also remember that we will still sin, even after becoming a Christian.... 1 John 1:8 (ESV) If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." here is something I heard once, that I think is very profound:
the gospel is for Christians tooI think this is profound because we Christians seem forget that salvation was by grace through faith, Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast." So even the ability to seek after God is, itself, a gift." ..... we did not do or could not ever do anything to make God beholden to us in such a way as to say that He owes us salvation..... and after we become Christians the fact that our salvation was by grace through faith, and this, not of ourselves, is
still just as true. its not as if once we are saved then our salvation is dependent upon our good works. The true Christian will always produce good works, of course. But these works are the result of, and the not the reason for, our salvation.The story in Mark makes me think of this story in Mark as well....Mark 9:23-24 (ESV) 23 And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” So the position you are in now is no different than the position any Christian is in, that is, if you are a Christian, which you seem to be, its one of grace and mercy. We believe, and we thank God for that ability to believe for we cannot and would not ever believe in Him unless it was granted to us. John 6:44 (ESV) No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. and John 6:65 (ESV) And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” " We persevere in the faith, and we thank God for that ability to persevere. Philippians 2:12-13 (ESV) 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure."to answer your specific questions, from my POV anyways...1) its too late only after you die; Hebrews 9:27 (ESV) And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,"but while you are still alive..... you still have today to repent, don't waste it, though it seems, you haven't wasted your chance....Hebrews 4:6-7 (ESV) 6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” 2) you sound just like Paul, and, I may add, that is not a bad thing....
Romans 7:14-23 (ESV) 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. 15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. "But..... But God.... God has saved you, giving you the ability to rise above your sin, Romans 7:23-25 (ESV) 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. for you are, if you are a Christian, a new creature.... now able to do what you once could not do....2 Corinthians 5:16-17 (ESV) 16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. Everybody struggles.... God made you, and God don't make no junk
...... the struggle is probably, itself, evidence of faith. A lack of concern about these matters, personal holiness etc, is evidence that you are not a new creation and not one of His. The persons whom history regards as "saints", people who have lived exemplary lives, those whom we would consider very close to God, would still, themselves, say that they feel their own sin greatly and are saddened by it, and at times feel far from God. That is why we must not do too much "naval gazing" and remember that salvation is an
objective fact, though of course it is impossible to not be somewhat introspective, but a Christian is saved due to Christ's perfect sacrifice on the cross, His life of perfect obedience, His intercession for the saints at God's right hand, His atonement and propitiation for our sins is complete, and we must not go on emotional roller coaster rides basing our salvation on how close or how far we happen feel to God at various times. This is something important to consider in matters of sanctification, but not justification. Justification is a one time, once and for all declaration of our innocence based on our being "in Christ", sanctification is an individual road we must walk, growing closer to God in our own ways based on our own unique personal circumstances. Justification and sanctification are not the same things, so while they must never be confused with one another, we realize that they are also never found separate from one another, where there is true justification, there is, as well, true sanctification.3) we need to examine ourselves, to be sure;2 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV) Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! but there is also a time when we ought to fully rest in Jesus Christ's completed work, and have a blessed assurance that we are in fact saved.....1 John 2:1-3 (ESV) 1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And by this
we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. As far as having to become a "Ned Flanders" goes, I don't watch the Simpson's, so I am not sure what you mean. blessings,ken