Getting back to the original topic though.

I agree with what Pilgrim has stated.

We ought to be obedient even when we are not motivated to do so to try to obey God's will and commandments.

But my concern is that, no matter how hard we try.... especially if we're a new Christian, or especially if we are in a very liberal church, we're still going to fall to our old nature often.

All I'm saying is that, even though we have a heart for God, even though His spirit is truly dwelling within us, even though we try to be as obedient as we can, there is still an obvious struggle.

When we read a lot of Reformed Teachers, there is always a strong sense of obedience and assurance but hardly ever a sense of - oh by the way, your still going to struggle and fall and that's ok, your still saved, don't worry, just pick yourself back up and try again. -

What I see happening in a lot of Reformed communities, is exactly what I see happening in Roman Catholic communities. There is an obvious focus on outward righteousness. But at the end of the day, people still sin against each other.

All I'm saying is that, sometimes I think that people should be less worried about everything being perfect and more worried about forgiving each other and encouraging each other. We're all in the same boat.

My family and I joined a PCA church and after almost two years.... not one member ever invited us over for dinner or desert. We didn't make one truly lasting friendship. We really didn't get a deep sense of love and kindness and it was all kind of cold.

So, I agree; yes, we should be very focused on our sanctification, but we should also be "assured" that we are saved and that we shouldn't constantly look behind us to make sure that we are "good enough" and are doing "good enough works." to constantly assure us. That creates fear and paranoia. God doesn't want that for us. He want's us to know His peace and love. That's the Good News. It's Good News because we no longer have to be afraid of our salvation. Let us go on now to walk by His spirit and not have to put our main focus on His law, but rather on doing the fruits of His spirit.

Dave

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. - Galatians 2:16