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This is in response to a question about the last article I wrote Sheep or Goats.

Mat 23:2-3 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
Mat 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

We are saved by grace though faith and not by works. I fully understand that. When anyone comes to Jesus Christ for salvation He will not turn him or her away. They may have done things that are worthy of death under the law of this nation. They may have been the lowest kind of person full of all manner of sin. They may have been despised by most all who know them. My friend that is why Jesus died to remove our guilt. I, like Paul was chief among sinners but God forgave me through His grace and mercy; demonstrated in Jesus Christ. Glory be to God forever. Thanks for His unspeakable gift. None of us could ever do enough to be worthy of that gift. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should have eternal life. He will not cast anyone out saying, “You have been too bad a sinner I can't save you.” His Blood covers all sin.

Now that we have repented, confessed our sin, and received Christ, what now? We are in Christ. He has become our life. He is our life and in Him we live and move and have our very being. Does that give us a liberty to continue to live in known sin? What does the scripture say? (We are saved by grace and faith.) First lets look at what real faith is.

James 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
James 2:19-20 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Even the devil believes but he keeps on rebelling against God. He was once an angel in heaven but he refused to submit to God and lost his standing with God. Faith that produces salvation will have works that shows faith in action. Every person, in the Bible, that had faith showed it by his or her works. Faith is an action word. Faith that does not produce works is dead and cannot save. We are commanded to maintain good works.
John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. John 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
Notice if we are in Christ and don't bear fruit the Father will take us out. We cannot remain in Christ and still live sinful lives. The Father will not allow it. The fruit of our lives show if we are abiding or not.

Now lets look at grace. What is grace? Unmerited favor. God grants His grace to all that will receive it. It's ours if we have received Christ. What are we to do with grace? Everything God gives us is to be used in our everyday life. What does the Bible say about grace?
Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Grace has never been a liberty to continue in sin. Grace is a deliverer from the authority of sin. Sin shall not have dominion over us. We have been set free to walk in holiness with our Lord. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14.) We are to walk in the light as He is in the light.

What is the Bible evidence that we are abiding in Christ?
1 John 2:3-6 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
1 John 3:2-10 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 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.

Some try to tell us that once a person makes a profession of faith they will go to heaven no matter what else happens in their life from then on. Again what does the scripture say about this?
2 Pet 2:17-22 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Please notice some escaped through Christ but went back to their old life.
Mat 7:21-27 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. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Being able to stand in the trials, that come to us all, is based on our learning what the Word of God says and becoming not just a hearer and confessor but also a doer of the truth. We are known by the fruit we bear. The Word of God is the only weapon we have but it's enough to get the job done. Let's use it giving God the Glory and honor and praise.

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Thank you for reading.