Repentance and Keeping Commandments is only the beginning of salvation.

[Delvianna]

I like to explain things with an analogy and parallel it to scripture.

A- If I blow up someones car, I broke the law. By the law, I should be arrested and thrown in jail to serve time for breaking the law (destruction of property).
B- When you sin, you break God's law. Every sin, is literally breaking God's law (1 John 3:4). There are penalties for sin, every single one of them, just like there is a penalty for blowing up a car.

A- Now, I can go to the car owner and reconcile and say I'm sorry. I won't do it again, and the car owner can forgive me.
B- When I sin, I can go to God and ask for forgiveness, this is repentance. I'm sorry for what I did. (Repentance includes the idea of turning from sin though and not doing it again.)

But in both cases, justice still is required because although I was forgiven, that doesn't mean the justice goes out the window.
A- I still get arrested because the law of the country says I broke the law, even if the owner of the car forgives me.
B- I am still supposed to go to hell, because that is the wages of sin; death.

So now here is where Jesus comes in...
Jesus dies on the cross and says "I took the penalty, death... for you. If you accept me as Lord and put your faith in me, you will not have to pay the penalty."

That is why scripture says "faith" saves. Because Jesus literally saved you from the penalty. However, most people don't understand what the word faith means in the greek and they also disregard the point of "Lord".
1) Greek word for faith (Pistis) - includes the idea of loyalty and not just belief or trust.
2) The idea of calling Christ Lord, and Him being the High Priest means we are required to do what He says. Like any King, you are literally in His kingdom, so you are supposed to do what He says. This is why Jesus asked why people call Him Lord and don't do what He says. Which means obedience is tied to this.

So loyal to Him, loyal to His instructions, loyal to following what He wants you to do.

That is exactly why James 2:24 says, "You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone."

Works PROVES what you put your faith in. If you have faith a chair will hold you up, how good is that faith if you don't actually sit in it? That is the same concept behind you honor me with your lips but your hearts are far from me. The heart proves where your faith is because it produces works.

Now, getting more nuanced, Hebrews teaches that if you keep sinning (your life is characterized by living in sin) after knowing the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins. Which puts you on the hook for all the sin you keep doing. So that car I blew up? Going to jail now plus all the other charges I wracked up afterwards. Sin is a rejection of God.

John 3:19-20 - And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.

 

[ATG]

There is no need to repent for Jesus’ sake because Jesus never sinned.

Rom 15:30
Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;

1Co 4:10
We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.

Phl 1:29
For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

2Co 12:10
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Luk 21:17
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.

Transgressors that have not repented for Jesus' sake, can neither love, suffer, and be persecuted for His sake.

 

[Dino246]

Rom 15:30
Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;

1Co 4:10
We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.

Phl 1:29
For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

2Co 12:10
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Luk 21:17
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.

Transgressors that have not repented for Jesus' sake, can neither love, suffer, and be persecuted for His sake.

There is nothing in the verses you quoted about repenting for Jesus’ sake.

Perhaps you should have read them before making your summary statement.

 

[ATG]

Eph 2:8-10
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

We are by grace saved through faith.

but that is not an excuse to walk in sin.

...."created in Christ Jesus unto good works,"...

Tit 2:11-12
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

This Grace that brings salvation also teaches us to live righteously and godly in this present world.

It requires faith on our part to believe that Jesus will give you victory.

Where there is no repentance preached, there is no gospel of Jesus Christ, which always begins with repentance.

Mat 4:17
From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Mark{1:15}
The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Acts{3:19}
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:

Since Jesus Christ preaching repentance cannot be mistaken. Not preaching repentance cannot be by mistake.

2 Cor 7:10
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of:

If we preach not repentance unto salvation, we preach not the gospel of Jesus Christ. If we have not repented of our own transgressions, then we have not begun to believe Jesus Christ for salvation from our own transgressions.

Eph 2:8-10
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

We are by grace saved through faith.

but that is not an excuse to walk in sin.

God's grace is His power given not to walk in sin at all; Whether excusing it or not.

If any man transgresses, God condemns the transgression. Whether we excuse it or not.

