Resolved: Grace Requires that We Strive for Obedience.

""Here`s the rub. If I (speaking in the general sense and not of me personally) know that Christ loves me so much that he will save me as I sin, perhaps I won`t go out of my way to sin, but I will a lot more readily justify myself in its commission. I will think 'Jesus knows this very is hard for me. Good thing I`ll be saved, even if I indulge this one time'. Or else, 'I am doing a lot better than a lot of Christians, and they are going to be saved just like me. I don`t drink, I`m not violent, I`m not a thief like that guy on the cross with Jesus. This one little white lie surely won`t keep me from salvation.'"I actually agree with this point. I have a similar confession of faith."This is my entire problem with the doctrine of salvation by faith alone and so I close my argument. We are never justified in committing a sin. We will punished in some way for it. It may not be a sin unto death, we may recover afterwards, but unless we repent deeply and change, and continue "with patient continuance in well doing" to "seek eternal life" that sin will condemn us, our professions of faith notwithstanding. Our actions reflect our choices better than anything else. If we choose not to follow Christ even by holding back part of the offering (Acts 5), there will be no salvation. "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption" We will be enemies and rebels towards God just as the demons are unless we repent. Remember what Bonhoeffer taught about getting grace. "Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock.Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: "ye were bought at a price," and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God."I close with the words of the Savior of the world himself. Luke, chapter 13. "1. There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. 7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? 8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: 9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down."Jesus is that dresser of the vineyard. His grace puts off the reckoning and strengthens us, giving us time and power to bear fruit we would not otherwise have. But bear fruit we must, for"Now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire."