I continuously see comments that are geared against those who support the holiness preaching.  They even go as far as saying that we are using a "works based salvation".  I don't think any one on this site is advocating salvation is brought by works, or even maintained by it.  What we are saying is that the condition of the heart and actions of the mind and body go hand-in-hand with ones declaration of salvation.  Like when Paul stated in Romans 2:22, "You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?"  Clearly, he is showing people their hypocrisy.   
 
I was once a part of a denomination that just took a prayer of salvation twenty years ago as evidence that a departed person  was now resting in Jesus with no evidence of faith in their life. Some of these people were living in adulterous situations, unforgiving, slandering, etc.  How fast we forget 1 Corinthians 6:10 "Nor thieves, nor avaricious people, nor any who are addicted to hard drinking, to abusive language or to greed of gain, will inherit God's Kingdom.
 
Many then will ask the question, who would be saved then?  We all sin and fall short.  I would answer to you with how Jesus responded to the disciples regarding being rich and entering the kingdom of heaven, "By man it is impossible, but with God nothing is impossible".  I do NOT agree with the teaching that we have to sin everyday, that we just can't help ourselves and sin is simply automatic.  Uhm...last time I checked, Yeshua completely resurrected us into a brand new life!  This means we are no longer slaves to sin, that each and every time we are confronted with temptation, or a bad thought, or desire to rebel in any way against the Holy One, we can reject it and flee from it that very moment.  Do NOT believe in the lie that we will sin everyday.  Is the likelihood that we will?  Yes, but that is not a result of a law of God, but rather the weakness of the flesh and lack of trust.
 
A good case in point to what I'm referring to would be Whitney Houston.  Now I do not know where Ms. Houston ended up, nor do I desire to force the issue, but if she expired the way we think she did I would say that she definitely left much question regarding her salvation.  Why?  Refer back to the two verses I quoted above.  Some of you might then jear at me and say "judge not" or "God knows the heart" or even make a  reference to all of the supposed influential christians who spoke at her funeral and  placed her in heaven due to her declaration of faith.  Folks, simply saying I'm a christian and singing a few gospel songs once in a while do not make me a christian any more than a motor in my garage deems  itself a car.  Yes, I'll admit that I loved that woman's voice.  I personally think she was quite possibly one of the top three best vocalists of the 20th and 21st century.   However, that means absolutely zero in regards to one's faith.  Is Whitney Houston in heaven?  I do not know, but if she died from a drug overdose that tells me that she was in bondage to sin.
 
Believers in Jesus Christ, repent.  Completely trust in the Lord and do what he says.  Remember what Yeshua said in John 14:15, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments."   Don't fool yourself in your own heart and think that you can confess Christ and do anything you want to the contrary.  Remember that verse that states, " Do you not also know that if we say we love God and yet hate our brother we are LIARS."  Let us not be liars.  Let us not regard the wonderful act of Grace performed 2000 years ago as some light event   Let us live our faith through the obedience that our Savior demands
 
In Yeshua's love,
 
Josh List