A few verses for consideration, I've used the NLT but by all means look them
up in a different version.
Romans 9:30-33 NLT
[30] What does all this mean? Even though the Gentiles were not trying to follow
God's standards, they were made right with God. And it was by faith that this took place.
[31] But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with
God by keeping the law,
never succeeded. [32] Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God
by keeping the law instead of by trusting in him. They stumbled over the great rock
in their path.
[33] God warned them of this in the Scriptures when he said, "I am placing a stone
in Jerusalem that makes people stumble, a rock that makes them fall. But anyone
who trusts in him will never be disgraced."
Romans 10:1-13 NLT
[1] Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is
for the people of Israel to be saved. [2] I know what enthusiasm they have for
God, but it is misdirected zeal.
[3] For they don't understand God's way of making people right with himself.
Refusing to accept God's way,
they cling to their own way of getting right with God
by trying to keep the law.
[4] For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given.
As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God. [5]
For Moses writes
that the law's way of making a person right with God requires obedience
to all of its commands.
[6] But faith's way of getting right with God says, "Don't say in your heart, 'Who will
go up to heaven?' (to bring Christ down to earth). [7] And don't say, 'Who will go down
to the place of the dead?' (to bring Christ back to life again)."
[8] In fact, it says, "The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in
your heart." And that message is the very message about faith that we preach:
[9] If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God
raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
[10] For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is
by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. [11] As the Scriptures tell
us, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced." [12] Jew and Gentile are
the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously
to all who call on him. [13] For "Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved."
To the OP, this is my opinion, if people are trying to gain salvation by "keeping" the laws,
then they had better ensure they "keep every single one of them perfectly all the time".
As to those who are truely born again by faith, the bible calls them "new creations", the
old man (that sinful person who could not perfectly keep the law) has gone and been replaced
by a new "spirit filled saved person".
That spirit filled man will have a tender conscience, a heart of flesh instead of a heart of stone.
Yes they will get it wrong, we all do, but that spirit filled new man, will be
only too aware of their wrong doing. The Holy Spirit works within us and speaks to us,
convicting (just one of the many attrubutes of God the Holy Spirit living on the inside of
us). As we grow in grace and spiritual maturity, fruit should appear.
Some fruit takes longer to grow and show than others, but God knows who are His sheep and
His sheep hear His voice.
The mark of a new creation in Christ includes one who hears His voice.
I dont really want to get into another works/grace debate, as that is the wrong
question to ask, it always has been.
I better question for a thread would be:-
Are you one of the sheep, do you hear the Shepherd's voice, do you respond to His voice.
Even if the sheep tries to ignore that voice, it won't go away.
It calls and calls - see story of the lost sheep, the lost coin, prodigal son.
Wouldn't it be fantastic if one day we could have a whole load of threads on here
about our struggles, how a God speaks to each of us. Prayer asking for help to overcome,
how patient and loving God is with each one us, the things God has revealed to us etc