I had a couple conversations recently that led me to thinking,
"Do I have a reason for what I believe about salvation and faith?"

One conversation was about people doubting their salvation.
I used to have trouble with that.

Another discussion was concerning claims to 'faith' other than the faith
actually expressed by lifestyle. This is the topic I'm going to mull over first... one's expression of faith.

Obviously, there are many false beliefs, religions, etc.
But what makes one 'faith' false and another true?
What makes a person a Christian?

--------

There's an awful lot of variety among people claiming Christianity.

Don't get me wrong, I think variety is beautiful.
But I'm talking about self-defined morality or lack of morality in the lives of those claiming the Name.
That's messed up.

Morality is, according to dictionary.com, "conformity to rules of right conduct".

What is right?
Again, from dictionary.com,
'right' is that which is "in accordance with what is good."

I know. I know.
Morality is not necessarily a proof of faith in Christ. It may be evidence of faith in good works.
But neither can a profession of faith be a automatic claim to morality, as some seem to propose. Claiming justification after one's profession of faith, while still living to please oneself, is deception.

But, rather than argue about what salvation is or when one has salvation, I think I would like to start by making a connection between Christianity and true morality.
Because, from all appearances, Christians today either don't care about the connection between Jesus' life example and the word of God or they don't understand how to define 'right' versus wrong or else they don't understand the importance of 'right'ness (true morality, i.e. righteousness) in the life of a true Christian.

For some, morality, doing good, is equivalent to salvation. 
For others, it is a product of salvation.
For still others, moral good is a non issue, as far as salvation goes, and varied according to a person's convictions.

"No one is good except God alone." (Mark 10:18)

If THAT is true, and IT IS, then morality ought to be defined by God,
THE only constant in life,
THE Creator Himself.

"God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a human being, that he should change his mind...." (Numbers 23:19)
"...There is no variation or the slightest hint of change." (James 1:17)

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever!" (Hebrews 13:8-9)
"...leaving AN EXAMPLE for you to follow in his steps." (1 Peter 2:21)

I googled 'Christianity'.

'Christianity' is from the Ancient Greek word Χριστός, Christos,
a translation of the Hebrew מָשִׁיחַ, Māšîăḥ, meaning "the anointed one", together with the Latin suffixes -ian and -itas.
It is an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion BASED ON THE LIFE AND ORAL TEACHINGS OF JESUS of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament.

Christianity IS 'following Christ'
With a definition this specific, how can Christianity have espouse opposing morals within it's own ranks?

Recap:
Morality is conformity to what is right.
Right is conformity to what is good.
ONLY God is good.
Therefore, good is whatever God deems right.
"He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?"
(Micah 6:8 NASB)

Christ was good and set a perfect and timeless example of true morality.
Following Christ's example IS morality.

WWJD is truly more than it became.
'What would Jesus do?' IS the right question for anyone who claims Christianity as his or her religion.

But here's where rationalizing and human logic and judgementalism come into play.
Why do people say, "Don't judge me?"
Should a Christian ever say that?
Should a Christian judge?

On one side, there are 'Christians' making legalistic interpretations of God's laws and holding others to their interpretations.
On the other hand, there are 'Christians' doing only what seems right to them and saying,
'Don't judge me.'

Both extremes can quote scripture.
But this really isn't surprising since both Jesus and the Devil did that when disputing with each other.
(Matthew 4:1-11)

SO...
I believe __________ is moral, but ________ is not!
The living out of this is an expression of that individual's faith.
Faith is a belief in anything, as a code of ethics, standards of merit, etc.
We live according to what we believe.
What we say generally reflects what we want to believe, our idea of ideal, but not necessarily what we are convinced or persuaded by.

I like how the King James version reads here...
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
(Hebrews 11:1 KJV)

Faith is as faith does.
What evidence is there?
The rest of Hebrews 11 gives us numerous examples of what people did because of what they believed.

If you really think about it, faith cannot be forced on anyone.
If it is, then the source of persuasion is the recipient of that faith.
Is your object of faith a book... friend... relative... pastor... a threat?
God can use any of these to draw us to believe Him and trust in Him. But what or whom you look to or what or who affects your behavior is the object of your faith.
In the same way, resistance proves a lack of faith in the person or thing resisted.

Here's an interesting verse about individual faith...

"The faith you have, keep to yourself before God.
Blessed is the one who does not judge himself by what he approves...
BUT if you have doubts about whether or not you should (do) something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions.
If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning."
(Romans 14:22 NET; 14:23 TLB)

Hmmm...
You know what I get out of that?
I should keep my faith to myself.
Wow!
I shouldn't share my faith?
No. I guess not.
It sounded good though.
We were commanded to spread the gospel, not our faith. It CAN be the same thing, but it is not necessarily equivalent.
Sharing our faith is sharing OUR focus... what moves us... what persuades us... what impassions us... i.e. the object of our faith. Now IF that happens to be Christ, then we are also sharing the gospel.
Just consider it.

