Wrong question, right answer by Alan Ballou.
The question isn’t if God loves me, since God is love, and He loved the whole world enough to give His Son, our Lord Jesus, to die in our place. So yes God loves me and you. The question is not if Jesus died for my sins, since Jesus died for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:1-2).
The question is if we can ignore God’s instructions in the New testament, our new agreement with the Lord, and still make it to Heaven? The answer is no! There is a way written in the Bible that we are to follow in order to stop sinning “after” being saved. Check the verses below before you speak against them.
1 Peter 4:1-5
1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles — when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. 5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. NKJV
2 Peter 1:10-11
10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. NKJV
Notice two things here. First of all, we can “cease from sin,” (verse 1 above), and “never stumble” (2 Peter 1:10 above). Number two, notice that afterwards we no longer live our lives according to the flesh (verses 2-3 above). We should all be learning this method (way, process) through learning our new agreement with the Lord. Why? Please allow me to answer that.
Check the verses below and ask yourself if you are living your life as if the following verses are a lie?
1 John 3:8-10
8 He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. 9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother. NIV
As you can see, Jesus didn’t die for us so that we could continue living like the world around us, but to destroy the devil’s work. The verses below should reveal that there is a way to stop sinning and a promise for those who do not take it.
Hebrews 10:26-31
26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” NKJV
No one can stop sinning without following the instructions written in the New Testament, and our first order of business is to stop conforming to the world around us (Romans 12:1-2). If you remain a friend of this world after accepting Jesus Christ as Lord, then surely you are headed in the wrong direction.
James 4:4-5
4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. NKJV
1 John 2:15-16
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. NKJV
Romans 8:5-8
5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. NKJV
2 Corinthians 6:14-7:2
14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
“I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” 17 Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” 18 ‘I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.” 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. NKJV
I’m not saying that you are not saved right now, but go back and read Ephesians chapter two and Romans chapter ten (the verses used to lead you into being saved) and see what is promised. You were saved into the Kingdom of Christ (Colossians 1:12-14), but in the end Christ will weed out of His Kingdom all who continue in lawlessness (continue in sin); sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:4).
Matthew 13:40-43
40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. NKJV
John 8:34-37
34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. 37 “I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. NKJV
So, you may have the right answers to all of your questions, but make sure that you are asking the right questions. Can we ignore God’s instructions in the New Testament and still make it to Heaven? I’ve written a book about it called “How To Stop Sinning.” I’m Alan Ballou; a servant.