Jas 2:8
If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Being condemned by the law as a transgressor, has nothing to do with a 'license' to sin or not. If we transgress God's commandments, with or without license, we are condemned with all transgressors of the world:

Rom 2:3
And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?

...."created in Christ Jesus unto good works,"...

Tit 2:11-12
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

This Grace that brings salvation also teaches us to live righteously and godly in this present world.

Exactly. If we do unrighteousness with the world, then with the world we will not inherit the kingdom of God:

1 Cor 6:9
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind…Gal 5:19 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.

The judgement of God for doing such transgressions, makes no difference between excusing it, having a license for it, or naming Christ as our Savior: By our works we are judged, not by our words of gospel, grace, and faith:

1 Peter {1:15}
But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning in fear:

It requires faith on our part to believe that Jesus will give you victory.

Exactly. Trust in Jesus Christ is for victory over our own sins and trespasses:

Jhn 16:33

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

1 John 5:5
Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

Rev 2:25
But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

Rev 3:21To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

 

[ATG]

I like to explain things with an analogy and parallel it to scripture.

A- If I blow up someones car, I broke the law. By the law, I should be arrested and thrown in jail to serve time for breaking the law (destruction of property).
B- When you sin, you break God's law. Every sin, is literally breaking God's law (1 John 3:4). There are penalties for sin, every single one of them, just like there is a penalty for blowing up a car.

A- Now, I can go to the car owner and reconcile and say I'm sorry. I won't do it again, and the car owner can forgive me.
B- When I sin, I can go to God and ask for forgiveness, this is repentance. I'm sorry for what I did. (Repentance includes the idea of turning from sin though and not doing it again.)

But in both cases, justice still is required because although I was forgiven, that doesn't mean the justice goes out the window.
A- I still get arrested because the law of the country says I broke the law, even if the owner of the car forgives me.
B- I am still supposed to go to hell, because that is the wages of sin; death.

So now here is where Jesus comes in...
Jesus dies on the cross and says "I took the penalty, death... for you. If you accept me as Lord and put your faith in me, you will not have to pay the penalty."

That is why scripture says "faith" saves. Because Jesus literally saved you from the penalty. However, most people don't understand what the word faith means in the greek and they also disregard the point of "Lord".
1) Greek word for faith (Pistis) - includes the idea of loyalty and not just belief or trust.
2) The idea of calling Christ Lord, and Him being the High Priest means we are required to do what He says. Like any King, you are literally in His kingdom, so you are supposed to do what He says. This is why Jesus asked why people call Him Lord and don't do what He says. Which means obedience is tied to this.

So loyal to Him, loyal to His instructions, loyal to following what He wants you to do.

That is exactly why James 2:24 says, "You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone."

Works PROVES what you put your faith in. If you have faith a chair will hold you up, how good is that faith if you don't actually sit in it? That is the same concept behind you honor me with your lips but your hearts are far from me. The heart proves where your faith is because it produces works.

Now, getting more nuanced, Hebrews teaches that if you keep sinning (your life is characterized by living in sin) after knowing the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins. Which puts you on the hook for all the sin you keep doing. So that car I blew up? Going to jail now plus all the other charges I wracked up afterwards. Sin is a rejection of God.

Sounds good in your way. Preaching repentance and forgiveness by grace, is the gospel of Jesus Christ. And faith toward God without doing it, is dead to God, even as to men.

Let me comment on just a thing or two:

A- I still get arrested because the law of the country says I broke the law, even if the owner of the car forgives me.
B- I am still supposed to go to hell, because that is the wages of sin; death.

So now here is where Jesus comes in...
Jesus dies on the cross and says "I took the penalty, death... for you. If you accept me as Lord and put your faith in me, you will not have to pay the penalty."

The penalty of transgressing the law is still paid on earth: Death of the soul towards God. Eternal damnation is only for unrepented transgressions unto the grave:

1Jo 5:16
If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

So, if we sin, we pay the wage of death toward God. But if we repent for Jesus' sake, we are forgiven and restored to God.