The other thing that stood out to me was that a person who lives in sincerity is a truly happy person.
Following your heart is good only in that it will evidence what your heart really cares about.

But back to faith and the morality expressed by that faith... whatever that happens to be.
My issue is with contradictory expressions of faith and moral discrepancies within a singular religion, Christianity.
I'm just not ok with that.

In our country, many things that once were illegal have been legalized.
And many things that were legal are now becoming outlawed.

However, morality is not defined by the laws of the land... or a boss... or a father... or a husband. Laws are. And laws do not define morality. If your morality is according to whatever is convenient at the time, then you are no follower of Christ. And just because a husband and wife agree about something, or church leadership agrees about something, or Congress agrees about something does not make it moral or right.

Acts 5:29, Exodus 1:19-20, Daniel 6:10, Daniel 1:8, and Daniel 3:14-18 record several instances in which individuals chose God's way of right/true morality/ righteousness, over the dictates of another because that 'other' violated God's right way.

1 Kings 13:8-26, Acts 5:1-11, Acts 19:11-20, Acts 8:9-25, and Revelation 2:20 are examples of what happens when a person, while bearing the name of God or His Christ, does what is wrong in a distracted or self-centered state of mind.

Now...
I do want to mention briefly that there are many individuals in a subservient position who are dissatisfied and have justified rebellion by claiming obedience to God rather than man.
A way to diagnosis rebellion is by honestly evaluating your motives.
Are you preserving your own life, freedoms, rights, or personal choice of affiliations?
Have you disobeyed a specific and individual command of God in order to presumably obey a general or perceived command?
The choices made on the outside reflect a condition or state on the inside.

Are you complacent and apathetic in your feigned obedience and submission?
Are you self-righteous and hypocritical in your rebellious legalism?

When a question of 'right' demands decisions to yield or retain mere personal rights, freedoms, comforts, or tastes, God wants peace.

Let me give a couple of examples that make no sense at all.
A person who divorces a spouse who wants to remain married for 'me/myself/and I' reasons.
(1 Corinthians 7:15)

A person who rebels against dictates concerning outward attire, tradition, or preference in favor of individual taste or freedom to choose. It makes me just as sick to see a religious legalist rebel against a first line of authority over outward attire as it does to observe a young impertinent lust driven youth rebel against his or her first line of authority over the same.
Queen Esther chose to turn it over to the one responsible for her according to the pleasure of the one it was her duty to please. Why don't people get that?
(Esther 2:13-15)

Morality in the matter of clothing is a matter of the heart.
Are you a man?
Do you dress according to your own rights and pleasure or do you consider what effect your attire has on the comfort, delight, or reputation of your wife, boss, church leadership, or God?
Are you a woman?
You were created to satisfy the need and desire of man. Do you satisfy yourself or are you pleasing your father and mother, husband, or God? If you mockingly admit to dressing to please all men you have a bigger morality issue.

What DOES God think?

This question reminds me of a king who once asked it of another king.
This is the answer that was given...

"The king of Israel replied...
“There IS one more man who could consult the Lord for us, but I hate him. He never prophesies anything but trouble for me!"
(2 Chronicles 18:7)

Doesn't this sound familiar?
I'm not sure many Christians really want to know what God thinks lest He make 'trouble' for them.
If it's not illegal, it's OK, right?
Or is it?

We are told to obey those in authority over us YET also to obey God rather than man.

SO...
Is the Lord convinced concerning your brand of morality?

"All a person’s ways seem right in his own opinion, but the Lord evaluates the motives." (Proverbs 16:2 NET)

"...Do not rely on your own understanding.
...Do not be wise in your own estimation; FEAR the Lord and turn away from evil. This will bring healing to your body, and refreshment to your inner self."
(Proverbs 3:5-8 NET)

FEARing the Lord is the beginning of moral knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction."
(Proverbs 1:7 NET)

"The beginning of wisdom is to FEAR the Lord , and acknowledging the Holy One is understanding."
(Proverbs 9:10 NET)

"And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in FEAR." (1 Peter 1:17)

FEAR?

If you Google the meaning of 'The FEAR of the Lord', it is
"...an awareness that you are in the presence of a holy, just, and almighty God and that He will hold you accountable for your motives, thoughts, words, and actions.
To fear God is to desire to live in harmony with His righteous standards and to honor Him in all that you do."

Well...
There it is.
There's no excuse for misunderstanding or for vague notions about what 'The FEAR of the Lord' means.

