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(And there have been times in my life, after salvation, when I've practically loved sin, and times I've committed sin practically without concern too! I'm not bragging, I'm stating a fact. Saved people have two natures, and the old nature still likes sin even after salvation!)

I've known saved smokers. And saved dancers. And saved people who watch TV and go to movies. And saved people who look at girls in bikinis. Or committed adultery, or fornication. David took a man's wife and had her husband killed. Calvin had a man burned at the stake.

Here is some more "ignorant" writing for you to criticize:

John 5:28&29 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

Rev. 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Gal. 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Eph. 5:1-6 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

1 Cor. 6:9&10 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

Matthew 12:34-37 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Eze 13:22 Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life.

Hank

Here is some more "ignorant" writing for you to criticize:

Comment on, maybe. Criticize? Never! "Ignorant" writing? Of course not!

Obviously Jesus is speaking of either (1.) a resurrection of people who died in an economy of works and not salvation by grace through faith, or (2.) the definition of "have done evil" in the context is NOT BELIEVING on the Son of God. See John chapter 3.

The context is the Great White Throne Judgment, which is the judgment of UNBELIEVERS. That has nothing to do with sinners saved through faith in Jesus Christ, upon whom "the second death hath no power" (Revelation 20:6).

No believer saved in this age is a "LIAR" even when he lies! It is not imputed to him (Romans 4: 7-8). If it was, everybody saved in this age -- everybody -- will end up in that lake.

But we won't end up there, thank God. For we have the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and by the "circumcision made without hands" (Colossians 2:11) we are separated from the old body of sins, the flesh, and the sins it (the old nature) commits are not imputed to us. Though indulging the old nature can cost "INHERITANCE", it cannot cost us our salvation.

Gal. 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Read the context. Paul is admonishing saved believers to not act like those who are going to hell for such things. (Which brings up an obvious point -- why admonish the believers to not do them if, as a condition or prerequisite of salvation, they had already stopped doing them?) The epistles to the Corinthians contain the same sort of thing -- Paul encouraging them not to do the things that unbelievers -- who are yet in their sins -- have the wrath of God still on their heads for!

Eph. 5:1-6 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

The children of light, in contrast, covered by the blood, are passed from wrath unto light, into the love and acceptance of God through Jesus Christ. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from ALL sin (1 John 1:7).

And notice what Paul is talking about -- INHERITANCE. Not whether or not one is saved, or loved, or in the family of God. He's not talking about a condition or prerequisite of salvation. He's talking about reward when you get to heaven, not whether or not a saved believer will get there.

Remember that Paul is writing to the SAVED. He is stating that, by contrast, the UNBELIEVERS (unrighteous because they have not the righteousness of CHRIST imputed to them) will not inherit the kingdom of God. We KNOW that "all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6) and so cannot save us -- even if we observed and kept ALL THE LAW PERFECTLY.

Paul goes on to say in verse 12 that, yes, indeed, he agrees that "all things are lawful" to the believer -- you (the born again believer) won't lose your salvation of get damned for anything, but, he says, that "all things are not expedient"! He is encouraging them to behave and live in the manner of the person whom God through Christ has made them in Him -- a member of Christ, the temple of the Holy Ghost, washed, sanctified and justified by and through him!

And he wouldn't be exhorting them in the first place if these saved believers were doing it! They weren't. They were still sinning! Obviously "NOT sinning" was not a condition of their salvation.

You do know there are at least two judgments? Three, if you count the Judgment of the Nations. The first will be the Judgment Seat of Christ, the judgment of believers saved in this age. It will be a judgment to determine INHERITANCE - reward - not whether a person will go into heaven or not. Because that's already settled and sure for the believer in Christ who is saved by grace through faith in Him.

In the passage you cite Jesus is speaking of a judgment where men will be judged on their WORKS. And at this judgment men will be CONDEMNED -- by their very words.

This is the judgment that every unbeliever believes in and is working toward. It is the Great White Throne Judgment of Revelation 20.

Eze 13:22 Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life.

What a remarkable verse to choose to close with! Here is a picture of people strengthened to not return from their wicked way -- UNBELIEF -- because they've been promised LIFE. They believe (have been "promised") they can do enough "good works" (or just "care" enough or have enough "good intentions") to "cover" all the bad, and that they'll make it through the Great White Throne Judgment.

But what does Jesus say? Jesus says, "Ye must be born again."

And it's so simple. "For God so loved the world" that He made it simple. All it takes is to ask!

John 1:12 "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:"

Luke 11:10 "For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."

It is that simple. And that wonderful.