Jesus did not pay the death penalty for sin, because He knew no sin and sinned not. Jesus died for our sins to be repented of, that by His resurrection He can forgive and restore us that do repent for His name's sake.

2Co 5:21
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Rom 4:25
Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Any soul that still sins against Christ, still dies as Adam by transgressing against God. But unlike Adam, any transgressor that repents is restored to life by Jesus Christ.

If we that believe on Jesus Christ, do sin with the world, we are also dead with the world; But if we repent, we are restored with all them that trust in Jesus Christ.

1Jo 2:1
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Now, getting more nuanced, Hebrews teaches that if you keep sinning (your life is characterized by living in sin) after knowing the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins. Which puts you on the hook for all the sin you keep doing. So that car I blew up? Going to jail now plus all the other charges I wracked up afterwards. Sin is a rejection of God.

Jhn 8:34
Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever is committing sin is the servant of sin.

1Jo 3:8
He that is committing sin is of the devil; for the devil is sinning from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Anyone committing sin of the devil, is serving sin and the devil. If we steal, we are a thief. If we murder, we are a murderer. God's judgment of our works is of the work we are doing now, not of any 'balance' of good vs bad works:

Eccl 12:14
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

If we that name Jesus Christ do evil, then as with all evildoers Jesus' blood is not washing us clean. Only them that repent and not do evil, are washed clean in His blood with no remembrance of sin by the Father:

1Jo 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Rom 3:25
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

All God's words are written that we sin not. For if we sin against Christ, we die to God. But if we sin and repent, we are restored to life with God by Jesus Christ:

Rom 6:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

[Delvianna]

Sounds good in your way. Preaching repentance and forgiveness by grace, is the gospel of Jesus Christ. And faith toward God without doing it, is dead to God, even as to men.

Let me comment on just a thing or two:

The penalty of transgressing the law is still paid on earth: Death of the soul towards God. Eternal damnation is only for unrepented transgressions unto the grave:

1Jo 5:16
If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

So, if we sin, we pay the wage of death toward God. But if we repent for Jesus' sake, we are forgiven and restored to God.

Jesus did not pay the death penalty for sin, because He knew no sin and sinned not. Jesus died for our sins to be repented of, that by His resurrection He can forgive and restore us that do repent for His name's sake.

2Co 5:21
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Rom 4:25
Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Any soul that still sins against Christ, still dies as Adam by transgressing against God. But unlike Adam, any transgressor that repents is restored to life by Jesus Christ.

If we that believe on Jesus Christ, do sin with the world, we are also dead with the world; But if we repent, we are restored with all them that trust in Jesus Christ.

1Jo 2:1
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.




Jhn 8:34
Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever is committing sin is the servant of sin.

1Jo 3:8
He that is committing sin is of the devil; for the devil is sinning from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Anyone committing sin of the devil, is serving sin and the devil. If we steal, we are a thief. If we murder, we are a murderer. God's judgment of our works is of the work we are doing now, not of any 'balance' of good vs bad works:

Eccl 12:14
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

If we that name Jesus Christ do evil, then as with all evildoers Jesus' blood is not washing us clean. Only them that repent and not do evil, are washed clean in His blood with no remembrance of sin by the Father:

1Jo 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Rom 3:25
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

All God's words are written that we sin not. For if we sin against Christ, we die to God. But if we sin and repent, we are restored to life with God by Jesus Christ:

Rom 6:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

I agree with 1 caveat.

Jesus did not pay the death penalty for sin, because He knew no sin and sinned not. Jesus died for our sins to be repented of, that by His resurrection He can forgive and restore us that do repent for His name's sake.

Jesus paid OUR penalty. There is a penalty that needs to be paid, but he paid ours. He knew no sin, hence why he was the perfect lamb that could pay our debt.

 

[ATG]

There is nothing in the verses you quoted about repenting for Jesus’ sake.

Perhaps you should have read them before making your summary statement.

2Pe 3:3

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the

Rom 15:30
Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;

1Co 4:10
We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.

Eph 4:32
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Phl 1:29
For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

2Co 12:10
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Luk 21:17
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.