The fear of the Lord IS to live in harmony with God's righteous standards.
To live in harmony with God's righteous standards IS obedience.
To live in harmony with God's righteous standards IS morality.
Obedience IS morality.
Morality IS obedience.

"To obey the Lord is the fundamental principle for wise living; all who carry out His precepts acquire good moral insight. He will receive praise forever."
(Psalms 111:10)

Morality IS obedience to God's commands.

Morality begins with the FEAR of the Lord.

I think the only way to take away a person's FEAR of what the Lord thinks is to either deny His existence, which you can't do and claim Christianity, or else deny the existence of any consequence, immediate or eternal.
----------

Proverbs 16:2 says,
"All a person’s ways seem right in his own opinion, but the Lord evaluates the motives."

So what IS your motive behind your brand of 'faith' ...behind what you think about things?

You know.
God knows.
I have no idea.

"For who among men knows the things of a man except the man’s spirit within him?" (1 Corinthians 2:11)

“...Nothing is hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing is secret that will not be made known." (Matthew 10:26)

"Jesus said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in men’s eyes,
but God knows your hearts.
For WHAT is highly prized among men is utterly detestable in God’s sight."
(Luke 16:15)

'Highly prized' = 'utterly detestable'?

Could we fit anything trending into the 'WHAT' in that verse?
Are all 'trends' detestable in God's sight?
Would it matter what group of people you 'trended' with?
The important question is,
'Do we care?'

“All things are lawful for me”
– BUT not everything is beneficial.
“All things are lawful for me”
– BUT I will not be controlled by anything...
The body is NOT for sexual immortality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.  Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are NOT your own?  For you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body."
(1 Corinthians 6:12-13, 19-20)

“All things are lawful for me”
BUT... BUT... BUT...

"The body is NOT for  imMORALITY'.

Laws concerning right and wrong vary by location and are subject to change, BUT what God thinks doesn't and isn't.
If God made a rule against something anytime in recorded history, it means He doesn't like it.....STILL.

Measure ANY behavior next to the phrases that follow the
"All things are lawful for me" part...

"The body is... for the Lord."
"You are not your own."
"Glorify God with your body."

That answers some questions doesn't it?
...unless you already have it figured.

Whatever you decide, I won't judge you.
Neither will Jesus.
He said himself,
"If anyone hears my words and does not obey them, I do not judge him.
For I have not come to judge the world, but to save the world.
The one who rejects me and does not accept my words has a judge;
THE WORD I have spoken will judge him at the last day."
(John 12:47-48)

By the way,
It isn't the last day yet.
There was an morning and an evening and we called it toDAY.
I just had to point that out.

“Do not suppose that I will accuse you before the Father. The one who accuses you is MOSES..." (John 5:45)

So...
Those who say, 'Don't judge me', have somewhat of a valid gripe.

Jesus said,
“DO NOT JUDGE so that you will not be judged." (Matthew 7:1-2)

"...WE make it OUR ambition to please Him.  
For we must ALL appear before the judgment seat of Christ..."
(2 Corinthians 5:9-10 NET)

ALL will stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
Did you know Christ had a judgment seat?
I know some Christians who think that those in Christ won't stand before the judgment seat.

Jesus said,
"THE WORD I have spoken will judge..."
That's the New Testament.

AND

"The one who accuses you is MOSES...".
That's the Old Testament.

AND it's not just the BIBLE, available to anyone, that will judge all humanity before God.
There is yet another source of judgement...MY words.

Jesus said,
"I tell you that on the day of judgment, people will give an account for every worthless word they speak. 
For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
(Matthew 12:36-37)

That's enough to scare me!

I've said way too much worthless stuff in my lifetime.
I've colored stories my personal shade.
I've gossiped.
I've proclaimed, in the ears of others, my solutions to problems that were none of my business.
May God forgive me.

"If someone thinks he is religious yet does not bridle his tongue, and so deceives his heart, his religion is futile." (James 1:26)

"The one who guards his words guards his life, but whoever is talkative will come to ruin."  (Proverbs 13:3)

May God help me curb that talkative side of me and make that part totally His.

"The lips of the wise spread knowledge..." (Proverbs 15:7)

"With my lips I proclaim all the regulations you have revealed. I rejoice in the lifestyle prescribed by your rules as if they were riches of all kinds. I will meditate on your precepts and focus on your behavior." (Psalms 119:13-15)

Some of the 'regulations' God has revealed in His word are 'intolerant', according to today's standards.
Some preachers proclaiming those regulations are finding themselves
subpoenaed.

"Beware of people, because they will hand you over to councils...
And you will be brought before governors and kings because of me, as a witness to them and the Gentiles."
(Matthew 10:17-18 NET)

There are 'Christians' who are no longer proclaiming God's 'regulations' for life.
There are those who have nullified all regulations in favor of one misunderstood word, 'love'?
Once again... all backed by scripture.

