Religion vs Jesus

A savior. However, no one ever ask what are we drowning from? Living sinful with out being able to stop? Jesus Christ not only forgives us but empowers us to live lives of righteousness. So if your drowing in water a savior gets out out of water does he not? If your drowinging in sin the savior gets you out of sin. He doesn't just hold your hand so you can tread in the same water thats drowning you he pulls you out completely.

 

Your analogy calls for SINLESSNESS and the Bible does not teach that. Sin is not eradicated from our persons or from our lives (I Jn. 1:8-10). The very fact that sanctification is PROGRESSIVE demonstrates we are not saved from the presence or power of sin in this life. We are saved from the penalty and dominion of sin as it has no more legal rights over us. However, being saved from its power/influence is PROGRESSIVE and NEVER COMPLETE in this life.

Furthermore, justification by faith saves us from penalty and dominion of sin forever as we "shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death unto life" (Jn. 5:244) thus HAVING "eternal life" instead of "temporal" or "potential" life.

Thus progressive sanctification has some other design than to obtain eternal life or freedom from the penalty and dominion of sin as it accomplishes neither. God could have instantly saved us from the power of sin but He does not. Hence, immediate perfection is not his design.

Progressive sanctification is ultimately according to the eternal purpose of God for each of his elect (Eph. 2:10b - which God hath afore ordained that we should walk in). The rate and success of progression in sanctification is ultimately according to the MEASURE of grace and faith given each child of God (Rom. 12:3,6). We can see the measure of grace and faith distingished by comparing Abraham - the father of the faith - to his nephew Lot - the father of the backslidden.

There is very little if anything recorded about Lot, and there is much recorded, that would indicate he was saved. Indeed the last words of scripture we have about him was his drunken incest with his daughters. Anyone who believes that salvation is living above sin or at least living a life of manifest righteousness would have to conclude from the Old Testament record that he was an obviously lost man. However, Peter informs us that he was a saved man who did not go to hell as did those whom Peter contrast with Lot.

Now, am I justifying Christians who live like the devil and yet go to heaven? No! However, I am saying that from all outward appearance there are saints who can live like Lot and yet go to heaven because heaven is not determined by the rate or level of progressive sanctification but by the justification through faith in Christ.

Lot is an example of the MISERABLE saint who lost everything due to his sin. He is an example of the saint under the chastening hand of God. He lost his testimony before his own family. He lost the joy of his salvation. He lost rewards. He lost his usefulness for God. He lost the blessings for faithfulness but he did not lose his soul.

The difference between a saved and lost man is not sin. They both sin. The difference is Christ and the saved man cannot get away with sin and the saved man sins more than he wants to (Rom. 7:18-25).

There are saved people found all along the spectrum between Abraham and Lot. There are the Daniels but there are also the David's and Solomon's. There are the Paul's but there are also the like of "Demas" (2 Tim. 4:10) who forsook Paul and yet he is not so different from many saved persons as Paul continues in 2 Tim. 4:16 to say that "all men forsook him" in his hour of need including all the saved folk in Asia.

What are the essential characteristics of a saved person.

1. They know the truth of salvation and believe it and continue in that belief.
2. They have experienced a changed life in contrast to the former state
3. They are not sinless but want to sin less
4. Their life is often two steps forward and three steps back
5. They cannot get away with sin as do others
6. They can lose the joy and blessings of salvation but not salvation
7. They progress according to the measure of grace and faith God gives to each elect in keeping with His purpose for the use of their life for his good pleasure.