The thief had a death-bed salvation; he acknowledged his sins, repented, and believed in Jesus thus was justified by faith at that moment then he died. Peradventure he was released and continued his criminal acts he would no longer be in a justified state for no one can serve two masters, no one can walk on the broad and narrow way simultaneously. You always bring up the thief on the cross argument to defend antinomianism.
One passage that refutes your doctrine is Jesus' teaching in Matt 7:16-20:
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
If one's fruit (works) is corrupt then they are indeed corrupt, not positionally incorrupt whilst practically corrupt - Jesus never taught such message. John also stated the same thing, Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother (1 John 3:7, 10). Verse 10 does not say "...doeth not righteousness is of God positionally", but that is what you teach.
It is only those who obey God that have eternal salvation: Heb 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Yes. We walk by faith by submitting our lives to God out of love because without faith it is impossible to please Him. Obedience is an indispensable component of belief in God, otherwise it's no different than the demons' belief (James 2:19).
Paul also told the Gentiles Christians that though they were under the liberty of grace and not the law they shouldn't use that liberty as a license to walk according to the flesh but love one another. If one loves their neighbour they won't desire to commit evil against them, if one loves God they will have disdain for sin, hunger and thirst for His word, and they will desire to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus. Galatians 5:13, 14 says For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Then He said if they do walk after the flesh they won't inherit the kingdom. Gal 5:19-21:
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
He even told them that if they do not continue in the goodness of God they too will be cut off. Rom 11:22- Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
Now who does Paul's teaching actually favour? One who is saying we ought to obey God because we have faith in Him or one who is saying we are under grace thus can sin every single day and remain justified?
It is your doctrine that encourages spiritual lukewarmness because one will hold that all they have to do is believe there is a God, a mental knowledge of God, but their conduct has absolutely no bearing on their salvation. That is what James was speaking against in his epistle...
James 2:17-19
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Jesus told the churches in Revelation that he would spue them out because they were lukewarm, remove their candlestick if they don’t repent and do their first work. Those verses refute unconditional eternal security.
I don't deny the imputed righteousness of Christ by faith. The bible does teach imputed righteousness but licentious teachers have twisted this biblical doctrine to preach that because of Christ's righteousness one is positionally saved but practically enslaved in sin and thus obedience and godly living is thrown out the window.
There is righteousness that justifies the sinner and righteousness of Christian living. The latter is what these licentious teachers ignore and dismiss as self-righteousness, works salvation, legalism, etc. Apostle Paul established that one is justified by faith in Christ apart from the works of the law but also said we are servants of whom we obey whether obedience unto righteousness, we are workers together with God, and we are God's workmanship created in Christ unto good works. This is because God is cares about the godly living of those whom He has imputed righteousness upon. Imputed righteousness is simply how God justifies the repentant sinner at conversion. A sinner has no righteousness in and of themself (Isaiah 64:6, Rom 3:23, Rom 10:3) before God, they are dead in sin, and all their righteous deeds are as filthy rags thus Jesus, the Righteous Holy One, paid the price for our righteousness. Once the sinner repents and places their faith in Jesus' sacrifice for their sins they will be forgiven and declared righteous and receive the spotless robe of righteousness by faith (Rom 3:22, 2 Cor 5:21, Phil 3:9). However, now that they have that righteousness do they have it on daily? Does their conduct reflect that of one who is clad with the righteousness of Christ?
Yes, our righteousness comes through the atoning work of Christ but this does not negate our being pure in heart and godly by God’s grace. On the contrary licentious teachers say believers’ practicing godliness suggests a meritorious salvation when in fact the bible states that believers have to be righteous and that without holiness no man shall see God. The bible says that those who practice righteousness are righteous (1 John 3:7). The bible also says that believers are disciplined for sin so that they might be partakers of God's holiness and bear the peaceable fruit of righteousness (Heb 12:10-11) so in essence that righteousness was lacking in order to be disciplined. Phil 1:11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. We are enabled to bear the fruit of righteousness by abiding in Christ which entails total reliance on Him and such conduct brings glory unto God.
God's grace forgives future sins when they are repented of, yet you say God only forgives past sins because the sins your commit after conversion are not actually sins but just “physical failings”, then I ask why God chastises for physical failings that are not sins and you don’t respond. Your idea of grace is simply that it’s a leeway to sin and we can live in anarchy and still be assured of our salvation.
Jesus said those who hear and do His words are like the wise builder. James said we ought to be doers of God’s word and not hearers only. Why do you disconnect the doing from faith, Sir?
