Top of my controversial topics list is...

Works of the law get us exactly...nothing. Works of grace, works of love, is to do Gods will. 
"To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life." Rom 2:7

It all begins with faith.

That's exactly what we're trying to avoid. If we allow personal attacks to get started we could end up like some Christian forums with a lot of arguing and bickering and name calling. We're more interested in the Holy Spirit guiding and directing people to behave in love. We realize rules aren't going to do that, but they may help people stop and consider their behavior. Jesus came to set us free... free to walk in His love. Free to love God and one another.

Thanks for your concern, Brother.

Chest pumping, right- sure, make stuff up, as with parts of your theology. I've maintained all along that any righteousness we may possess will come from our humble acknowedgment of God as revealed by Chrsit=faith, and that we may also compromsie and forfeit that status by returng to the flesh, living unjustly, etc. The overcomers will know for sure that they're His children at the end, when He gives the determinationat  that time. We can have a guarded assurance based on our fruit, if we have it, on how well we appear to have overcome sin, on our possession and expression of love, especially, etc, combined with knowledge of His trustworthiness and mercy. But only He knows with 100% certainty whose names are written in the Book of Life and whose are not. Over-confidence in the matter amounts to arrogance, worthy of a Pharisee, in light of our limitations, weaknesses, proclivity for sin and inability to predict our own perseverance for that matter. We can say we trust all we want but the proof is in what we do, with what we've been given.

If righteousness is truly guaranteed at justification, as opposed to a strictly declared righteousness, then works will follow, good works as well as overcoming sin. And that’s true even though some deny it depending on their understanding of Sola Fide. To say that is will necessarily follow, that a believer cannot turn back away and to the flesh is folly, out of agreement with the gospel as has been historically understood and the whole counsel of Scripture as well.

“The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. “ Matt 13:20-22

"Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature." Luke 8:13-14

Years ago a was a moderator among many on a well known entertainers web site. We had thousands of people on it. Thing is though in the Christian realm you have different category types. Those who are  Christians yet are genuine spiritual babies that haven't had time to develop the LOVE walk. We do grow into maturity. Then you have some who should know better and yet they're carnal.....they haven't appreciated Jesus command to walk in LOVE and to keep the strife out. You also have the spiritually mature that do everything to act graciously even though they may fail sometimes but they have a good attitude and get up and seek not to do it again. There is also this type....religionists who may not even be saved and have the love of God in their hearts. Theology is their god not even the God of the theology.

They look upon religious debates and the longing to win them as a source of fleshly satisfaction. It's great to appeal to be noble works for some but well...just won't for others as much as we'd hope. . We'd have complaints  from some when I was a mod we were over moderating so we'd have moderator meetings about it. We tried a whole new system to something we thought they might like....very low level moderating....and the place became like barbarians in the Roman Coliseum. Lot would think  if you leave everyone alone people will just work it out., ah well no not really. I think it's like some say if we didn't have police all would be fine. No not really. There are horrible cops. There are horrible moderators.

There are good ones though who I think achieve a good balance. Now about over there on CARM. I assess their mods some of them might be sincere but they seem to me so very, very bias against non-Calvinists. In the times I used to always be there I actually did get banned at least once and I sincerely thought it was unfair. Infraction notices too over other things I thought they were being biased. I think here you guys are just starting out....I think you'll fine you just will have to draw lines with just some people and carry out discipline. Just don't be frustrated if you find that you do. Really human nature out here is human nature and some need to be put in check. I wish this new site all the best and will pop in from time to time. 

You say what you see? I'm not making it up either and neither Scripture or the church historically supports what you seem to see. Being saved is to enter communion with God-that's man's very purpose. As with any relationship that can be broken. It can also grow stronger and more confirmed. To make being saved or born again into some final, permanent event/experience is not how it works. Conversion may be more or less profound or dramatic and sudden, or not, but salvation, itself, is a journey, longer or shorter depending on how much time we have. In that time we're, hopefully, being transformed into the image of God as we cooperate increasingly in His work. Salvation is about being grown and perfected into beings like God, rather than just saving some otherwise worthless sinful wretches and damning the rest. To put it concisely, again, we'll be judged on our love at the end of the day. We'll be judged on how weve been changed, not without our particitation in the matter. The movement towards God and the change itself is all grace; the freedom and ability to say "no" remains ours.

I truly doubt that everyone who's ever heard those words and applied them to themselves was/is necessarily saved, from the actual audience that they were first addressed to until today. Scripture employs hyperbole, encouragement, exhortation, along with warnings, admonishments, etc. Absolute certainty of salvation is a falacious notion.