While I am in no way saying that obedience or works can achieve salvation; I am most definitely saying that there will be obedience and works out of salvation.
James 2:17 says: Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
Dead faith cannot save!
Living faith on the other hand is not dormant. It will not fail to produce good works and obedience to Christ.

The flip side of obedience is disobedience.

John 3:36 says: "...but he (you) who does not obey the Son (Jesus) shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. (you)."

2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 says: ...when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels and flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. And these (you) will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.

The question you are presented with here is: Are you obedient or disobedient to Jesus and His teachings?

The apostle John tells us how we can know if we have come to know Jesus as our Lord and Savior.   1 John 2:3-4 tells us: "By this we (you) know that we (you) have come to know Him (Jesus), if we (you) keep His commandments.  The one (you) who says, "I (you) have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him (you)"

Jesus put it this way. In Matthew 12:30, Jesus says: "He who is not with Me is against Me;...".

Jesus said either you are:
A) with Me (obedient to Christ and His teachings)
         or
B) against Me (indifferent/disobedient to Christ and His Teachings)

Jesus offered not even the slightest hint of a third option.  (there is not an option C)

Yet, Satan is always there, whispering in your ear that there is another option. He (Satan) may be whispering that very thing to you right now. He (Satan) will never pin you down. He (Satan) will always give you an "out". He (Satan) will give you every other option: C, D, E, F etc. A smokescreen of options designed to keep you from being confronted with option A or B, to keep you from the truth. The truth of whether you are:
A) for Jesus or B) against Jesus.

The Gospel is clear, yet Satan will grab your ear and say, Did God really say that?
(Genesis 3:1)  Is that what He (Jesus) really meant?   Satan will tell you that you are a good person, that you may not be living for Jesus as you should, but you are a long way
from living for him (Satan).  Satan wants you to believe that you can be saved and live for yourself.  He (Satan) does not want you to be confronted with the fact, that to live for yourself is to live for him (Satan).  Satan will tell you that you have the best of intentions, don't worry about it, you are just somewhere in the middle.

But Jesus said, you are For Me or Against Me.

Middle ground is Satan's illusion (deception) and many have fallen prey to it.  In this same verse, (Matthew 12:30) Jesus goes on further to say, you are either gathering with me or scattering abroad.   Jesus does not even give the slightest hint of a third option. 

Yet again, Satan is always there, bending your ear, telling you that all is well.
But scripture is clear that we are either A) for Jesus (gathering) or B) against Jesus (scattering).   Which is it for you - "A" or "B"?  (there is no option "C")
The answer to this question is the difference between true conversion and false conversion: Heaven or Hell: saved or lost.

In Luke 9:20 we find Jesus asking the disciples who He (Jesus) is to them. And that is a question we must all honestly ask ourselves.     Who is Jesus to Me?

The answer to this question will not only be reflected in your values and your lifestyle, but will also determine where you would spend eternity if you were to die this very moment.

If your answer to this question is that Jesus is simply your Savior and that is all - -
You are lost.  Jesus does not save the life He cannot rule.  You see, to be in the Kingdom (Heaven), one must be submitted and surrendered to the King (Jesus).

If Jesus is not your Lord, you will find that He is not your Savior.
To you, He is only a judge that you will stand before one day at the Great White Throne of Judgment.

If Jesus is your Lord, you will find that you are living for Him. If you are not living for Him, you have no reason to believe that He is your Lord or that you are saved.

Not to say that Christians sometimes do not stumble or fall into disobedience, but as a rule they characteristically live a life of obedience submitted to the authority of Lord Jesus.

Again what do your actions reveal?  That you are for or against Jesus.  Are you gathering for Jesus or scattering abroad?
What is your testimony?
    A) A changed life - a new creation-(2 Corinthians 5:17)
                     living for Jesus/gathering for Jesus
                   or
    B) like a dog returning to his vomit- (2 Peter 2:22)
                     made a profession of faith / still living for self,
                    living a lifestyle that goes against Jesus,
                     indifferent to His teachings /scattering abroad.         
       
In Matthew 7:13,14 Jesus warns us that there are two paths (ways) and that we are all on one or the other of the two paths. (there is no third path)

One path leads to Heaven and the other path leads to hell.   

Jesus said, "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.  Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

Are you among the many who will enter through the wide gate or can you honestly say without reservation that you will be among the few who will enter through the small gate?
Where you will spend eternity if you were to die this very moment is revealed in your answer.
A.) the wide gate (hell)
  false converts, playing at religion along with the world
                             or
B.) the small gate (Heaven)
Blood bought, surrendered, obedient, and committed to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
In light of what you have read, is it possible that you are a product of the Modern Day Gospel?  A false convert - someone who has had a religious experience, yet has not been born again.
Proverbs 14:12 & 16:25 says:
There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

Could you be the one who is on the way that seems right, but its end is the way of death? 

In 2 Corinthians we are encouraged to examine ourselves.
2 Corinthians 13:5 says:
Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you - unless indeed you fail the test?

I know that no one likes tests and self-examination is often times unpleasant, but it is necessary because there is nothing more important that the state of your soul.  You may say that you have done this before and there is no need to do it again, but if you are wrong and you pass from this life, there is nothing God will have to offer you except judgment and the words - "Depart from Me, you who are cursed into eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels."    (Matthew 25:41)


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