I sincerely believe that God's regulations would be inadvertently fulfilled if those claiming to abide by the one rule of 'love' understood what love truly means. But most of them don't.
God IS love!
To know Him is to love Him.
To love Him is to know Him.

Now by this we know that we have come to know God: IF we keep his commandments. 
The one who says “I have come to know God” and yet does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in such a person. 
But whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the LOVE of God has been perfected.
By this we know that we are in him. 
The one who says he resides in God ought himself to walk just as Jesus walked...
Do NOT love the world or the things in the world.
IF anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is NOT in him...
If you know that God is righteous, you also know that everyone who practices righteousness has been fathered by him."
(1 John 2 NET)

NEXT CHAPTER...

"Everyone who has been fathered by God does NOT practice sin...
Dear friends, if our conscience does not condemn us, we have confidence in the presence of God,  AND whatever we ask we receive from him, BECAUSE we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing to him...
And the person who keeps his commandments resides in God, and God in him..."
(1 John 3 NET)

ANOTHER CHAPTER...

"...By this we know that we love the children of God: whenever we love God AND obey his commandments. 
For this is the love of God: that we keep his commandments.
And his commandments do not weigh us down,  because everyone who has been fathered by God conquers the world..."
(1 John 5)

To make little to nothing of God's commands is NOT love... no matter how loved the disobedient and lawless feel when you refuse to "...proclaim all the regulations..." God has revealed.
(Psalm 119:13)

How about this warning referenced earlier?

"I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and by her teaching deceives my servants to commit sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.   I have given her time to repent, but she is not willing to repent of her sexual immorality.  Look! I am throwing her onto a bed of violent illness, and those who commit adultery with her into terrible suffering, unless they repent of her deeds.  Furthermore, I will strike her followers with a deadly disease, and then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts. I will repay each one of you what your deeds deserve."
(Revelation 2:20-23 NET)

...violent illness
...terrible suffering
...deadly disease
Is this the earthly lot for those who insist on a lifestyle of compromise and fleshly fulfillment?

The 'love' that nullifies God's regulations is NOT love.  God's regulations were not set aside.  Jesus enabled true fulfillment by offering to change our minds and hearts about sin as opposed to a lifetime of miserablely controlling a bodily craving opposed to God's law. 

"So anyone who breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever obeys them and teaches others to do so will be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
(Matthew 5:9)

I don't want to JUST get to heaven. I want God to say, 'Well done, thou good and faithful servant.'

It is evident that true followers of Christ will not only maintain a personal Biblically sound morality but also not be ashamed to proclaim the regulations written therein.
Personal accountability and speaking God's words are NOT the same as personal interpretations of others motives and verbal accusation and condemnation. This is something we are NOT called to do.
The line between these have become hopelessly blurred and have resulted in lack of power or evidence of faith in Christianity on one hand and ugly meanness and judgementalism and surrender as a tool of the enemy, the accuser of the brethren, on the other hand.

Jesus gave us an illustration about a servant who forgave the master's debts.. debts that weren't his to forgive.
(Matthew 5:19 NET)

"Jesus also said to the disciples,
'There was a rich man who was informed of accusations that his manager was wasting his assets..."

The master fired the manager for"wasting his assets". How many Christians in possession of the gift of God in Christ are "wasting His assets"?

Before the manager left his job, he told each debtor that they were exempted from paying back the full amounts they owed the master.
Wow!
'Christians' on their way backwards tend not only toward self-justification, but, in an attempt to avoid a conscience convicted of hypocrisy, will begin to justify the wrong deeds of others in the name of forgiveness.
There is a difference between justification of sin and forgiveness or overlooking of a fault.
Some Christians tend to be cruel and cannot find it within themselves to overlook a fault. This is NOT love.
(1 Corinthians 13)

Neither is justification of sin, love.
Yet... as far as forgiveness goes, those 'fired' from God have a better understanding of forgiveness than do the religious.

"The master commended the dishonest manager because he acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their contemporaries than the people of light.  And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by how you use worldly wealth, so that when it runs out you will be welcomed into the eternal homes.'"
(Luke 16:1, 8-9)

WHAT!
Jesus commended this?
What was 'shrewd' about deceitfully releasing people from the debt owed to the master?
Well...
What is the wealth given to the children of God?
Is it not forgiveness?

And what does 'making friends with worldly wealth' have to do with being "welcomed into the eternal homes"?

If forgiveness is the wealth we have received, then offering forgiveness is the using of that wealth that will win friends and a welcome into heaven.

"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."
(Matthew 6:14-15 NIV)

"Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
(Colossians 3:13 NIV)

"Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
(Ephesians 4:31-32 NIV)

James 5:3-4 says,
"Your gold and silver are corroded. The very wealth you were counting on ...this corroded treasure you have hoarded will testify against you on the day of judgment..."

