Living For Him (Ephesians 2 part 9).

     And He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.
                                              2 Corinthians 5:15 NASB

     For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
                                               Ephesians 2:10 NASB

     The apostle Paul urged the Corinthian Church to not receive the grace of God in vain (2 Cor 6:1). Salvation is not a get out of jail free card; it is not mere fire insurance for the day of judgment! Salvation is the restoration of a rebel to God! It involves giving up sin, and absolutely surrendering our lives to God to be lived for Him in obedience to His word!
     We are warned throughout scripture that those who persist in sin, who continue to live as they always have, even though they claim to be Christians, will not inherit the kingdom of God. We are warned, 

     For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience (Ephesians 5:5-6 NASB). 

     Understand what Paul is saying here. If your life has not changed, if you are not walking in obedience to Christ, if you are still committing the same sins you have always committed, you are not in a saving relationship with Christ! You are lost, still dead in sin! These are harsh words that do not agree with many people's idea of what salvation should look like, but these are God's words, not mine, and He says to us, "Do not be deceived with empty words!"
     We are called to give up living for ourselves, and to now live for Christ. To say you are a Christian, and yet live in sexual immorality, homosexuality, adultery, hatred and bitterness, alcohol and substance abuse, lying, theft, idolatry, covetousness, and so forth, is entirely incompatible with the new birth, and the life we are called to live as Christians. These are the very things which have alienated us from God, and yet many believe that since they have been forgiven, they can justify their actions and go on living in sin. This is entirely false, and this heresy has deceived countless souls. 
     We read in 1 John,

     Little children, let no one deceive you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. The one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
                                                      1 John 3:7-8 NASB

     Understand that the one who abides in Christ does not sin. Jesus came to take away sin, that is transform our lives (this is talking about our actions ). The test of our faith, and the reality of our salvation is based upon our lives and actions. Are we living for Jesus, obeying His commands, loving Him with all of our hearts, and our neighbor as ourselves, or are we living for the devil, in complete disobedience to the commands of Christ? Are we doing those selfish things that bring grief and sorrow to God, and hurt those around us? Do not let any man deceive you with an empty gospel that sounds good, quotes a bible verse or two, but in the end does not save you from the power of sin and totally transform your life!