[classyT]

I do believe that a TRUE Christian will do as Jesus and then bible say do.
That means that the person IS working his/her faith.
BUT a person who does as he/she darn well pleases regardless of what Jesus and the bible says is not working his/her faith so it is dead.
True it is that you can not work your way to heaven AND you can not get their with a claimed faith that is dead.
Peace and kindness,
Fred

Fred,

I agree. I have been disobedient before but I couldn't stay in that condition. It is really HARD for me to believe someone is saved when there is no change. We are a new creature in Christ... not because of what we DO but because of WHO lives in us. A true Christian will WANT to please the Lord.

[classyT]

Yes. There's a wonderful story that illustrates this whole idea. C. H. Spurgeon, one of the greatest British preachers of his day, met D. L. Moody, one of the greatest American preachers of his day. Spurgeon was a smoker (pipe, I believe, but don't hold me to it) and Moody had a pot belly like I do. The two hit it off nicely.

When he got back to America, Moody remarked that Spurgeon was an incredible man, but that he would have a better witness if he stopped smoking. Word of this comment got back to Spurgeon, and with his typical good humor (or should I say, humour?) he said, "I'll quit smoking when Moody quits eating."

Gotta love it.

LOL... that was the perfect response. It is funny how we "Christians" judge one another so harshly. I believe that is why the Lord Jesus said to get the log out of your own eye before you take a splinter out of your brothers eye.

[arcura]

classyT,
That is why I try not to judge anyone, but sometime I do judge what they do or have done for good or bad.
In that I can't seem to help myself.
As an example I do not judge a woman who has had an abortion for I do no0t know the circumstances, but because I am very much against abortions I do judge that as a very bad thing to do.
Peace and kindness,
Fred