Another thing to 'JUDGE' me?
...the New Testament?
...the Old Testament?
...the words I speak?
...'hoarding' the forgiveness and blessings of God?
WOW!

Is our life in such a state that we, by word or deed our lack thereof, have become an offense our injury to others?
Have we said or done something that causes a person to cry out to God for comfort from what we laid upon them or failed to do for them?
Have others prayed for relief from me?

Look at this...
"...he will cry out to the Lord against you, and you will be guilty of sin."
(Deuteronomy 24:15)
"...they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry, and my wrath will burn..."
(Exodus 22:22-24)
"The LORD said,
'I have indeed seen the misery of my people... I have heard them crying out... and I am concerned about their suffering.'" (Exodus 3:7)

Have I been heedless of the hurt that must be 'harvested' behind my words?
Have I caused another person misery?
Have I pushed someone to the point of crying because of something I said or did?

Life is NOT about what's good for me.
And condemning or accusing others is NOT what we were called to do.

"...He is kind to ungrateful and evil people.   Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." (Luke 6:35-36)

"But I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you,  so that you may be like your Father in heaven, since he causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?
...And if you only greet your brothers, what more do you do? Even the Gentiles do the same, don’t they?"
(Matthew 5:44-47 NET)

So...
True morality will be personal accountability based on the regulations given in the law copied down by Moses and the words and teachings of Christ.
Show love to those who are against you, but without moral compromise. Greet others with the light God places within you from constant fellowship with Him.
Overlook insults and discomforts and slights.

But what about those who claim 'Christianity', the 'body of Christ', or 'brothers and sisters in Christ' and yet live intentionally in direct violation of God's regulations for life?

"And now, dear brothers and sisters, we give you this command in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ:
'STAY AWAY FROM all believers who live idle lives and don’t follow the tradition they received from us. We command such people and urge them...
As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good. Take note of those who refuse to obey what we say in this letter.
STAY AWAY FROM them so they will be ashamed. Don’t think of them as enemies, but warn them as you would a brother or sister."
(2 Thessalonians 3:6, 12-15 NLT)

"...I told you NOT TO ASSOCIATE WITH people who indulge in sexual sin.

But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that.

I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people.
DON'T EVEN EAT WITH SUCH PEOPLE.

It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.”
(1 Corinthians 5:9-13 NLT)

WHAT!?
"...It certainly IS your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning"?

The previous passages lists several things a Christian just CANNOT be...

1.  Idle,
2.  Nontraditional (as compared to the life example and teachings of Jesus and the apostles)
3.  Nonconformist (to the teachings of Paul, 2 Peter 3:16 endorses Paul's letters as Scripture)
4.  Sexually perverse
5.  Greedy
6.  Idolatrous (excessively devoted to____ fill in the blank)
7.  Abusive
8.  A drunkard (unable to resist cravings)
9.  A cheat (practice fraud, elude laws)

SO...beyond these, what else would qualify as sin?

Anything opposite of what God has declared right or wrong is sin.
(1 John 5:17)
To know what you ought to do and then not do it is sin.
(James 4:17)
If you have doubts about whether or not you should do something, and you choose to do it anyway, you sin.
( Romans 14:23 )
 
So...
Should any and all sin be pointed out to a fellow Christian?
Does any sin justify shunning?
No.

1 John 5:16-19 says,
"If you see a fellow believer sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should PRAY, and God will give that person life.
BUT there is a sin that leads to death, and I am not saying you should pray for those who commit it.
All wicked actions are sin, but not every sin leads to death.
We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning..."

"If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone’s sins, they are retained.” (John 20:23)

SO...
What is the sinning that leads to death?
...the sin we ought not even pray about?

"...if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."
(Romans 8:13-14 KJV)

SO...
If a Christian commits sin...pray for him.
But if he continues living just to please himself, "STAY AWAY" from him...
Don't fellowship or even eat with such a person.

Wow!
Concerning sin that leads to death...
“If your brother sins, go and show him his fault when the two of you are alone. If he listens to you, you have regained your brother.  But if he does not listen, take one or two others with you, so that at the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter may be established .   If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. If he refuses to listen to the church, treat him like a pagan or an unbeliever."
(Matthew 18:15-17)

And how ought one to treat an unbeliever or pagan?
We read previously that we ought not pass judgement on them.
We also read that we ought to love, pray for, and greet them.

However,

"Do not become partners with those who do not believe, for what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship does light have with darkness?"
(2 Corinthians 6:14)

"Therefore do not be partakers with them...
Walk as children of the light... trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 
Do NOT participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them." (Ephesians 5:7-1)

Don't partner with...
Don't fellowship or partaking with...
Expose their deeds for what they are...
I can only assume that this would be by speaking the truth of God's WORD and just being a light, next to which their deeds are shown fit what they are.

