Sometimes what is perceived to be a non-answer is because the core of the answer gets stuck somewhere in the sheer preponderance of verbosity. I tend to skip over the lengthy explanations, diatribes, and/or ruminations because I get lost. But that's okay....

OK people, Y'all need to start leaving bread crumbs for Rudy so she doesn't get lost!

How does it work?

Through believing and accepting jesus right now I can have instant salvation.

What happens after that?

I sin and does that sinning change it all and takes away my salvation that was given as a gift? OR

What are the alternatives? I must come to Jesus after everyday of potentially doing wrong and he needs to give me that gift again?

How does it work practically?

Oh, the bread crumbs are there...it's just that they go in figure 8s and after following a few figure eights, one tends to be very dizzy....This convoluted bread crumb trail just ain'nt cutting it.....

Yes, most definitely. That is what the Bible teaches clearly in such verses as Acts 16: 31; Mark 16: 16; and 1 John 5: 11.

But remember that the Bible views salvation as something that begins in the present and will be completed in the future at the resurrection or Second Coming.



In the same way that you received Him, so you are to walk in Him. That means that you continue to accept Him as your Lord and Savior every day of the rest of your life.



No. See 1 John 1:9-2:2

(New International Version)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.



As long as the believer is in a faith-based, sincere and honest relationship with Christ, and he is repenting of and confessing his sins to God, he may be certain that God does not take the gift away.

1 John 5: 12

He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Romans 8: 1-14--

1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power[a] of the life-giving Spirit has freed you[b] from the power of sin that leads to death. 3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature.[c] So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.
5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. 7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. 8 That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.

9 But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) 10 And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life[d] because you have been made right with God. 11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.

12 Therefore, dear brothers and sisters,[e] you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. 13 For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature,[f] you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children[g] of God.

1 John 3: 1-10

1 SEE WHAT [[a]an incredible] quality of love the Father has given (shown, bestowed on) us, that we should [be permitted to] be named and called and counted the children of God! And so we are! The reason that the world does not know (recognize, acknowledge) us is that it does not know (recognize, acknowledge) Him.

2 Beloved, we are [even here and] now God's children; it is not yet disclosed (made clear) what we shall be [hereafter], but we know that when He comes and is manifested, we shall [as God's children] resemble and be like Him, for we shall see Him [c]just as He [really] is.

3 And everyone who has this hope [resting] on Him cleanses (purifies) himself just as He is pure (chaste, undefiled, guiltless).

4 Everyone who commits (practices) sin is guilty of lawlessness; for [that is what] sin is, lawlessness (the breaking, violating of God's law by transgression or neglect--being unrestrained and unregulated by His commands and His will).

5 You know that He appeared in visible form and became Man to take away [upon Himself] sins, and in Him there is no sin [[d]essentially and forever].

6 [b]No one who abides in Him [who lives and remains [e]in communion with and in obedience to Him--deliberately, knowingly, and [f]habitually] commits (practices) sin. No one who [habitually] sins has either seen or known Him [recognized, perceived, or understood Him, or has had an experiential acquaintance with Him].

7[g]Boys (lads), let no one deceive and lead you astray. He who practices righteousness [who is upright, conforming to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action, living a consistently conscientious life] is righteous, even as He is righteous.

8 [But] he who commits sin [who practices evildoing] is of the devil [takes his character from the evil one], for the devil has sinned (violated the divine law) from the beginning. The reason the Son of God was made manifest (visible) was to undo (destroy, loosen, and dissolve) the works the devil [has done].

9 No one born (begotten) of God [deliberately, knowingly, and [h]habitually] practices sin, for God's nature abides in him [His principle of life, the divine sperm, remains permanently within him]; and he cannot practice sinning because he is born (begotten) of God.

10 By this it is made clear who take their nature from God and are His children and who take their nature from the devil and are his children: no one who does not practice righteousness [who does not conform to God's will in purpose, thought, and action] is of God; neither is anyone who does not love his brother (his fellow [i]believer in Christ). Amplified Version.

There may be more than one way of experiencing deliverance. I believe one needs to give all of one's self to Jesus. However that means, at least to me, the warts I have along with the spritually sculpted areas of my life that the Holy Spirit has had greater success in preparing for the heavenly home. If it were not so, it would seem this counsel would be unnecessary.

"....looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith..." Hebrews 12:2 KJV

I happen to believe, re: faith, Jesus has successfully started and continued to add to the faith I have as I have made effort to continue close to the Word. OTOH, there is no way I'm satisfied the faith given me is complete. Praise God, when giving one's life to God, "...(He) is able to make all grace abound toward (us) you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:" 2 Corinthians 9:8 KJV Parenthesis mine LHC

"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" Philippians 1:6 KJV
Regards!

Excellent point. It's only by giving him all areas of our life that He's able to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We shouldn't think we can possibly give him a part of ourselves that He's not already fully aware of. In fact, I'm convinced that it's the the warts that he especially wants from us.

May I suggest there is no sin, small or large, one can rid by striving, whether in earnest or not. If Jesus did nothing of Himself, why would we believe we can master ourselves in the battle with the enemy.

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:12 KJV

"Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner." John 5:19 NASB
Regards!