Can a professing musician not practice his instrument? Can a person who claims he is an athlete not train up to break his record? Similarly, can one claim he is a Christian not obey God? I believe motivation behind good works is not so much on meeting conditions and criteria, but rather correct understanding of the gospel.
We all come from different walks of life, and there are also variety of reasons why one decides to say the sinner's prayer. Some have experienced the love of God through the good news, some might have even been healed of sickness, or got convicted of a serious crime and decided to repent. I for one, got saved for the most shallow reason.... I was afraid I might go to hell...
:DSilly as I was, my very shallow reason also implied that firstly, I believe in Hell (that's one step forward), and secondly, believed that I deserve to go to hell, and I believe that Jesus Christ has died so that I can be saved. It was that Simple.
Was I justified at the point when I decided to give my life to Jesus? Well, my life was a far cry from living a life dedicated to Christ. Just like many evangelical Christians, I had my fair share of worries, worldly values and materialism. I served in church, but I never truly understood the gospel, but constantly seeking for spiritual experiences that gave me temporal spiritual highs. Eventually, I backslide, and subsequently went back to church listening to Joseph Prince.
Was I saved at that point? Well, I wish I can say a resounding yes. But for the fact that my heart was in and out of fellowship with God, I never truly understood the gospel, and I wished someone had taught me the right things from scripture...
I never understood until few years back when I decided to massively read the bible for myself. I understood what are the marks of a true Christian. Jesus also illustrated how one can profess to be a Christian and yet not living the life that he ought to be. I that's when I realized, I haven't really been a Christian all my life, until then.
That sets one to wonder, if I were to die some years ago, will I make it to heaven? A volcano can be filled with an ice cap and yet have lava flowing within. A lake can appear calm when there is a rushing underwater current beneath it. Hence can one be saved without having the evidence of good works and fruits of the spirit manifested? Do we need to be proven perfect before one is saved? Who are we trying to justify?
I guess I have quoted enough bible verses (especially from the book of 1 John) to tell that the only way we can be sure we are saved, is when we start to be serious about obeying his commandments and abstaining from Sin. But that does not mean that a believe MUST obey a set of rules or fully abstain from Sin IN ORDER to be saved. But rather, a true believer WILL turn from his worldly values, WANT to abstain from Sin (even though not perfectly) and DESIRE to study and spread the word of God.
One example would be the Thief who was crucified with the Lord. He understood his plight and acknowledged his need for a Savior. While this is NOT a prove that we are saved by mere confession, Jesus was sure that he will be with him in Paradise. That thief did not have the opportunity to prove his Salvation is genuine through good works. But based on the Apostle's doctrine and description of true believers, I am sure that if he wasn't executed, the thief will be a faithful believer in Christ and not a merely professing one.
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