WELL put, brother Rick!  I couldn’t have said it better myself!

For those of you who haven’t already heard my story, I was adopted to a family member (Mama is actually my 3rd cousin, 2nd cousin to my biological Dad) and her husband (my precious Daddy) when I was 2 weeks old.  I don’t ever remember NOT believing in the Lord, because I’d always been taught about Him before I was even old enough to understand.  I was raised in a Southern Baptist church, and was Baptized there when I was 12 years old, though in my heart I had been born again LONG before that age.  However, I strayed in my lifestyle until I was 50 years old, when I rededicated my life to Him, this time for GOOD!  But even at my worst, I talked to Him all the time, I exhibited fruits of the Spirit, but I was under the influence of rum, cigarettes, etc.  Throughout all those times, He was there for me, and would pick me up, shake me off, and set me back upright.  He NEVER once considered leaving me to my own devices.  As you said, He doesn’t rate sin… to Him, a sin is a sin.  But there are, however, different consequences for the sins we commit.  For instance, if you look at that bikini clad woman you mentioned, Rick, it is no worse sin that actually having sex with her… but the consequences of the two sins would be vastly different!  And if you asked forgiveness for either, they would be forgiven.  However, the consequences of sex with the woman could be that you would contract a STD, mess up your marriage, mess up HER marriage, etc., whereas looking at her and going on about your business isn’t likely to carry the same problems.  For those of you who haven’t yet read mine and Richard’s testimonies, they can be found here:

http://his-forever.com/miracles_and_testimonies.htm

As for OSAS, to me, Romans 10:9 says it all.  Notice there are NO stipulations there; He tells you what to do to be saved very clearly, and tells us also that once the Father has given us to Him, no one can pluck us out of His hands… praise be to Him!  Had I died before I was 50, I would still have eternal life, but my rewards wouldn’t have been very good, my walk with Him incomplete, and I would have been ashamed as I stood before His throne.

Love from your sister in Yahshua!

www.his-forever.com