His rest, nor will you go Home.
The debt has been paid, the downpayment has been secured, the full possession will take place.
All because while we were sinners, God was reconciling us to Him - HE DID IT.
If so, you are working for yourself. -- My salvation is assured in the same way you have mentioned. Obedinece to Him is not work, it is common sense, seeing that He and He along knows the way home. So, if I concur with that, that is work?
You don't know the way Home?
yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach - Colossians 1:22
Who did the reconciling?
Whose death accomplished it?
In order to do what?
Are you in reality in your flesh today "holy and blameless and beyond reproach"?
You can't serve two masters.
--So I will obey Him in His leading
Could you please define at last "His leading"?
And if anyone isn't sealed with the Holy Spirit and given the guarantee, they aren't part of Jesus. -- My point exactely. If one refuses God's Spirit, that one is fatherless.
So go out into the world and preach the Gospel to the perishing who have not yet received the Spirit!
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.
Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit - Ephesians 1:13