I agree with you jeanie, God cannot allow the least sin/worldly attachment in us. Each human being will undergo their journey which is often riddled with thorns and pitfalls to help break worldy attachments/vanities and can cause us to grow and deepen our characters and cause us to consider what REALLY matters. Hopefully making us more Christlike. I believe that sufferings can indeed be beneficial.

I think "works" are evidence of ones conversion and faith. I think there is grave danger in the "faith alone shall save me" belief, when there are no fruits. Even the Devil believes!

Though most of us fall through daily temptations into sins, we are to get back up and ask forgiveness and try again with the grace of God to keep ourselves away from sin or near occassions of sin should we offend God. Those who fall into sin, but remain there or those who persist and LIVE in sin (e.g. fornication) are continually offending God and are in a sense living as hypocrites. Confessing God with their mouth, but showing little to no evidence in their actions. As though somehow God will turn a blind eye to "them" because they confess him with their mouth, therefore this excuses their actions (not so).

It seems the unbelievers might even fair better than the so-called Christians who know better, but live in a perpetual contradiction. Professing by mouth, yet persisting in a sinful lifestyle. Is it any wonder so many un-believers are so cynical when they see so-called Christians living as they do? where then is the evidence of our salvation and respect of God's commandments in our own lives? We want it both ways and often fool ourselves into believing that we can indeed have it this way and will often cherry pick scripture quotes that we like and avoiding others that make us uncomfortable. Christ's sacrifice on the cross is not something to be trifled with, or used as a free ticket as we continue on our way in sin. Recall that Jesus spoke very strongly about the sins that would condemn a person, and Christians are NO exceptions. It applies it us all. As if we could live as practical atheists and give lip service and still be saved? Playing games with God is not advisable.

Though it is not by OUR works that we are saved, but through Christ's sacrifice on the cross and our faith and acceptance of that sacrifice, the EVIDENCE of our conversion and love of God should be revealed in our actions/demeanor. We become in a sense a new person in Christ. Serving others, as Christ told us to do. Part of this is the repentence and avoidance of sinful practises, which is evidence of our obedience and love of God, not wishing to offend Him, should we also lose our soul. Should we fall, we have the means to get back up thanks to Christ's sacrifice that covers all of time. When one truly repents and sincerely seeks to change their life, one cannot help but find themselves drawn to do good and love others. Christ becomes increasingly present inside a person and they become increasingly aware of his presence. Sin tends to darken and blind a person.

But the word of the Lord says in the book of