There's nothing about doing anything for Jesus' sake, that means Jesus needs us to do anything for Him.

If we repent for anything or anyone other than Jesus' sake, then it's our own works and will. Only that which is done for Jesus' sake will endure forever.

Transgressors not repenting for Jesus' sake, cannot live, love labor, nor suffer for His sake.

 

[ATG]

I agree with 1 caveat.


Jesus paid OUR penalty. There is a penalty that needs to be paid, but he paid ours. He knew no sin, hence why he was the perfect lamb that could pay our debt.

I understand your meaning. It's of course Scripturally sound. If we confess our sins to Jesus and repent, then His blood is power to wash away the sins, and so be free from condemnation of the law.

Jesus died for sins, but until our own sins are confessed with repentance, they are not remitted.

There is a Christian tradition that has greatly erred, and presumes that if we also transgress with the world, we are not also dead to God as other transgressors. As though if we do evil, we do not die to God the same as other evil doers. No person transgressing God's commandments has any life in Christ Jesus.

Jhn 8:34
Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever is committing sin is the servant of sin.

Eze 18:20
The soul that is sinning, it shall die.
1Jo 3:8
He that is committing sin is of the devil; for the devil is sinning from the beginning.

The wages of transgression against God is still death to the soul. Every soul that is sinning against the Lord is dead to the holy Spirit of life. All sins of the world are died for, but no sins are remitted without repentance for Jesus' sake.

Jesus' blood was shed for sins, but we must be crucified with Him for sins to be washed by His blood.

If we transgress, and do not also die to God as any other transgressor on earth, then why are they dead to God?

If we who believe on Jesus Christ do not die to God by our own transgression, because Jesus has died for sins, then no transgressor can be dead to God, because Jesus has died for all sins of the world.

The righteous Judge of all men is not a respecter of persons, such that he would judge one evil doer and not another doing the same thing:

Rom 2:3
And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?...For there is no respect of persons with God.

Jesus has died for the sins of all men, but only those that repent and believe Jesus for remission of sins by His death, burial, and resurrection, are forgiven and made alive to the holy Spirit of God.

We ourselves are particularly warned by the Lord above all men, then we are not escaping the judgment of death for evil works, but rather have escaped the evil doing by grace to be holy and blameless before the Lord in all our works:
2Pe 1:3
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

1 Peter{1:15}
But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

No person on earth transgressing God's commandments doing evil, is alive to God, but dead in our sins and trespasses.

Eph 2:1
And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

We all were dead in our own sins and trespasses, because we were sinning and trespassing children of disobedience. If we now sin and trespass, we are now children of disobedience dead in out sin and trespasses.

Heb 10:26
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,... seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

 

[Dino246]

2Pe 3:3

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the

Rom 15:30
Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;

1Co 4:10
We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.

Eph 4:32
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Phl 1:29
For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

2Co 12:10
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Luk 21:17
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.

There's nothing about doing anything for Jesus' sake, that means Jesus needs us to do anything for Him.

Wrong. Several statements in these verses mention doing things for Jesus’ sake. Repenting not among them.

Transgressors not repenting for Jesus' sake, cannot live, love labor, nor suffer for His sake.

Repeating your error isn’t helping anyone.

 

[ATG]

Wrong. Several statements in these verses mention doing things for Jesus’ sake. Repenting not among them.

You mistake me. What is it to me if you don't repent for Jesus' sake? I'm not the Judge of people's works. I just preach the scriptures as I read them, and am bound to do them myself.

I have repented from my own sins for Jesus' sake. And I thank God for granting me His repentance.

Acts{11:18}
When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the nations granted repentance unto life.

 

[Dino246]

You mistake me. What is it to me if you don't repent for Jesus' sake?

It’s your mistake for not understanding the text. Whatever you do on the basis is your error is your issue.

 

[ATG]

It’s your mistake for not understanding the text. Whatever you do on the basis is your error is your issue.

Mistake?? Didn't I confess I have repented of my sins for Jesus' sake? There should be no mistake about that, so once again, I have repented of my sins for Jesus' sake. And God knows. And I thank God for His grace to do so.

