Sometimes the lifestyle of a person who claims to be with Christ is not done with enough emphasis to be holy as God is holy.
A lot of people who claim to be with Christ do not live the lifestyle that they should thinking that it is alright to live a substandard lifestyle and still be right with God,which is not true.
Our lifestyle makes or breaks us contrary to what some people think,and there is no excuse if you do not live the way you should.
The Bible says a Spirit led life will not sin,so there is no excuse,and that is the purpose of the Holy Spirit to give us power to be like Jesus.
The Bible says if you are born of God you cannot sin.That is how you know the children of the devil and the children of God.Those who sin are of the devil,those who do not sin are of God.
Jesus said not all who call Him Lord shall enter the kingdom of heaven but only those who do the will of God,which is to abstain from all sin.
The Bible says to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,which shows you that there is a chance you could not make it,because if you do not work on yourself to get rid of all your sin you will not make it.
Paul said if he did not abstain from sin he would be a castaway.
The 10 virgins were 10 people who confessed Christ but only 5 made it to heaven.
A lot of people do not think that your lifestyle does not have to be holy but the Bible says your lifestyle has to be holy.They only say your lifestyle does not have to be holy because they like to dabble in sin once in a while and believe they will still make it to heaven.Those who love holiness will see that you have to be holy as Jesus is holy.
Matt
Hi Matt,
I am no where near your level of Christianity as I am still a sinner. In fact, I don't seem to be able to rid myself of some sins and I know from other sins that were in me that it is not my effort nor my timing that clears persistant sin from me. It is His timing and His authority. All I have is the desire to be rid of sin and a willingness to fight. I once stood in front of an open refrigerator and feeling confident started reeling off in my mind what a great job I had done in conquering sin in my body. I started to eat food from the fridge as I was having these thoughts and I ate and I ate and I ate. I kept telling myself it was stupid to keep on eating as I was not hungry and then I told myself that I was full to bursting and still I ate. Then as I ate more and more I feared dying. I was stuffing like a pig. I no longer take any pride in overcoming but give thanks and pray that He will take more away and that I will not be swell headed about my position. I am only a work in progress.
Quite truthfully, I don't see any of us ever being without sin. I see mercy, forgiveness and Jesus Christ
Romans 11:32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
James 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath showed no mercy, and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
1 Peter 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves; for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
Sin is disbelief in Jesus.
Jesus Christ is our righteousness, we do not establish our own.
I am not advocating anything but a truly sincere heart that hates sin.
1John5:18 anyone born of God does not continue to sin. (even Paul said he was not all he should be)
1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin,we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
Romans 14:23 And he that doubteth is dammed if he eat because he eateth not of faith,
for whatever is not of faith is sin.
In many of the scriptures that seem to condemn us if we sin I find joy. The joy is that I look at that scripture as a guarantee of my success not as a condemning scripture.
love
edwin