"So then... continue working out your salvation with awe and reverence...
Do everything without grumbling or arguing,  so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without blemish though you live in a crooked and perverse society, in which you shine as lights in the world
BY HOLDING ON TO THE WORD..."
(Philippians 2:12-16 NET)

SO...
Why is it that we ought not even to pray for those who continue doing what their heart tells them, even after being rebuked... and have chosen rather to justify themselves.

"It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore."
(Isaiah 59:2 NLT)

But isn't that the whole point of Christ and his death... to pay the penalty for sin?
Yes.
IF they confess their sin as sin and turn around and repent ('feel such sorrow for sin as to be disposed to change one's life for the better'), Jesus said to forgive and forgive and forgive.

"Then Peter came to him and said, “Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother who sins against me? As many as seven times?”  Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, I tell you, but seventy-seven times!" (Matthew 18:21-22 NET)

"Watch yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him.  Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to you saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
(Luke 17:3-4 NET)

And God does not violate His own WORD.

The fact that we can keep confessing and keep repenting is the point of His sacrifice. His mercies are new every morning.  As He is, so ought we to be.

"The Lord ’s loyal kindness never ceases; his compassions never end. They are fresh every morning; your faithfulness is abundant!"
(Lamentations 3:22-23 NET)

When a fellow Christian confesses and repents and wants a fresh start again...no matter if it is the umpteenth time, give him that mercy...from the heart.

"...Forgive and comfort him. This will keep him from being overwhelmed by excessive grief to the point of despair...
Reaffirm your love for him.
If you forgive anyone for anything, I also forgive him – for indeed what I have forgiven I did so for you in the presence of Christ,  so that we may not be exploited by Satan (for we are not ignorant of his schemes)."
(2 Corinthians 2:7-8, 10-11 NET)

"And have mercy on those who waver;  save others by snatching them out of the fire; have mercy on others, coupled with a fear of God, hating even the clothes stained by the flesh." (Jude 1:22-23)

It is only when a person does NOT confess and does NOT repent, but continues in the way his heart leads him, though he knows that a brother is offended... though the truth of God's Word has been given, that one must treat him as a pagan.

When he interprets Scripture differently or has made it null and void, the blood of Christ doesn't cover that.

"For if we deliberately keep on sinning... no further sacrifice for sins is left for us,   but only a certain fearful expectation of judgment and a fury  of fire that will consume God’s enemies.  
Someone who rejected the law of Moses was put to death without mercy...  how much greater punishment do you think that person deserves who... profanes the blood (treats as common; i.e. "Don't judge me, I'm covered by the blood")  ...and insults the Spirit of grace?"
(Hebrews 10:26-29)

Repentance must be necessary before restoration as a brother in Christ.

"Brothers and sisters, if a person is discovered in some sin, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness. Pay close attention to yourselves, so that you are not tempted too."
(Galatians 6:1 NET)

My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone turns him back,  he should know that the one who turns a sinner back from his wandering path will save that person’s soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins."
(James 5:19-20 NET)

But, to know truth and then deceive yourself makes understanding truth harder the second time around.

"For if after they have escaped the filthy things of the world through the rich knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they again get entangled in them and succumb to them, their last state has become worse for them than their first.  For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than, having known it, to turn back from the holy commandment that had been delivered to them."
(2 Peter 2:20-21 NET)

"This saying is trustworthy: If we died with him, we will also live with him. If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we deny him, he will also deny us. If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, since he cannot deny himself."
(2 Timothy 2:11-13 NET)

We sin when we are 'faithless'.
To refuse to confess sin as sin or legitimize something God has formerly condemned, is to deny our Savior.
If we do that, He will deny us.

Yet, even after denial, there is always hope in repentance...true repentance.

"Then the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter, and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”  And he went outside and wept bitterly."
(Luke 22:61-62 NET)

Peter wept bitterly and Jesus restored him.
Judas became angry and threw a fit and committed suicide.

"For sadness as intended by God produces a repentance that leads to salvation, leaving no regret, but worldly sadness brings about death."
( 2 Corinthians 7:10 NET)

"So I say this, and insist in the Lord, that you no longer live as the Gentiles... darkened in their understanding, being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts. 

Because they are callous, they have given themselves over to indecency for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.
 
But you did not learn about Christ like this...
Lay aside the old man who is being corrupted... with deceitful desires...
Speak the truth...
Be angry and do not sin ; do not let the sun go down on the cause of your anger.  
Do not give the devil an opportunity. 
The one who steals must steal no longer...
Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for the building up...
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God...
You must put away every kind of bitterness, anger, wrath, quarreling, and evil, slanderous talk. 
Instead, be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you."
(Ephesians 4)

That pretty much sums it up.

