You know, y'all Catholics seem to have this idea that someone can be genuinely saved and just continue on wantonly in sin without reserve.
There are several problems it demonstrates.
First is that y'all don't really understand the new birth, what a regenerated spirit is like.
Nobody who is born again would ever have that attitude. And for anyone who does have that attitude, that attitude would be a good indicator that that person wasn't really born again.
Also, every single person on the planet has some sin that they are themselves especially prone to commit. It's the sin that so easily besets us and it's different for each one of us. Some people struggle with pride, some with jealousy, some with lust, etc. It's their particular weakness and they sin continually and easily in that area.
Additionally, the believer, having the Spirit of God dwelling in then, is not a lone wolf. The Spirit is there, constantly present, being his conscience. Leading him to do what is right and convicting him of when he does wrong.
If you think that that person can sin wantonly, then I would guess you have no idea what having the Spirit dwelling in you is like. It's that voice that you CANNOT ignore.
God will NOT let you continue in sin. He will convict your conscience. He doesn't let you just go on your merry way, sinning without reserve without someone trying to bring that person back.
And if the conscience doesn't work, God brings discipline into the person's life to correct them and turn them back to a life of righteousness.
We are not abandoned by God to struggle alone on our own. He's there with us ever step, encouraging, nurturing, comforting, forgiving, picking us up again and again when we stumble and fall.
God WANTS to save us and works towards that end in our lives. It's not all up to us and we can't even come to Him without His Spirit drawing us.
Salvation is His work in our lives, beginning to end. If you think it's something you can do or it was your idea, you are wrong.
Psalm 106 is an OT-testament to the GOD who ACTS! Apart from works? Yeah, IN SPITE OF works! Bad works. Really bad works.
So what is the problem in accepting this is who God IS?
“...they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone. As it is written:
“See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall,
and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.”
—Romans 9
How can we read the words of Jesus and delude ourselves into thinking we can produce that kind of Life for God and THEN be accepted? Talk about upping the ante! He turned the Law up to ELEVEN and people STILL trip over Him!
We need to fall ON Him and be broken to pieces. How horrible to have Him fall on us and be crushed!
Very thorough and edifying.