Wishful Thinking or Biblical Warnings?

Let’s address a common misunderstanding based on wishful thinking, but first read these verses and absorb the meaning:

1 John 3:6: No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.

1 John 5:18: We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin…

Romans 6:1-2: What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?

1 John 2:4: Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.

1 John 1:6: If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.

Hebrews 10:26: Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins.

I often hear Christians say a loved one is saved because they prayed to receive Christ and were baptized even though they’re living an ungodly life. 

Instead of trying to convince ourselves this is true, we should be doing our best to warn such people that “the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.” 1 Corinthians 4:20 

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I also encourage you to read Why Salvation Always Leads to Good Works and Why Salvation Requires Repentance. 

 

Warning: A reader recently brought my attention to a ministry called Grace Evangelical Society that teaches the heresy that you can be a believer saved for eternity even if you never obey, never show sorrow for your sins, and never submit to the Lordship of Christ. When I was in seminary, I did a report for one of my theology classes on Zane Hodges. He taught this strange belief and is praised by GES ministries for his impact. I share this on a 1-minute video HERE.

If the passages above were not enough to convince you that genuine salvation always involves a changed life, please read on:

John 14:21: Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.

1 John 2:3: By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments.

John 15:10:  If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.

James 2:14-24: What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.