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By: Michael Tao
"Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." - Ephesians 4:25-30
Paul encouraged the Ephesian Church to do good, not to grieve the Holy Spirit, and by the Holy Spirit we are sealed into the day of redemption. Paul did not say the Holy Spirit would be grieved to the extent that he leaves the believers. Paul even said the Holy Spirit has sealed us into the day of Christ's return - the practical time of redemption. We are now the joint-heirs with Christ, and in that day, we are glorified with Christ together (Romans 8:17).
Ephesians 5:3-5 says, "But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man,who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God."
These people cannot enter the kingdom of Christ, regardless whether they have professed Christ or not - is because true believers do not harbor sin, and Godly living is a sign of true believers. This is not a teaching of loss of salvation.
James 2: 17 says," Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone", and verse 24 says,"Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only".
When one's faith is dead, then it becomes unacceptable to God, and cannot save him. Work and faith go hand in hand, our work is the only testimony that our faith is true. It is not that sin makes one lose his salvation, but one's harboring sin, testifies that he has never been saved.
