Godless, Sinner or Saved?

In spite of the many different ideologies about religion and who is right, when I read the Bible I see what God has indicated in The Word.

As a people—we fall into one of three categories.  We are either Godless –having no relationship with God; Sinner—thinking we have a relationship with God, but still practicing sin; or saved—having surrendered our lives in total submission to the will of God in relationship with Him.

These are the conclusions I have drawn from all that is said in the Bible.

• ·       God created man to be in relationship with Him and we failed— and some were Godless for a season

• ·       Man trying to live without God is pointless and hazardous for our health.

• ·       God came to earth in the person of Jesus to restore/reconcile our relationship with God—saving us from ourselves.

• ·       Religious people—practice a form of religion, but have not come to the truth about how God wants us to live and treat others.

• ·       If we are saved, we should not practice sin and if we think practicing sin is okay with God; then we are religious, but have no right relationship with Him because we do not understand Him, will not listen to Him, and are not open to His correction.

• ·      People in right relationship with God, do not practice sin, but know they have an advocate if they fall short; are quick to repent and repair the breach in the relationship, and live according to God’s Word, not man’s word.

• ·       People in right relationship with God receive correction and know how to love all.

• ·       People in religions know how to recite The Word, but do not live according to it.

My conclusions are not based on any assumptions or personal opinions, but on The Word that arises in me, when I am tempted to sin.  James tells us that when we are tempted, we are drawn away from God by our own desires—the things we want to do because they feel good, but we should not do. God does not tempt us.  He has no need to do so since He knows exactly what we will do and when we will do it. He knows which of us are Godless, Sinner or Saved and we cannot hide who we are from Him.

I do not profess perfection, but I profess to love God so much that I only want to please Him. And when I am about to do something that would not please Him, I hear the Holy Spirit, gently remind me that there are things I cannot do because of who I am and to whom I belong. My love for Him settles it.