"If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened." (Psalms 66:18 NLT)

"But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness."
(1 John 1:9 NLT)

"And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him." (1 John 5:14 NLT)

"The godly cry out and the Lord hears; he saves them from all their troubles. The Lord is near the brokenhearted; he delivers those who are discouraged. The godly face many dangers, but the Lord saves them from each one of them."
(Psalms 34:17-19 NET)

"...In my distress I cried out to the lord ; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached His ears."
(Psalms 18:6 NLT)

SO...

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy." (Matthew 5:7)

"For judgment is merciless for the one who has shown no mercy. But mercy triumphs over judgment." (James 2:13)

Jesus told a story about a man who was merciless, who had hardened his heart...

"...In hell, as he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far off...
(the man begged that someone warn his five brothers about avoiding hell and)
Abraham said,
‘They have Moses and the prophets; they must respond to them.’ 
Then the rich man said,
‘No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 
He replied to him, ‘If they do not respond to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
(1 Corinthians 10:23-33)

Jesus gave us an example, paid for forgiveness for limitless confessions of sin, then came back from the dead so that He might continually intercede for us, and sent his Spirit to live in us and change our desires and give us courage to choose right. Yet many Christians today live according to their own mind and flesh and drown conviction in the name of 'faith' and 'grace'. 

They...
"...occupy themselves with myths... promote useless speculations rather than God’s redemptive plan...
some have strayed... and turned away to empty discussion.... they do not understand what they are saying or the things they insist on so confidently."
(1 Timothy 1:4-7 NET)

And THAT is the way it is. 
Who really knows what grace is?
...the gospel?
...salvation?
...faith?

"The one who covers his transgressions will not prosper, but whoever confesses them and forsakes them will find mercy." (Proverbs 28:13)

I want mercy!
I will show mercy!
I will praise God for His mercy to me and pray for His mercy on others.

“Everything is lawful,” BUT...

Did this clear anything up?
It did for me.

I'd say it doesn't matter to me what conclusion you come to, but it does! Your eternal destiny is at stake and some of you don't know, don't care, or don't believe that there is an accounting to be made of what you do.

Jesus said, “What comes out of a person defiles him.  For from within, out of the human heart, come evil ideas, sexual immorality, theft, murder,  adultery, greed, evil, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, pride, and folly.  All these evils come from within and defile a person.”

The 'light' of life is what will show up the sin within an unbeliever so that he can be saved. THAT is LOVE.
Looking like the world, acting like the world, fellowshiping with the world us NOT love.

Speaking of the church our the assembling together of Christians,

" If... an unbeliever or uninformed person enters, he will be convicted by all, he will be called to account by all.  The secrets of his heart are disclosed, and in this way he will fall down with his face to the ground and worship God, declaring, “God is really among you.”
(1 Corinthians 14:24-25 NET)

What proves a person's confession of  'faith' genuine...even to themselves?

Let me tell you, when someone gets to thinking down a trail of justification for a belief that fits their thinking, it can get really weird.

Why does it seem that 'confessions' of faith are rejoiced over more than changed lives?

Why, when a convicted heart seeks counsel, they are often counseled by reminding them of their 'confession' and told to claim the promises that accompany their 'faith'.
The result of this is that very few move on to victory over personal vices or joy or dedicated devotion to God.

Isaiah 29:13 NET says,
"The sovereign master says,
'These people SAY they are loyal to me; THEY SAY wonderful things about me, but they are NOT really loyal to me. Their worship consists of nothing but man-made ritual.'"

2 Timothy 4:3-5 NET says,
"For there will be a time when people will not tolerate sound teaching. Instead, following their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves, because they have an insatiable curiosity to hear new things.   And they will turn away from hearing the truth, but on the other hand they will turn aside to myths.   You, however, be self-controlled in all things, endure hardship, do an evangelist’s work, fulfill your ministry."

I was thinking about Jesus' warning that many of those who consider themselves 'saved', will find that they are not. He said it like this...

"...You will fully know them by their fruits.
Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father..."
(Matthew 7:20-26 AMP)

For some, it's kind of a scary thing. Some are working very hard to be good Christians. They have a 'ministry'.
Others choose not to think about it.
Still others choose a belief that nullifies doubt itself.

I used to doubt my salvation. But maybe that was because I had a guilty conscience.
Hebrews 9:9 says,
"...sacrifices are offered, and yet are incapable of perfecting the conscience or of cleansing and renewing the inner man of the worshiper."

That was me.
I would ask God to forgive me and yet wonder if he did. I still felt guilty. But why?

I think part of it was pride. 
God is automatically far removed when pride is present.
He resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.