Acts{11:18}
When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the nations granted repentance unto life.

 

[Dino246]

Mistake?? Didn't I confess I have repented of my sins for Jesus' sake? There should be no mistake about that, so once again, I have repented of my sins for Jesus' sake. And God knows. And I thank God for His grace to do so.

I suspect you are having trouble with comprehension.

 

[ATG]

I suspect you are having trouble with comprehension.

Just making sure you comprehend the gospel I preach as a Christian. I don't receive any other gospel that doesn't begin with repentance from dead works and faith toward Jesus Christ.

Heb 6:1
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
That gospel of Jesus Christ goes on from keeping His commandments, to personally walking with Jesus as friend of God.

Jhn 8:29
And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

 

[TMS]

The problem is you can fall into either trap of the devil.
Perfectionism which is when you think you have reached the perfect character and you look down on others.... this is a trap. We should aim for perfect holiness and a character like Jesus’s, but we need to constantly watch and be moving closer to Jesus, knowing our own natures are sinful. It all about Christ living in us.

The other trap is cheap grace, or believing Christ saves us IN our sins.
Some people hear the wonderful Gospel and think it is an excuse to transgress the law. The pervert the gospel to mean that Jesus has removed the law, or removed the laws condemnation. They use the death and blood of Jesus as an open cheque book, to pay for their sins.

Either trap is from the devil.

The devil doesn't care if you are self confident and think your sinless or if you think your not accountable and can continue sinning.

REPENT.

Confess, John was preaching Repentance.
Mat 3:5-9
5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, 6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: 9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

The message for today is also Repentance.


Rev 14:6-7
6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

Rev 3:2-5
2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. 4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. 5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

 

[TMS]

1Jn 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

 

[ATG]

The problem is you can fall into either trap of the devil.
Perfectionism which is when you think you have reached the perfect character and you look down on others.... this is a trap.

Going on to perfection in this life, without transgressing God's commandments, is not the perfection of God and Jesus Christ on the throne in heaven.

Our character is made pure, when we repent of transgressions, and the Lamb takes away our old lust of heart, and we are given with grace the divine nature of Jesus Christ.

Acts{3:19}
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:

2Pe 1:3
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

We that have Jesus Christ, have his pure heart and holy character, now we live holy as He is holy.

We are being perfected in our walk with Jesus, to please God in all things. We learn overcoming all temptation by obedience, even as the Son leaned in the flesh.

Heb{5:8}
Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

We do not attain to the perfection of God's walk in heaven, until resurrection with immortal body like Jesus. Only God and Jesus Christ in heaven are perfect without any temptations.

Phl 3:10
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

Phl 3:12
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Phl 3:13
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Phl 3:15
Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

Until we are also made perfect by resurrection in Jesus' likeness, we will continue to suffer temptation and tribulation to strengthen our walk of obedience after the Spirit.

And so we don't preach being made perfect in the flesh as God in heaven, but we do preach being perfected in the Spirit of holiness, without transgression against His holy commandments.

If we are transgressing His commandments, then we are not beginning to walk with Jesus with a pure heart.

We should aim for perfect holiness and a character like Jesus’s, but we need to constantly watch and be moving closer to Jesus, knowing our own natures are sinful.

If our nature is sinful, then our nature is not divine from Jesus Christ.

Seeking to live godly with sin, is a religion of seeking to do less evil. It's not Jesus' pure religion of doing good and no evil.

Jas 1:27
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
1 John 5:18
We know that whosoever is born of God is not sinning; but he that is begotten of God is keeping himself, and that wicked one is touching him not.
1 Tim{4:8}
For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

Like bodily exercise, the sinful religions of man can certainly profit this life, but we wholly newborn saints of God are commanded and can live godly and holy in all our manners of daily living, and made perfect in the resurrection to come.

2Co 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

1 Peter{1:14}
As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

The other trap is cheap grace, or believing Christ saves us IN our sins.

Excellent. Jesus saves us from sinning, not with unrepented transgressions.

Some people hear the wonderful Gospel and think it is an excuse to transgress the law. The pervert the gospel to mean that Jesus has removed the law, or removed the laws condemnation.

