Unless we are walking in the Spirit, I believe we default into the works of the flesh.
That would be possible, which is why Paul commanded to not quench the Spirit. Break that commandment, and you may not inherit the Kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21.
I see the flesh as always operative, but so long as we are walking in the Spirit, then the flesh has no outlet for it's misdeeds.
As some say, it depends on the one you feed. I know some on the forums believe the carnal nature takes precedence and we are only sometimes in the Spirit. I believe in always being in the Spirit, and rarely for only the shortest period of time being in the flesh. Resist the devil and he will flee.
I try to avoid saying works, as that's a buzzword for justification by works. I say, performance, in the lines of "work out your salvation with fear and trembling". We know this does not mean to work for your salvation, rather, "perform the work of your salvation, that is, do in your life what God is doing in you.
I think we agree. Whatever good you do in the flesh is works. Whatever good you do in the Spirit is His works through you.
Failure to do this leaves us immature, lacking in fruit and reward, but still redeemed, and still born again, if in fact we were born again.
What I believe has become a dangerous doctrine is OSAS. Also
when are we "saved;" at the beginning or at the end? There are some translations that use what I think is the better phrase of "being saved." I can still remember going to church for 30 years and not being reborn. That is a long time of being one breath away from hell! Not everyone in church has the indwelling Holy Spirit leading them, and they are the ones who believe that the blood of Jesus covers them with an invisibility cloak that God can't see the sins they keep committing underneath. There is one guy on this site who believes this and says, "I don't sin; my flesh does, but I don't."
I believe you have to grow. If you don't bear fruit, Jesus may lop you off completely, rather than just being pruned. John 15.
We may have faith, but have not added virtue, and knowledge, et al. But we still have faith. I know, it's a poor way to live. So I try to do what I can to encourage others to trust that God really can make your deepest wish true, to be holy as He is holy.
Let's see what Peter says.
8 For if these things are yours and abound,
you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to
make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
I think Peter may disagree. So does James on faith alone. "O foolish man, that faith without works is dead. What I consider personal works is growing and maturing in the Spirit and the divine nature. At the end, we must be righteous or holy to enter heaven. Revelation 22:11
So I see this as a matter of two people, both with salvation, reborn, one who performs the work of their salvation as is rewarded accordingly, one who does not, and is saved, but as through fire.
The second one is based on 1 Corinthians 3 about ministries burning up, and they are saved as through fire. I see that as someone that is only teaching peripheral false doctrines, but the core issues regarding Christ and Him crucified are intact. Many take that verse out of context. It is about ministry, not personal holiness.