And when I did or said something that made me feel ugly, I justified myself in my own mind. I 'stewed' over perceived injustices.I planned how to 'deal' with the next insult. In effect, my god was me, because I dealt with stuff myself. My thinking was my own and what I was convinced of.

"For many live, about whom I have often told you, and now, with tears, I tell you that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ.  Their end is destruction, their god is the belly, they exult in their shame, and they think about earthly things."
( Philippians 3:18-19 NET)

But...
"...Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."
(Hebrews 11:1 NASB)

As long as I entertain my own mind about everything, I'm not living by any kind of faith...except faith in myself maybe. (makes me think of Disney themes..."believe in your heart". Ooolala)

I had long ago made 'a profession of faith', but what did that mean? It was supposed to mean I gave myself, this creature I call 'me' away...I gave 'me' away. I belonged to myself (ever since Eve FIRST took possession of herself and exercised her own mind about things) and I gave 'me' back to God. That was supposed to mean that my own mind about stuff would no longer direct my persuasions and words and actions. Sadly, that was not the case. My profession of faith was sparked first by my annoyance with feeling crummy because I knew I didn't do right or talk right. Sure, I wanted to be my own picture of an angel, but that just never worked out. Then there was my fear of hell (which some people choose not to believe exists). Also, there was a desire to join the 'good' side in order to become good.
Now there was that matter of those professions you are led to say when you pray to receive 'the faith'. I said them.I meant them as well as I could. I really did want to stop being ugly and doing and saying and fascinating about 'ugly' things. I determined to be good. I think it has to start with that...being sick of being 'sick'. But being upset with oneself is NOT repentance, it's just regret.

Repentance is like being upside down...IN EVERYTHING!  Actually it's all about perspective. It's really turning right side up for the first time, but it doesn't feel that way.

Everything was pretty much symbolic to me. I still was ticked at so-and-so. I still wanted such-and-such. I still dreamed of this-and-that. Oh, I tried to change my thinking and wants, but the honest truth was that I hadn't given 'me' away at all. I had simply made a profession...joined a club. And the terms of membership were quite rigorous. As it turns out, I found out years later that some people joined the same 'club' and claimed that there were no terms apart from something they called 'faith'. That would have been fine except that those people from whom I first heard about the 'no terms policy', seemed to display all the ugliness I was trying to escape...only, it didn't seem to bother them that they had ugliness.
So what was the point?
I began looking for a new 'club'...literally...and there's a plethora of them out there.

True faith... living faith... faith that ends in eternal life is believing truth about God and then living like you believe it.

"Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a a rewarder of those who seek Him."
(Hebrews 11:6 NASB)

And, because of the cross, we have until were dead to lose ourselves in finding Him.

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
(1 John 1:9 NASB)

"I am not conscious of anything against myself, and I feel blameless; but I am not vindicated and acquitted before God on that account. It is the Lord [Himself] Who examines and judges me. So do not make any hasty or premature judgments before the time when the Lord comes [again], for He will both bring to light the secret things that are [now hidden] in darkness and disclose and expose the [secret] aims (motives and purposes) of hearts. Then every man will receive his [due] commendation from God."
(1 Corinthians 4:4-5 AMP)

Trusting in the sovereignty of God in my life and His ultimate desire for my eternal home to be with Him IS grace.

"For this is due to grace, if a man for conscience toward God endures grief, suffering wrongfully."
( Peter 2:19 JUB)

"The Lord is good, a Strength and Stronghold in the day of trouble; He KNOWS (recognizes, has knowledge of, and understands) those who take refuge and trust in Him."
(Nahum 1:7 AMP)

"I will even betroth you to Me in stability and in faithfulness, and you shall know (recognize, be acquainted with, appreciate, give heed to, and cherish) the Lord."
(Hosea 2:20 AMP)

"Their doings will not permit them to return to their God, for the spirit of harlotry is within them and they know not the Lord [they do not recognize, appreciate, give heed to, or cherish the Lord]. But the pride and self-reliance of Israel testifies before his [own] face. Therefore shall [all] Israel, and [especially] Ephraim [the northern ten tribes], totter and fall in their iniquity and guilt, and Judah shall stumble and fall with them."
(Hosea 5:4-5 AMP)

"And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."
( 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 KJV)

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:  Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ."
( 1 Peter 3:15-16 KJV)

2 Peter 2:14, 18-19 NET

Their eyes, full of adultery, never stop sinning; they entice unstable people. They have trained their hearts for greed, these cursed children!   For by speaking high-sounding but empty words they are able to entice, with fleshly desires and with debauchery, people who have just escaped from those who reside in error.   Although these false teachers promise such people freedom, they themselves are enslaved to immorality. For whatever a person succumbs to, to that he is enslaved.