Hello Yohanan. The defiled are those who do those works mentioned by Jesus, whether professing His name or not. Defiled Christians are not saved. Salvation is a living reality in a believer's life, not a mere concept. And yes, if a real believer falls into sin, he/she can repent and come back to God. But, if that person remains in his/her known sin(s), continuing to commit them, then that person is lost and will go to hell if he/she dies in that sin(s). I stand with Jesus and His Word :bible on this issue. The works of the flesh are what defiles anyone, Christian or not. So, consistent prayer, fastings and dining on the Word are vital spiritual exercises for those who will inherit eternal life with the Lord Jesus. The road is indeed narrow. Jude [20] But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, [21] Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. (KJV) Hello Paul. Yes, our focus is to be on Jesus and His precious sacrifice on the Cross. And in doing so, we realize that our sin put Jesus on that cruel Cross. Shall we continue to do those things that God condemns? You mentioned Romans 8, a Chapter that teaches us to walk in the Spirit, not in the works of the flesh that defiles us. Romans 8 [1] There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. [13] For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. (KJV) In addition to those sins mentioned above by Jesus that defiles us, here is the Apostle Paul teaching the same things to the Church. Galatians 5 [17] For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. [18] But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. [19] Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, [20] Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, [21] 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. Stephen — not that we should sin and the Holy Spirit guides us through our life —- but 1 John 2:1 “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” — is a clear indication that the Father knew we might fall down just like a toddler learning to walk and His grace continues to cover us 100% of the time. AS we pick up our unsteady toddler, the Father’s Love is steadfast, immovable, always abounding …. One of my favorite memory verses is Lamentations 3:22-23 “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Or another favorite 1 John 3:2 “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” We are His children — when my children disobeyed (sinned against my rules), I disciplined them in love and helped them to learn to do better and follow the rules — that is a very elementary concept but it is parallel to our learning and growing in God’s truth… He is long suffering toward us and that is not only for salvation…. Stephen said “Hello Geri9. The message is from the Word of God for all of us, including myself. We cannot knowingly walk in the works of the flesh and use Jesus as our defense. If we truly have Jesus, we no longer willfully walk in the works of the flesh that defile us. You are mistaken in your understanding of 1 Corinthians 6, as though one is justified in the name of the Lord Jesus even though he/she commits the same sins as those who God will judge. No, Jesus’ blood does not cover willful acts of sin. That’s why Jesus admonishes the Church to walk in holiness and righteousness in Revelation. “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” Stephen - The Apostle Paul was the greatest of the Apostles and yet he declared that, of all sinners, “I am the worst” “the chief of sinners”. I Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” The Apostle Paul struggled with sin … For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me” (Romans 7:18-20). Paul’s struggle with sin was real; so much so that he cried out, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?” (Romans 7:24). I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. And guess what … the Apostle Paul was caught up to the 3rd heaven in (2 Corinthians 12:2–4). He mentions himself in the third person: “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows—was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.” Stephen, are you saying you have no sin in your life? Cause God’s Word says you can’t live the perfect life down here in this mortal sinful body. You are going to commit the same sins over and over and over again daily. I John 1 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. Stephen the verse you quoted … “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” The unjust and filthy are those who never ever repented of their sins and ask Jesus to be their personal Lord and Savior. The righteous and holy are those who have repented of their sins and have Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. Jesus’ blood has washed away our sins. God sees born again believers justified (just as if they have never sinned). And once saved always saved. We can not lose our salvation and be unborn again. Romans 8:31 - 39 If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
