Doug,

Thank you for making your point clearly.

The LORD does not want Christians to sin, he desires for us to be holy.

Being born lost, as a result of Adam's sin, and dead in our own trespasses, and even our righteousness as filthy rags,

there was only one way of salvation.

The LORD himself had to die in our place, to wash away our sins in his own blood, and then rise from the dead.

Only by God's grace, through faith, believing in the LORD's crucifixion death, burial, and resurrection, can one be saved.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

   9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Salvation by grace through faith, not of works.

However, the teaching of salvation by works, is contrary to the scriptures, and is what the scribes and Pharisees seemed to follow.

The catholic church, in which I spent a fair portion of my life, only taught me about a salvation by works.

Thank God, that with an honest reading of the scriptures, one can see that is false,

and turn to believing the gospel, by grace through faith, and be saved.

So, a "salvation by grace" but "lost by works", is still in the long run, a "salvation by works".

i.e. in that case, looking backwards from eternity, that one did not make it to heaven, because of works,

either works of commission (trespasses) or works of omission (failing to maintain).

In other words, for "salvation by works", one does not make it to heaven because of works or lack thereof.

Similarly, for "salvation by grace" but "lost by works", one would still not make it to heaven because of works or lack thereof.

A salvation gotten, or lost, by works, is not a salvation by grace.

Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

I've known a number of people, who at various times, were convinced that they had blasphemed the Holy Ghost.

However, they had no scriptural reason as to why what they did was indeed the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. 

However Jesus explained exactly what that was:

Mark 3:22 And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.

  28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:

  29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:

  30 Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.

The only time it was ever said to have happened, was when they accused Jesus to his face, that he had an unclean spirit, while he was on earth.

In a similar way, people haven't taken the mark of the beast in type, allegory, or metaphor, that mark is only during the tribulation.

However, there is a way for people today to ensure that they will go to hell.

That would be to not believe on the LORD Jesus.

John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

  36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

We all deserve to burn in the lake of fire, but only the grace and mercy of the LORD can keep us from there.

He is our Savior, not our "initial" Savior, with us being our own saviors after that.