Excellent again. The death of Jesus did not kill the law of God, but changed it from that of Moses in the OT, to that of Christ and His apostles in the NT.

They use the death and blood of Jesus as an open cheque book, to pay for their sins.

Succinctly put. It's under the umbrella of an all paid-for free salvation, where we have no part in being saved and justified with God, except by faith alone.

They say that Jesus did all the work necessary to be saved on the cross, so we have nothing to do to be saved but believe only.

Jesus died for our sins to be repented of, not for our unrepented transgressions to be uncondemned.

 

[ATG]

The devil doesn't care if you are self confident and think your sinless

If we are not sinless, we have not Jesus Christ in whom is no sin.

If we are sinful, we have not our sin taken away by the Lamb of God.

Once again, we do have the pure heart and nature of Jesus Christ, but we are not God in heaven, so that we can't even be tempted to disobey Him.

2Ti 2:18
Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

We are called with power of sons to sin not, but we are not yet resurrected from the dead, to where it's impossible for us to fall by temptation.

1Jo 2:1
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

We don't confuse the decieved and proud, that believe they are already resurrected with glory. Unlike us who are risen from being dead in sins and trespasses, and made alive to the righteousness and holiness of God:

Psa 106:3
Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that is doing righteousness at all times.

1 John{3:7}
Little children, let no man deceive you: he that is doing righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

1 John{2:29}
If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that is doing righteousness is born of him.

1Jo 3:10
In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever is doing unrighteousness is not of God.

or if you think your not accountable and can continue sinning.

Correct. This goes both ways: Those who believe their own sinning is no more condemned by faith alone, and those who believe they are already resurrected and cannot be judged for their works;

Rev 20:6
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

REPENT.

Confess, John was preaching Repentance.
Mat 3:5-9
5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, 6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: 9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

The message for today is also Repentance.


Rev 14:6-7
6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

Rev 3:2-5
2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. 4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. 5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Amen. That's our gospel from Jesus Christ.

 

[ATG]

1Jn 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

5:18
We know that whosoever is born of God is not sinning; but he that is begotten of God is keeping himself, and that wicked one is not touching him.

 

[TMS]

If our nature is sinful, then our nature is not divine from Jesus Christ.

I think we have different views of the human nature...

The truth and error in this subject is close but the doctrines that result are very different.

First ... Did Jesus have the nature of fallen man or the nature of Adam before the fall?

How can Jesus have a bond with those that He can not relate to. How can Jesus be a sympathetic high priest if He does not understand our nature.

To be tempted is not a sin. To have a sinful nature, or a nature with the inherited pull towards sin does not make you a sinner.

Original Sin which was invented by the Catholic Church has lead to infant baptism, the Immaculate Conception of Mary, the priest and dead people being the mediator between heaven and earth. These doctrines are all false.

Jesus did not take the nature of unfallen angels, but specifically linked Himself to the human family after generations of decline.

Romans 8:3-4: "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

Hebrews 2:16: "For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham."

By assuming a nature that was subject to the same infirmities we face, Christ was able to experience real temptation. His victory proves that through divine power, fallen man can keep God's requirements.
It proves the devil wrong and gives us hope.

Hebrews 4:15: "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."

Hebrews 2:18: "For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted."

Hebrews 5:2: "Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity."

The Golden Chain Linking Humanity to Divinity. Jacob's ladder.
Christ's humanity is the "golden linked chain" that binds our souls to God. By becoming a man, He showed what we can become through union with Him.
If Christ only came as low as unfallen man then the ladder does not reach all the way down to us.

John 1:14: "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."
2 Peter 1:4: "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."

Jesus met the enemy on the same ground where Adam fell—the point of appetite—and overcame despite the weakness of His physical state.

Matthew 4:1-2: "Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred."

Jesus also got angry, sad and frustrated like us but Jesus never sinned.

The infinite sacrifice of Christ in taking our nature was designed to elevate us and restore the image of God in the human soul.

Philippians 2:7-8: "But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."
1 John 3:1: "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God."

Research original sin... it is not biblical