Kat,

I really appreciate your letter!

It was done gently and respectfully.

As you probably already know, I've believed in eternal security since I believed the gospel.

Apparently I've been spared from being under teachers or preachers doing what you described.

You probably already know this too, but early church teachers, like Irenaeus, believed that the Nicolaitans taught what you described.

They turned the grace of our God into lasciviousness: 

Jude 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

It says that they were ungodly men, ordained to this condemnation, so chances are they were not saved, but rather wolves in sheep's clothing.

I've noticed that people who believe in eternal security, but not the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, believe that they have a responsibility to live holy and to please Jesus.

They often are convicted by the Spirit, of sin, as soon as it happens, and quickly confess it, repent, and ask for forgiveness.

This, I've also noticed, is quite similar to the approach taken by those who believe like you do.

In both cases, we are just as unable to keep the law on our own, as we were before we were saved.

It is just now, we have the ability, if we so desire, to humble ourselves, and submit to the Holy Ghost, and let him lead us.

Since the law is really a reflection of the perfect nature of the LORD, he can only do that which he inspired to be written down.

It would be against his nature to be outside the law, so, by his nature, that is all he can do.

Which is the same thing as when Jesus lived on earth in the flesh, since he his fully God and fully man, he could only do what is his nature.

It was impossible for Jesus to sin, because the law reflects his perfect nature, that is all he could do, and thus went about doing good.

So, now that we are saved, if we submit to his Spirit, he will only lead us to do good.

But if we go it on our own, we will sin, even if we are trying to do right:

Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Who of us wants to think that our righteousnesses are as filthy rags? But, unless we do things by the Spirit, that's what they are.

Because our motives are not even pure, there is still, in our flesh, a desire for self justification, self righteousness, for a little boasting, for a little glory for ourselves.

But the other way:

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

In this sense, I think that we are very much alike.

.