At any point in time can anyone say they are sinless? What does this actually mean?
Now the bible talks about the Holy and defilement. You could argue you are holy until defiled. But if the things that defile no longer can defile you, you walk in holiness. This was the argument the pharisees used, and emphasised the way not to be defiled. Jesus's criticsm of this was the sins of thoughts that come from the heart defile you, so unless you deal with this all the rule keeping is irrelevent.
So one side of the argument is you can walk in Holiness. Amen. The other side acknowledge common failures and weaknesses of the flesh that cause you to stumble. It is possible to walk in Holiness else Jesus lied, equally we have a tendency when out of communion with the Lord to stumble. To say stumbling defines loosing your salvation, is like saying an argument is a divorce in a marriage. Some obviously do walk away, loose the light. As the parable of the seed and the sower where the seed gains a hold but the ground is too rocky and cannot get a hold.
So why the animosity, or even the agression. Is it not our acknowledgement that Jesus is our saviour and his work in our hearts that matters most.
Let me take the parable of the talents or the unprepared wedding guests. These people are believers but take no action with their faith and lie dormant.
The problem with OSAS is it tries to replace the assurance of love and acceptance by God by just seeing Jesus dying for us, a act of unbelievable love, with the idea if you have faith now, even if you walk away it is ok. Clearly this is not true.
No offence, but there is no problem with the eternal security that is afforded in the word of God as it is God given.....the bible is clear.....it is the spirit that has been born again and is eternally saved, sealed, justified and sanctified in Christ for ever as GOD'S kingdom is SPIRITUAL......the spirit, until the day of redemption, is housed in a fallen, wicked, body of sin that is weak, fails and occasionally sins...I will not even argue this point as it is clear from scripture and both Jesus, Paul and John speak to this truth in one way or another.
Someone led by the spirit, faithful, a honorable vessel with works of gold, silver and precious stones
Someone saved, yet led by the flesh, a dishonorable vessel with works of wood, hay and stubble<--yet saved so as by fire
Someone saved yet lives contrary and maybe even does wicked things<---cut lose for the destruction of the flesh so the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Someone saved that walks contrary<----grieves the Holy Spirit of God yet sealed unto the day of redemption
Someone saved who walks contrary<---chastised by the Lord, blessing taken and maybe even physical life
For those who want to claim that the battle between the Spirit and the Flesh is gnostic...I suggest you take it up with
God and Paul as they both speak to the validity of this truth!....
God being Jesus that is!
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