Really? Is that something you made up or is it another Royism? Regardless, tedw, NO Christian here says that they can be saved and keep on sinning and still go to heaven. What we HAVE been saying, and which the Bible attests to, is that we are saved by God's grace through faith and that not ourselves, not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8,9). We have been saved "unto good works which God has prepared for us to walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10) What this means is that we aren't going to heaven because we have earned or merited it but by God's mercy and grace which is UNdeserved and UNmerited. A child of God is given a new, spirit nature, that is no longer a slave to sin but has, through the power of God, the ability to live for God in holiness that pleases Him. This does not mean we NEVER sin, that is a false construct, but that we will not be inclined to the old nature's rebellion from God and continue sinning as if there had been no spiritual change within. When we DO sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, who is our mediator and we can confess our sins and He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9).
There is a HUGE difference between being saved by grace apart from our works and our works being a testament to the faith that is within us. The "just shall live by faith", Scripture says. Our works, our manner of life, demonstrates our faith. So, no genuine Christian would take the gift of eternal life and then live like the devil - it is NOT part of the spiritual DNA. And anyone who says that we MUST do good deeds, works, refrain from all sin, in order to BE saved, is preaching an accursed gospel according to the Apostle Paul. Salvation is by grace through faith alone. You can't earn it no matter how sinless you try to be.
“When we DO sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, who is our mediator and we can confess our sins and He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9).”
I see, so that is somehow different than my affirmative action salvation? ( And yes, it is my own term).. No, if you are honest, you guys have fought me all the way about my idea of being free from sin as I have shown you is even all over the new testament once we are saved. You are proposing that we can still sin and go to heaven! I did, however state that once we are really on the path to salvation and if our life were cut short, there still would be a home in heaven for us. But once the born again experience is done, there is no more possibility of sinning because we are sealed into God’s army at that point.
And of course not sinning is an not effort of our own. It is a blessing just as they were blessed at the Pentecost. But you keep on denying the very power of what Jesus did! You seem to be compulsive in that, like you will not let it go.