This is what I see as being clearly taught in the Scriptures …
Man is born with an inherited sin nature, which separates him from our Holy God.
Man is born with a totally free will (as Adam & Eve were), thus he is not God’s robot.
In God’s old covenant, some of His people were obedient and lived righteously.
In God’s new covenant, He will give people a new heart and put His Spirit in them.
God chooses certain people to be given His free gift of grace-faith-salvation.
God attracts them with His Holy Spirit and with a simple easy-to-accept gospel.
The gospel warns them to first count the cost (everything!) of being Jesus’ disciple.
Those chosen are given a new nature, i.e. they are born again into new creations.
This is the starting point where they enter the narrow gate, which leads to heaven.
Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way leading to life, and there are few who find it.
They will have Satan’s demons, plus their own sinful flesh, working against them!
Those born-again are given Jesus’ righteousness, are declared justified, adopted by God.
Their past sins have been cleansed (but they must have future sins cleansed also).
They are set apart for the Holy Spirit to progressively sanctify them unto holiness.
The Holy Spirit of Truth will be their Helper and will teach and remind them of all things.
They are to be perfect and to pursue holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
Those who are being led by the Holy Spirit, and doing what He says, are sons of God.
Those who are being led by the Spirit and put to death the deeds of the body will live.
They are to test themselves and work out their own salvation with fear and trembling.
They are to examine themselves as to whether they are in the faith, or disqualified.
Jesus “knows” (has a personal relationship) with those who do the will of Father God.
Jesus “knows” (has a personal relationship) with those who are following/obeying Him.
Those who keep God’s commandments love Jesus and will be loved by Father God.
Those who keep God’s commandments will also have the Father and Jesus with them.
Those who hear and do Jesus’ sayings are the wise ones building on the rock foundation.
Are those doing God’s will in these things the ones that He considers to be “in Christ”?
Those not doing this are the foolish ones building on sand, which will cause a great fall.
God’s grace is not guaranteed; several “security” verses were only to “faithful” saints,
and some just assume one’s obedience. Cheap grace is wonderful: no accountability!
One can fall short of the grace of God, fall from grace, receive the grace of God in vain.
Believers are to take note that Lucifer (God’s #1) was rejected because of disobedience.
In the gospels, Jesus gave multitudes of warnings to everyone (to be heeded in future).
The epistle writers gave multitudes of warnings to the churches about losing salvation.
Jesus warned all 7 churches that they must be overcomers “as I also overcame”.
Man is born with an inherited sin nature, which separates him from our Holy God.
Man is born with a totally free will (as Adam & Eve were), thus he is not God’s robot.
In God’s old covenant, some of His people were obedient and lived righteously.
In God’s new covenant, He will give people a new heart and put His Spirit in them.
God chooses certain people to be given His free gift of grace-faith-salvation.
God attracts them with His Holy Spirit and with a simple easy-to-accept gospel.
The gospel warns them to first count the cost (everything!) of being Jesus’ disciple.
Those chosen are given a new nature, i.e. they are born again into new creations.
This is the starting point where they enter the narrow gate, which leads to heaven.
Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way leading to life, and there are few who find it.
They will have Satan’s demons, plus their own sinful flesh, working against them!
Those born-again are given Jesus’ righteousness, are declared justified, adopted by God.
Their past sins have been cleansed (but they must have future sins cleansed also).
They are set apart for the Holy Spirit to progressively sanctify them unto holiness.
The Holy Spirit of Truth will be their Helper and will teach and remind them of all things.
They are to be perfect and to pursue holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
Those who are being led by the Holy Spirit, and doing what He says, are sons of God.
Those who are being led by the Spirit and put to death the deeds of the body will live.
They are to test themselves and work out their own salvation with fear and trembling.
They are to examine themselves as to whether they are in the faith, or disqualified.
Jesus “knows” (has a personal relationship) with those who do the will of Father God.
Jesus “knows” (has a personal relationship) with those who are following/obeying Him.
Those who keep God’s commandments love Jesus and will be loved by Father God.
Those who keep God’s commandments will also have the Father and Jesus with them.
Those who hear and do Jesus’ sayings are the wise ones building on the rock foundation.
Are those doing God’s will in these things the ones that He considers to be “in Christ”?
Those not doing this are the foolish ones building on sand, which will cause a great fall.
God’s grace is not guaranteed; several “security” verses were only to “faithful” saints,
and some just assume one’s obedience. Cheap grace is wonderful: no accountability!
One can fall short of the grace of God, fall from grace, receive the grace of God in vain.
Believers are to take note that Lucifer (God’s #1) was rejected because of disobedience.
In the gospels, Jesus gave multitudes of warnings to everyone (to be heeded in future).
The epistle writers gave multitudes of warnings to the churches about losing salvation.
Jesus warned all 7 churches that they must be overcomers “as I also overcame”.